By: Kyle Moylan Sports Editor
If there’s anyone on the Allentown High boys’ soccer team that had a feel for what the opposing goalie was thinking during a shootout, Bob Dubina figured it would be Connor Darrell.
Darrell scored the go-ahead goal in a shootout on Saturday and then made the clinching save as Allentown defeated Hopewell, 2-1, in the opening game of the Mercer County Tournament.
“We worked on penalty kicks in Friday’s practice,” Coach Dubina noted of when he decided his goalie would be able to make a penalty kick. “Connor kicks a hard ball. It’s solid and he works the ball into the corners. He also knows what the keeper is thinking.”
Earlier in the shootout, Adame Gerardo and Dean Search had scored. Hopewell also made two of its first four attempts, setting up Darrell to be the hero with a goal and save.
Through regulation and two 10-minute overtimes, Bobby Millar scored the only goal for Allentown. Millar had played the majority of the season in action for the freshmen and J.V. teams.
“He scored with 9:07 left to tie the game,” Dubina noted. “He was like a forward/goalie for the freshmen and J.V. teams. He’s been playing better, so I figured I’d give him a shot.”
And, as it turned out, Millar’s shot resulted in a very big goal for Allentown.
This was the third straight must-win for Allentown. And it was the third straight time Allentown got that win.
Allentown faced the possibility of being eliminated from a chance at qualify for the state tournament if it lost either of its two regular season games last week. At time, Dubina saw a tightness that he hadn’t noticed earlier in the season. Fortunately, he also saw a great determination.
On Tuesday, October 21, Allentown defeated Trenton, 1-0.
Bryan Pope scored the lone goal of the match, following up a shot by Romy Behary that hit the crossbar. Darrell made five saves to record the shutout in goal.
Two nights later, Allentown defeated Robbinsville, 2-0, to clinch a spot in the Central Jersey Group II playoffs.
“That doesn’t happen all that often for a soccer team at Allentown, so I was happy for the seniors,” Dubina said. “This was nice for the guys. It’s a nice thing to have.”
And Allentown got it by making sure it was ready to play Thursday night.
“I was really worried about this game,” Dubina said. “It seemed like a trap game. Robbinsville has been struggling record wise, but all their games have been close.”
Sure enough, the game was scoreless at the half. Allentown could have clinched a playoff spot with a tie (shootout are only held in tournaments when a winner has to be determined), but that wasn’t something the team wanted to do.
“I don’t like ties,” noted Dubina, who felt his team played too conservatively against Northern Burlington in a tie earlier this year.
“That tie against Northern Burlington was why we were in this mess (needing to win or tie in its final game before the state qualification date to be at .500 or better). Didn’t want to do that again and too many things can happen in overtime.”
Dubina gathered his team at halftime and told the guys they were playing a bit too tentative.
“We were a little nervous,” Dubina noted. “I told the guys that it was halftime and that the nerves should be gone by now. We play all season in a relaxed manner, without nerves. Why get them now?”
One thing Allentown did change during the course of the season was in some formations. Josh Howell was shifted back to center midfield.
“We did that to take advantage of his playmaking ability,” Dubina said. “He’s responded with like four or five assists in the past five games. He assisted on both of the goals (by Behary and Sean Miller) against Robbinsville.”
Darrell closed out the win with another shutout.
“I think Connor is the best goalie in the CVC (Colonial Valley Conference),” Dubina said. “He just doesn’t get the recognition he deserves because of our record. He’s kept us in numerous games this season.”
Allentown’s winning streak came to an end this past Monday as it was defeated in Mercer County Tournament action by Pennington, 3-1.
Allentown will now try and regroup and be ready for the start of the Central Jersey Group II Tournament.

