‘2-gether’ for a common goal

Gaum still a major part of Allentown field hockey

BY: Kyle Moylan Sports Editor
    Even before they played a single game, everyone on the Allentown High School field hockey team knew this is going to be a difficult season.
    It really has nothing to do with wins and losses. Mary Ellen McCarthy is entering her 14th season as coach and has a record of 208-31-9. She led Allentown to an 18-4 record last year and to the finals of the Mercer County and Central Jersey Group II tournaments.
    What’s difficult about this season is the fact all the players and coaches miss Briana Gaum, a senior last year that died in a car crash only weeks before graduating Allentown High.
    McCarthy coached both Briana and her sister Shannon. The veteran coach notes that several of her returning players were especially close with Briana.
    In Gaum’s honor, the team has made up special t-shirts in her name. Her jersey #2 has also been painted inside a halo in the team’s shed. The players will also be wearing armbands this season with Gaum’s name and number on them. A slogan of “2-gether” is being used to honor Gaum and her lasting legacy.
    According to McCarthy, she has been contacted by more former players than usual since Gaum’s death. They all look at the Allentown field hockey program as a giant family. To McCarthy this means much more to her as a coach than even her gaudy record.
    “I take a lot of pride in the program,” McCarthy said. “What I’m most proud of is what the girls get out of it. They graduate and they still come back. The sad event of Briana brought even more girls back. We’re a family. They can rely on that in their toughest hour. We have people that are thinking about you and care about you. That means a lot more to me than wins and losses.”
    Even so, the games will be played. Might as well do what Allentown field hockey does best on game day — win.
    Allentown returns a core group of five players, four of which are seniors — Shea Clemencich (forward), Taylor Harvey (back), Kasie Nurko (forward/midfielder) and Angela Scibilia (back). Junior Paige Weatherbee (center mid) is also in that group.
    “Those girls are leaders,” McCarthy said. “They have been together three years. Their ability to click with the other girls is what’s going to make us a good team.”
    Girls that played part-time on varsity and are poised to take over starting jobs include senior Lauren Salge (defense), juniors Sam O’Brien (midfield/back), Lindsey Bacovin (forward/midfield) and Erin Brink (forward/midfield), and sophomore Ciara Weatherbee (forward/midfield).
    Seniors Julie Embley (defense) and Alicia Balko (defense) are up from J.V. The same is true of Nikki Barbaree, a junior that was the J.V. goalie last year and will get a crack at the varsity job this season. Sam Scibilia, a junior that plays defense, will also be moving up to the varsity.
    According to McCarthy, the move from J.V. to varsity is not as big as some people might think.
    “Our J.V. is very organized,” McCarthy noted of the team coached by Dana Thompson, a former player at the school a decade ago. “They know what is expected of them. So when it comes time for them to move up to varsity, it flows very smoothly.”
    As a unit, McCarthy’s team has speed. They also have a legacy and a proven system.
    “As the girls play more on varsity and get even more comfortable in my system, we’ll just get better and better.”
    Allentown has a pair of tough early challenges, hosting Steinert on Friday and Lacey on Saturday. Allentown defeated Steinert in overtime in the season opener last year. Steinert went on to become the Central Jersey Group IV champions, though.
    “Our goals are to win our division and get to where we were last year (in the championship games of the Mercer County and Central Jersey Group II tournaments) and go from there.”
    Doing that will be tough. Every game is difficult. But nothing will be quite like the challenge of dealing with the loss of a loved one.
    “Mr. Gaum works at the school and still comes out and talks to the girls on the field hockey team,” McCarthy said. “It’s a tough situation. Everyone misses her.”