Boys lacrosse has high hopes
By Ken Weingartner, Special Writer
The Allentown High boys lacrosse team is ready to get back to work and hoping to complete a couple jobs left undone last season.
Last year, the Redbirds went 16-5 and reached the Mercer County Tournament championship game, where they fell to Princeton. They also reached the semifinals of the South Jersey Group II tourney before bowing to Seneca.
”We have high hopes, high expectations,” said Carl Schubauer, who is in his first season as the program’s head coach after serving more than a half-dozen years as an assistant. “We have unfinished business for this year.
”We’d like to get back to the MCT final this year and have a different outcome,” added Schubauer, who replaced Michael Kays as head coach. “That really stands out. The next expectation is to go further in states. (The MCT) is one of the big motivating factors. Notre Dame is the other big motivating factor.”
Allentown, which captured last year’s Colonial Valley Conference Valley Division championship, opens its season today against Notre Dame. The Redbirds lost to ND by a goal in last year’s season-opener, then defeated the Irish in the MCT semifinals as they reached their first county title game.
”That’s our sole focus right now,” Schubauer said. “It’s a good gauge (playing Notre Dame in the opener), but it also gives you good focus in the preseason. It gives you something right off the bat that you’re working for immediately.
”Last year I think playing them was a good thing for us. It was a loss for us and it stayed with us all the way through to the MCTs when we saw them again.”
Although there is a coaching change, Schubauer expects little to be different this season for the Redbirds. Schubauer worked a number of years with Kays, who stepped down after taking an administrative position at Stone Bridge Middle School.
”It’s the same game plan that we’ve had, because it was always the two of us before,” Schubauer said. “We worked well together. So that part of it is all set in place. It’s nothing new, other than I have more paperwork that I’m responsible for.”
Allentown graduated high-scoring Stefan Pappas, but returns plenty of talent from last year’s team. Senior defenseman Michael Adler was first-team All-CVC while senior attack Justin Pepe was second-team All-CVC. Junior midfielder Dakota Wojcik received all-division honors.
Seniors Brian McNutt and Mitch Lamb along with sophomore Mike Dacey will see time with Pepe on attack. Pepe had 32 goals and 43 assists last year while McNutt had 18 goals and 10 assists.
Joining Wojcik as middies are senior Trevor Sullivan, juniors Michael Curry, Bobby Campbell, Anthony Murphy, Tyler Newman, Cris Masserini (long stick) and Andrew Clark (long stick), sophomore Kyle Moore and freshman James Neebling.
The defense finds seniors Trevor Ferrara and Connor Marshall and junior James Abramo joining Adler, who led the team with 74 ground balls and chipped in two goals and six assists.
”I think we have two big strengths,” Schubauer said. “Our defense is solid, they’re returning from last year, and our speed on offense. We’re a very fast-moving team.
”We’re looking really good. The team is playing together as a team and we’re all real happy with the progress we’ve made and where we’re going. It’s all been very positive.”

