Current winning streak has Redbirds in playoffs, working on a good seed
By: Kyle Moylan
In what passes as a mini slump for Allentown High School field hockey, the team started the season 2-2.
With the team 7-2-1 and with a state playoff berth already secured, now the real season starts.
"There’s a lot left to play for," Allentown Coach Maryellen McCarthy said. "We have four games left before the cutoff (to determine state seedings). We want to keep it going to make sure we play as many playoff games as possible at home. We also have the Mercer County Tournament and want to win the Patriot Division. We still have a lot to do."
Allentown was scheduled to face Nottingham this past Tuesday. It will host Ewing today (4 p.m.) and play at Haddonfield on Friday (4 p.m.). Allentown will also have a game on a neutral field on Tuesday as it faces Hopewell under the lights at Mercer County Community College.
If this week of play goes anything like the one Allentown had last week, feel sorry for the opposition.
Hightstown (a 3-1 Redbird win), Princeton (5-1) and Steinert (5-0) all had the misfortune of playing an Allentown team that finally hit its stride.
According to McCarthy, this is the inevitability of what happens when you approach the game from the right frame of mind.
"I trust the system," McCarthy said. "I also trust my coaches."
Pam Ladu and Chris Wajda are both former All-American players in college. Ladu, who played at Allentown under the name Zukowski, once was the scoring leader at the school.
"Having those two on board . . . girls can’t get any better coaching than that," McCarthy said.
Obviously, McCarthy plays the biggest role in the coaching staff. Ladu, however, does have one thing going for her that McCarthy doesn’t.
"She (Ladu) played here," McCarthy said. "She’s a Redbird. That has a lot to do with it. The tradition means a lot to the girls. She even works a regular job and then comes out and gives time to the team. I have a lot of girls that played that stay in touch. That’s good. Tradition is good."
And carrying on the tradition of leadership, Caitlyn Crane and Samantha Podhurst have had a big impact in Allentown’s success.
"They’re my two senior captains and they’re showing their maturity," McCarthy said. "They’re working with the other girls and their leadership qualities are coming out."
A great way to lead is by example. Both Podhurst and Crane scored for Allentown in a 5-1 win over Princeton. Both girls also notched assists in the contest, with Podhurst recording two. Kasie Nurko, Briana Gaum and Michelle Najecki also scored.
Stephanie Stabulis recorded three saves in that game. She only had to make one while recording the shutout against Steinert.
"In her first year on varsity, she’s really doing a great job," McCarthy noted of Stabulis.
One of the ways Stabulis has been able to improve is by facing Allentown’s forward line during practices.
"The forward line of Briana Gaum, Lindsay Smith, Rachel Scheuerman and Kasie Nurko is really starting to click," McCarthy said. "They’re working well together. Everyone’s working well together. The kids practice things over and over. Practice is key to helping the girls understand their roles and responsibilities. We practice six days a week. That’s making a difference."
The practice time showed as Scheuerman scored twice and Angela Scibila, Gaum and Nurko also scored against Steinert. Gaum, Paige Weatherbee and Taylor Harvey had assists.
"We’re playing well, but there’s still a long way to go," McCarthy said.
Make no mistake about it, Allentown had a great week. This is a team that plays for great seasons, though.
NEHS
Even with a tough 1-0 loss to a talented Montclair team last Saturday, the New Egypt High School field hockey team is 8-2 on the season and heading to the playoffs.
New Egypt was outshot by Montclair, 12-5. Jess Darienzo made seven saves in goal.
Montclair improved to 13-0 with the win. And as New Egypt Coach Patti Nicholson pointed out, playing a team like Montclair can only make her squad better.
In a 3-0 win against Riverside on Wednesday, Oct. 4, Molly Dixon scored two goals and Heather Garces added a goal and an assist. Margaret Ecke had an assist. Jess Darienzo made six saves to record the shutout in goal.
New Egypt was scheduled to face Burlington City yesterday.

