By Bob Nuse, The Packet Group
The defensive players on the Allentown High School girls soccer team knew that eventually, the goals would come. So they just did their thing on defense and let the offense take care of itself.
”We had 15 or 16 shots at halftime so we knew eventually one of them was going to go in,” said sophomore sweeper Sarah Settlecowski. “It was just a matter of time.”
After nearly 55 minutes of scoreless soccer, Toni Catelli scored to break a scoreless tie and the Redbirds were on their way to a 3-0 win over upset-minded Nottingham on Monday.
With the win, fourth-seeded Allentown advanced to the quarterfinals of the Central Jersey Group III tournament, where it will face fifth-seeded Northern Burlington, which topped Ewing, 1-0, on Monday.
Allentown had beaten Nottingham, 3-0, when the teams met earlier this season. But with Northstars goalie Chelsea Toscano making several big saves the game was scoreless until near the middle of the second half.
”I prefer not to have to play someone that we have already seen during the year,” Allentown coach Coleen Weber said after her team improved to 13-3-2. “It makes it that much harder to play a team you have seen before. And I thought they did a very nice job defensively, especially with their goalkeeping, in the first half. But we came out and talked about it at halftime as far as what we needed to do to improve and we did exactly what I asked. So I could not be happier.”
After Catelli gave the Redbirds the lead, Jewels Valesi added two more goals in the final eight minutes of the game for the win. While the offense was doing its job, the defense was recording its seventh shutout of the season.
”There is a lot of communication back there,” Settlecowski said of the defense. “We make sure we always keep talking. It has been chaotic this year because one of our starters was injured in the beginning of the season. But I think we have a solid team going into the states.
”I feel confident with my defender wings and my stopper. And I always have confidence in Mandy (Hornyak) that she is going to stop the ball.”
The offense always seems to find a way to score — the Redbirds have not been shut out this season — so when the defense does its job the end result is generally positive.
”They work together a lot,” Weber said of the defense. “We have five girls that circle in there throughout the game. There is really no drop off from the people who go in. It is nice as a coach to be able to put any combination of girls back there and they do a good job.”
The Redbirds hope this first state win is just one of many as they look to get onto a post-season roll.
”We’re feeling confident,” Settlecowski said. “I think we have to be focused and concentrate on every game because we know every game is going to be close. Last year we had a lot of PKs and overtime games. We’re prepared for it this year.”
Added Weber: “I was very confident in my team and the way we have played this year. I think it was only a matter of time before our offense broke through. Their goalkeeper played very well.”
In other state tournament action, the Robbinsville girls soccer was eliminated from the Central Jersey Group II tournament with a 2-0 loss to Delaware Valley on Monday. The Ravens, the No. 8 seed, finished the season with an 8-8 record.
In CJ I, New Egypt is the No. 2 seed and received a bye in the opening round. The Warriors will host Point Pleasant Beach in the quarterfinals today.
In boys soccer action, top-seeded Allentown got an overtime goal from Will Sjaastad to top upset-minded Middletown North, 2-1, in the opening round of the CJ III tournament. Kevin Pereira had the assist on the winning goal, while Andrew Bardwill scored in regulation for the Redbirds. Allentown, which improved to 13-3 with the win, will host eighth-seeded Jackson Liberty in the quarterfinals on Friday.
New Egypt is the No. 1 seed in the CJ I boys soccer tournament. The Warriors received an opening-round bye and will host Asbury Park in the quarterfinals on Friday.
In state field hockey, the top-seeded Allentown girls advanced to the Central Jersey Group III semifinals with a 4-0 win over Jackson Liberty. Maura McNutt, Hope Narozniak, Kayla Peterson and Cassidy Troy each scored goals to back the shutout goalkeeping of Haley Paterson. The Redbirds are scheduled to host fifth-seeded Northern Burlington in the semifinals today.
In CJ II field hockey play, second-seeded Robbinsville advanced to the sectional semifinals with a 5-1 win over Pemberton. Courtney Allen scored three goals, while Ariana Dolce and Caroline Parylak each added a goal. The Ravens are scheduled to host sixth-seeded Manasquan today in the semifinals.
In North Jersey, Section 2 Group I, eighth-seeded New Egypt topped Metuchen, 6-2, in the opening round as Mackenzie Magnotta scored three goals and Brooke Gatyas added a pair of goals. The Warriors then lost to top-seeded Shore Regional, 6-1, in the quarterfinals. Emily Davis scored for the Warriors.

