TITLE RACE: Princeton High boys’ soccer star Chris Harla, right, races after the ball last week against Notre Dame. Senior co-captain and star defender Harla helped key a tough defense and scored the lone goal as PHS prevailed 1-0 over the Irish in the October 13 contest. The Little Tigers improved to 12-0-3 with a 1-0 win over Hightstown last Monday. PHS will start action in the Mercer County Tournament this week where the Little Tigers are seeded first and slated to host 17th-seeded Nottingham on October 21 in a first-round contest. (Photo by John Dowers)
Chris Harla has been a defensive stalwart for the Princeton High boys’ soccer team over the last few years, bringing skill and physicality to the back line.
But this fall in his senior campaign, Harla has diversified his portfolio, emerging as a clutch goal scorer for the Little Tigers.
Last week, Harla scored the lone goal as PHS edged Notre Dame 1-0 in a clash of Colonial Valley Conference powers.
Harla’s tally came late in the first half on a curling free kick from Sam Serxner that he deftly headed into the back of the net.
“We have been working a lot at practices on set pieces, especially yesterday when we had a half an hour run,” said Harla.
“Sam and I know exactly what we are doing there. He put the ball right where I wanted it and I just saw it and put it in.”
For Harla, the offensive outburst has come as a surprise. “I don’t know what it is because last year I had one goal and the year before I had one goal,” said Harla.
“I have eight goals this year, tied for the top with Cole (Snyder). I have five goals off of set pieces this year and two off of penalty kicks.”
While Harla is enjoying seeing his name on the score sheet, defense remains his calling card.
“I usually play center back and today I was playing outside back, just because we were trying to contain Chris Hawkins out there,” said Harla.
“This is my first time playing left back in a while. The guys are going a great job. Edgar Morales has been really solid; Dwight Donis has been really solid. Drew Beamer has come in here and has done really well.”
The PHS defense was under the gun for much of the second half as Notre Dame repeatedly pressed forward, looking for the equalizer.
“They came out much more aggressively than they did in the first half,” noted Harla.
“In the first half, they gave us a lot of time on the ball. In the second half, they came out with a lot more intensity and we were able to contain them but it was obviously much tougher than the first half.”
In Harla’s view, it was good for PHS to get tested by Notre Dame with the postseason on the horizon.
“This is one of the strongest teams in our conference so playing them is definitely going to be good for the MCTs because we might see them again, you never know,” said Harla of the Little Tigers, who improved to 12-0-3 with a 1-0 win over Hightstown last Monday and will start action in the Mercer County Tournament this week where PHS is seeded first and slated to host 17th-seeded Nottingham in a first-round contest on October 21.
“It is a good test because we have been playing teams that are less than .500 in the past couple of games so it is good to play a team that is doing really well.”
Serving in his second year as a team captain, Harla has established himself as a good leader.
“I am a two-year captain, it is a big deal; it is the first time since ’97, I think,” said Harla.
“I am trying to do the best I can in leading. The other two captains, Pete Luther and Cole Snyder, are doing a great job. We are always very focused just trying to get the job done.”
Harla believes PHS can do big things down the stretch if it maintains its defensive intensity and gets a little more ball movement on offense.
“At this point, we are happy to have not dropped a game,” said Harla. “We had a couple of close calls. Our defense has been astonishing; I can’t complain about that. I think we need to make sure that we make more passes together because a lot of our goals have been off set pieces and PKs. It would be nice to get some goals out of open play, combining with a bunch of guys and getting a goal like that.”
PHS head coach Wayne Sutcliffe concurs, noting that he is looking for his team to be more cohesive on attack.
“We need to keep being able to keep the ball; we did a good job today of managing the game, by and large,” said Sutcliffe.
“When we get into later stages of the game, we need to keep the ball better. We are looking for more possession, more combos, and to sharpen things when we are on the attack.”
Sutcliffe was thrilled with PHS’s sharp play on defense as it stifled Notre Dame’s high-powered attack.
“That is the goal, the trademark for us has been to keep rolling and not concede,” said Sutcliffe.
“Last week, we played three games but only had one shutout. That was a little uncharacteristic so a clean sheet today was the goal. Notre Dame has a lot of guys who can make it hard on you. Pete Luther, Edgar Morales, and Dwight Donis right up the center of the park were extraordinary for us. Chris Harla and Drew Beamer on the outside, were great.”
Harla has been great in many ways for the Little Tigers, according to Sutcliffe.
“Chris is scoring on some set pieces,” said Sutcliffe, noting that Harla played some games at forward recently as he was recovering from injury.
“He is contributing in multiple ways. He is great. I can’t say enough about Chris but he has to keep getting better.”
In Sutcliffe’s view, the win over Notre Dame was one of the better moments of the season so far.
“It just feels good for these guys,” said Sutcliffe. “Our game against Notre Dame was one of the two that we lost last year so it is good for the seniors.”
Harla and his fellow seniors are primed to end things with a bang. “Last year winning the MCT, winning the division, and going to the state final as a junior was a huge deal,” said Harla.
“We have really got to step up our game because we have a lot on our shoulders now. Everyone is expecting us to do big things because we are seniors. We have to work hard and stay focused and not try to take anything for granted and not assume that we are going to win everything because we did last year.”