Moving into a tougher Colonial Valley Conference Colonial Division this spring from the Valley Division against successful, well-established programs such as Princeton and West Windsor-Plainsboro South proved a challenge for Allentown High School’s boys lacrosse team.
“It was definitely a learning experience for myself and the whole team,” said coach Michael Kays. Allentown finished 3-15 after the Redbirds enjoyed fine seasons in recent years and had a 125-goal career scorer in Matt Mueller, who graduated last year and is playing at Providence College. “And with the underclassmen we played, it was an obstacle going against many teams that had older lineups.
“The seniors who had played an easier schedule the first three years could’ve said ‘This season’s in the bag’ before they started, but they just had a positive attitude,” added Kays. “They took games seriously. They took practices seriously, which was not easy with the season we were having.”
Tyler Freeman, who will continue his playing career at Kean University, leads the group of eight seniors graduated this spring who were blended in the lineup with sophomores and freshmen. He helped the defense in transition, and graduated senior James Kiczalis worked with Freeman to anchor the back line in front of sophomore goalkeeper Ryan O’Leary and sophomore backup Kyle Sulit. Kays said his defense showed “lacrosse savvy as it broke down what offenses were doing and how they were trying to attack.”
That included young defensemen Ryan Raslowsky, a sophomore, and freshmen Trevor Ferrara and Mike Adler. What the team will work on improving for next season, Kays said, is stick skills, which means stick protection and winning face-offs. He is calling for an even stronger participation by his players in summer workouts and more commitment to summer leagues and travel teams.
“What was good was their attitude. They played four quarters,” Kays said, pointing to many comebacks that chipped away at sizable halftime deficits, including a 6-5 loss to Northern Burlington. “That mind-set was good for many of the younger players on the team. The senior leadership affected the younger players.”
“I think with the young talent we have, we took our lumps, but we’ll be competitive in the other division,” said Athletic Director Brian Irwin. “It takes time.”
The Redbirds will miss the play of graduated attackmen Scott Keleher, who led the team with 16 goals, and midfielder Chris Pepe, who moved from attack and scored 14 goals. “He [Pepe] was positive about the move,” Kays said. “He approached it as a leader and played on both sides [offense and defense] because he’s a good all-around midfielder.”
Three supporting players on this year’s team also are departing, including long stick middie Brian Tobias and midfielders Trevor Fernes, who handled many faceoffs, and Chris Johnston.
Luke Olexsak, a junior, came on strong at the end of the season as a midfielder, Kays said.
“He has a lot of tools,” Kays added. “He had been a defensive middie but came on at the offensive end, too, this season. We’re expecting a lot from him next year.”
Brian McNutt, a freshman attack, led the team in points.
Kays said he also is looking to the maturing of young players Aidan Yeager, a sophomore, and Justin Pepe, a freshman and younger brother of Chris, on the attack, as well as sophomore Mark Kwietniak as a midfielder.