For the Allentown High School boys varsity soccer team, the 2006 season began with a new coach, saw the development of a strong scorer and ended as one of the most successful seasons in the history of the program.
By John Chester, Sports Writer
For the Allentown High School boys varsity soccer team, the 2006 season began with a new coach, saw the development of a strong scorer and ended as one of the most successful seasons in the history of the program.
The Redbirds accomplishments included a winning season with 11 wins, a semifinal berth in the Mercer County Tournament and the school’s first appearance in the state tournament since 2003.
Allentown also qualified for the Central Jersey Group III Tournament. Seeded 11th, the Redbirds fell at No. 6 Hopewell Valley High in the first round but not without a major fight. The game was decided in extra rounds of penalty kicks after the team played to a 2-2 tie in regulation and neither scored in overtime.
This was Allentown’s first appearance in the state tournament since 2003, when Allentown was a Group II school.
The Redbirds won their opener, 1-0, at Neptune High before losing in the second round at New Brunswick High, 3-1. Senior center Piero Mancini was the driving force on offense for Allentown, leading the team in scoring with 27 goals.
Widmarc “Tigana” Dalce was the driving force on the Allentown sideline. The new coach brought a wealth of experience as a player and a coach to Allentown. He competed at a high level for years, with entries on his resume including Haiti’s national team, Haiti’s Olympic team and the 1996 Mercer County Community College team that won the junior college Division I national championship.
Dalce also brought to Allentown the experience of successfully coaching local boys and girls travel teams. His 2004 West Windsor-Plainsboro Mutiny boys team advanced to a state cup final. That squad included some of Allentown’s 2006 varsity players, including center midfielder/forward Christopher Katzman.
The new coach instilled discipline from the start among the Redbirds. That led to the team developing a winning attitude and putting together a memorable 2006 season.
Nine seniors, including Mancini, were lost to graduation from the 2006 team, including six starters. Among those gone is Katzman, who moved on to continue his education and soccer career at Cabrini College in Radnor, Pa.
Marc Payson, who was on the varsity last year as a junior, is not returning. He has decided to focus on lacrosse in his senior year.
As a result, Dalce said his team is in a rebuilding mode. But he qualified the statement by saying that the rebuilding will be done in-season this year as the team moves to the Colonial Valley Conference’s Patriot League after being in the Valley League in 2006.
He said he expects the team to get progressively better as the seasons unfolds, with a return to the state tournament a definite objective.
In order to qualify for the state tournament, a team must have a minimum winning percentage of .500 at the cutoff date of Oct. 19.
This year, Allentown has been re-classified one level lower than in 2006 — as a Group II school. So if the Redbirds make the state tournament, they’d begin by competing in the CJ II Tournament.
”We’re striving to make the playoffs,” Dalce said. “We’re going to be better in October. I’ll be working hard with the kids to get this team to the playoffs. And the kids themselves know what they have to do.”
Dalce will build the team around four returning starters. The captains are seniors Brandon Smith, William Morris and Josh Howell. Smith was the center midfielder in 2006 and is back at the position this year. Dalce has encouraged Smith to become more active on offense.
Morris, who was a starter at outside midfielder last year, will be used more as a forward this year. And Howell returns as an outside fullback.
Another returning starter is sophomore goalkeeper Connor Darrell. Dalce likes what he sees from the mobile Darrell, who stands 6 feet tall.
Four other players return to the varsity. Brendan Skeehan and Brennen Neuberger are juniors. Mark Maiorano and Dean Search are sophomores. Last year, they were primarily reserves but were in the starting lineup in some games. This year, they’ll compete for expanded playing time – Skeehan at left fullback, Neuberger at stopper, Maiorano at center midfielder and Search at forward.
Regular season opener: Allentown’s varsity dropped its season opener, 4-2, Sept. 7 at West Windsor-Plainsboro High North. The Redbirds fell behind quickly, 2-0. Allentown cut the deficit in half on the first of two goals by Smith with about 10 minutes left in the first half. He scored on a direct kick from about 30 yards out. Unfortunately for Allentown, WW-P North scored its remaining two goals later in the first half to depart at halftime with a lead that provide to be insurmountable – 4-1.
”We made some errors defensively. But we really picked it up in the second half,” Dalce said. “I think their fitness level was not as good as ours. We probably should have made it 4-3. But we missed some good opportunities.”
Smith scored the only goal in the second half, his second for Allentown, on a penalty kick. Search drew the foul that led to the penalty kick. Dalce said top players in the game for Allentown included goalkeeper Darrell and forwards Morris and Search.
Notes: Allentown will take on Ewing at Mercer County Community College today.
Matt Vernon is serving as coach of the junior varsity team. A former goalkeeper, Vernon works with the goalkeepers on all teams in the program. Joe Monticello is the coach of Allentown’s freshman team.