Allentown boys soccer is 5-0
By Justin Feil, The Packet Group
It wasn’t hard for Ryan Darrell and the Allentown High School boys soccer team to find motivation for this year.
The Redbirds had come tantalizingly close to their first Central Jersey Group III sectional championship before falling to Princeton High in the final to end last season’s record-setting year that saw them go 15-5-1.
”Getting so close last year in the state tournament, it showed we can go far and it’s really what’s driving us,” said Darrell, a senior defender. “I think it really helped us to practice harder. Especially because one of our first games was Princeton, who beat us last year, and we wanted to come out strong and show everyone we’re still strong and not going to give up.”
Despite significant graduation losses, the Redbirds have come out flying. After crushing Hamilton West, 7-1, to open the season, they served notice of their ability with a 2-1 overtime win over Princeton.
”I think it really shows us if we put our mind to it and continue to try to play hard, we can play with the best of the best,” Darrell said. “Princeton has been the powerhouse in our conference. This might be the first time we’ve beaten them. Our team has been playing well.”
The statement win was heard loud and clear around the state. Allentown has rocketed into the top 10 in the state’s biggest newspaper’s statewide rankings.
”I didn’t anticipate it this early,” said Allentown head coach Andrew Plunkett of the No. 8 ranking from The Star-Ledger. “I’m kind of wishing we didn’t get ranked that high. The kids are excited about it. It gives them a lot of confidence. They have to incorporate it the right way.”
Allentown has not looked content since it moved up. It followed up the win over Princeton with a convincing win over West Windsor-Plainsboro North and a 1-0 win over a talented Nottingham side last week. They improved to 5-0 with a 3-0 win over Hightstown on Monday to continue a fast start that comes despite having to insert seven new starters from last year.
”For the most part, we’ve all been playing together for a very long time,” Darrell said. “We lost a good chunk of seniors, but everyone returning, we’ve been on our A game.”
Darrell is the lone returning player in the back. He started at outside back last year, but he’s moved to sweeper this season.
”His confidence is there,” Plunkett said. “He seems much more stable and confident in terms of defending 1 on 1 and getting the midfielders and defenders into place.
”He’s a great defender,” he added. “He’s quick. He can read the game. He controls the game.”
Controlling the game is a big part of the job description at sweeper, and a big part of being the lone returner. It’s an adjustment for Darrell.
”Since my sophomore year, I’ve been playing outside back and able to make a lot more runs,” he said. “Since having to settle down back at sweeper, I have to direct everyone as a unit and see the field and help direct us, push everyone up and pull everyone back. I can give instructions because I can see the whole field from back there.
”I feel a lot more responsibility because of being the last man on defense. If anything breaks down, I want to make sure I’m playing my best and make sure no breakdowns happen. I want to keep my focus and direct our team as a unit.”
Darrell is doing his best to help orchestrate the back that not only has new defenders, but two new goalies splitting time to replace the graduated Bob Millar. Cameron Maxwell is a junior while Josh Samuel is a sophomore, and they have effectively split time in goal. The Redbirds have allowed just three goals all season through four games.
”I think it’s worked pretty well,” Darrell said. “Each gives each goalie a sense of competitiveness. They can’t slack off in practice. They’re helping each other get better. I don’t see any problem with having either back there – they’re both good goalies and I can count on them.”
Plunkett is comfortable with what he’s getting out of the split goalie duties in front of a defense whose depth has made a difference.
”There’s competition there,” Plunkett said. “They know I go by who’s playing best at the current time. It’s working well to keep that competition alive throughout the season.”
Allentown withstood a Nottingham attack that can be quite dangerous. The Northstars are one of the fastest teams in the area, and they tested the Redbirds defense.
”In the Nottingham game, they were very, very fast paced,” Darrell said. “It caught us a little off guard at first, but we adjusted and played better defense and learned how to guard better players. It showed us moving forward how we have to guard players differently and how we have to adjust to different people’s styles. I think we can do that pretty quickly.”
The defense doesn’t have to do it all with an offense that has proven capable of breaking out with 15 goals through four games. Kevin Primich had the lone goal in the win over Nottingham with an assist going to Anthony Derisi.
”We have a really good balance of players,” Darrell said. “We have players up top who can score, and our midfield is good about getting back on defense and helping and transitioning up, and our defense has been learning pretty quickly. Every position is a balanced. We’ve only let up three goals and scored 15, so I think it really shows.”
It’s led to a good start that shows there is even more promise for later games.
”What’s encouraging,” Plunkett said, “is we haven’t played our best soccer yet and still haven’t lost one yet.”
Darrell says that the Redbirds will be tough to beat if they can continue to play their style and control possession to generate even better opportunities than they have been getting. And defensively, he’s already seen enough progress to be encouraged that Allentown won’t need many goals to win most games, but the Redbirds aren’t satisfied.
”I’m focusing on everything,” Plunkett said. “We keep adding new things to work on. We started working on defense, on offense, on set plays. It keeps the team on their toes. You see a team early on and it isn’t necessarily the team you see later in the season or in the postseason.”
It’s too early to be celebrating anything yet, and there are enough players like Ryan Darrell who know what’s at stake far down the road in the state tournament.
”In the preseason, we actually suffered one loss to Hun in the preseason,” Darrell said. “That showed we have to always be working hard. And we have to be on our mental game and have to keep each other focused. But that strong preseason confirmed we’d still be able to keep up with everyone and still be a contender this year.”

