Here they come

McCarthy reminding people not to forget about Redbirds

BY: Kyle Moylan Sports Editor
    If it seems like the Allentown High School field hockey team has gone away, that’s only because the team was scheduled off for a week between its game.
    “I think people are forgetting about us,” noted Allentown Coach Mary Ellen McCarthy. “I think a lot of people have counted us out. It’s time for us to show everyone what Allentown field hockey is about.”
    This past week was a good start.
    After being off for a week between games, even McCarthy was concerned about how her girls would respond. After combining to beat Nottingham and Princeton by a 14-1 score, those worries have dwindled.
    “After that long of a layoff, it’s hard to stay focused,” McCarthy said. “We did some fun things in practice to help keep the energy up.”
    And Allentown worked a great deal on how to set up — and finish — scoring chances. Obviously, McCarthy’s players listened.
    Lindsay Bacovin and Shea Clemencich both scored two goals in a 9-0 win over Nottingham last Thursday. Maddie Collins, Taylor Harvey, Angela Scibilia, Samantha Scibilia and Kasie Nurko also scored goals. Nurko (three) Scibilia (two) and Janice Dutko added assists.
    Allentown outshot Nottingham, 25-1. That meant Nikki Barbaree had a pretty uneventful day in goal while recording the shutout.
    Allentown followed up that win by defeating Princeton, 5-1. Nurko had three goals and an assist. Clemencich had two goals and two assists.
    “They (Clemencich and Nurko) are both seniors and have played varsity for four years,” McCarthy noted.
    “Kasie is on a travel team and has college coaches asking about her. I knew this would be her year to shine.”
    Nurko has responded with 10 goals and seven assists. Clemencich has 10 goals and three assists.
    “She (Clemencich) works hard and has had the benefit of seeing some of the great players from Allentown when she was younger,” McCarthy noted of her daughter.
    McCarthy took her daughter to practices and games when she was young. Clemencich would often be on the sideline, practicing her stick work with Pam Zukowski, Tiffany Fodera, Katie Nicholson and Kelly Gower.
    “She’s been around this for a long time,” McCarthy said. “It’s probably tough for her having her mother be her coach, but it’s a lot of fun for me. I love it.” Nurko had a goal and assist as Allentown edged Steinert, 3-2, on Monday. Harvey and Collins had the other goals. Nikki Barbaree made eight saves in goal.
    McCarthy adds Harvey to the solid core of Clemencich and Nurko. The key to any great hockey team, however, is to realize a core is just a starting point. Your team is only as good as the players used to build around a core.
    “The great thing is so many other girls have stepped up,” McCarthy noted of her 7-2 team.
    McCarthy has been impressed by the way the Scibilias have matured on the defense.
    “Angela has progressed so much from last year to this one,” McCarthy said. “She’s a vocal leader on defense. She’s a presence on the field.”
    Samanatha Scibilia, a junior, has moved from JV to a starting role on defense. The same is true of seniors Ali Valko and Julie Embley.
    When a player moves from J.V. to varsity in McCarthy’s system, she expects them to be ready and to produce. And based on the results, that’s what’s happened.
    Allentown was scheduled to face Moorestown yesterday (Wednesday). It will play at Hopewell on Friday and Robbinsville 4 p.m. on Tuesday.
    There are no more week-long layoffs on the schedule for Allentown. That’s fine. McCarthy and her players neither need or want them. They’re ready.
    “We had the terrible time with Brian (Gaum, who died in a car accident last Spring),” McCarthy noted. “You go through this empty feeling. For the girls to play and have fun is a good thing.”
    Gaum was a field hockey player on Allentown. She’d understand the weight of expectations every season and the joy of fulfilling them. And everyone that ever played for Allentown is part of the pride of the program and collective voice that, seeing the team be somewhat overlooked, after being good for so long, can’t help but wonder: “Are you kidding me?”