Coach puts emphasis on how game is played

AHS girls soccer goes 1-1 in opening two games.

By: Kyle Moylan
   As far as Allentown High School girls’ soccer coach Mike Bianchini is concerned, "how you play this game" really is what matters.
   If anyone doubts him, consider the fact he put his wins and losses where his ideals are.
   This past week, Allentown played two games and came away with a win and a loss. Bianchini was much happier about the way that his team’s 2-0 loss at Princeton went than it’s 4-2 win over Trenton.
   "The Trenton game was a bit sloppy," Bianchini noted. "We played very well against Princeton. Princeton is one of the teams favored to win the division. They are highly regarded in the CVC (Colonial Valley Conference). For us to have a chance to win the game going into the last 20 minutes was very satisfying."
   Princeton scored with 22 minutes left in the game. A couple of minutes later, Princeton added another goal.
   "That second goal was kind of like an after shock," Bianchini said. "The two Princeton goals were good ones. Our goalkeeper (Katie Seiler) didn’t have a chance at either one of them. They earned both goals."
   Princeton ended up outshooting Allentown, 20-3.
   "Seiler finished with 10 saves, 6 or 7 of which were real good ones," Bianchini said. "She had a couple of diving saves. She had one that looked like it was going in and she tipped it over the bar."
   The defense in front of Seiler also played very well. Megan Coffey, at sweeper, was particularly impressive. Backs Erin Lamb and Amanda Vernon and Elizabeth King, a stopper, also had outstanding games."
   "Princeton is an outstanding team with a real strong offensive attack," Seiler said. "They had some real tough girls to mark one-on-one. Our backs did a good job controlling them. When they did break free, Megan Coffey was there to clean it up, get the ball out of there."
   While Allentown was held scoreless, Bianchini was impressed by the way his girls continue to push throughout the contest to stage a comeback.
   "Our girls didn’t quit," Bianchini said. "When we got down by two goals, they could have easily hung their heads. It would have been disappointing to play so well and then give up some late goals. Our girls continued to play. They played to the very end. That speaks volume about the type of girls we have."
   Allentown not only has girls who play to the end, it also has girls that can make adjustments. Down 2-1 at the half to Trenton in the season opener, Allentown had to make some changes.
   "It was a sloppy, physical game," Bianchini said. "In the first half we came out timid, lacked aggressiveness. We weren’t winning the 50-50 balls which allowed Trenton to set up its offense and take a 2-1 lead. Once we made some adjustments, we pretty much dominated the second half."
   Shannon Gallagher, assisted by Casey Catelli, scored the lone Allentown goal in the first half. Erin Coffey, assisted by Hillery Lamb, tied the game less than two minutes into the second half.
   "We came out smoking," Bianchini said.
   Catelli gave Allentown the lead with an unassisted goals. With two minutes left to play, Coffey scored her second goal.
   "That insurance goal was nice," Bianchini said.
   Allentown was scheduled to face West Windsor South yesterday. It will host Ewing on Monday. Allentown will play a night game at the Hamilton Rec field on Monday.
   "We have a tough schedule to open the season, with five or our first six games on the road," Bianchini noted. "Our girls have handled it. We looked solid against Princeton. Except for the first half against Trenton, we were also solid in the opener."