By Justin Feil, The Packet Group
The bar was set last year by the Allentown High School girls lacrosse team almost as high as it could go.
The Redbirds come off a 22-2 season that included the Mercer County Tournament championship win over West Windsor-Plainsboro North, a sectional title victory against Rumson-Fair Haven and a trip to the Group II state finals.
”I think it sets a tradition,” said AHS head coach Mary Ellen McCarthy. “It really raised the bar for Allentown lacrosse. We were 22-2. It’s something that this team wants to work toward continuing.”
The Redbirds will be doing so without two of their top players from a year ago. Alex Moore, the leading scorer in New Jersey history and third nationally with 434 career goals, is now playing for the University of Southern California. Ali Bulk is playing for Ohio State, and not to be overshadowed, three-year starting goalie Nicole Gerling is now at Lycoming College.
”I graduated five other seniors,” McCarthy said. “I have only returning two seniors. The rest are juniors, sophomores and I have a couple freshmen.”
This year’s team is younger overall, but does have experience, particularly last year’s, which is so valuable and a driving force for the Redbirds, who would love to return to the penultimate game.
”It’s always difficult to get into the state finals,” McCarthy said. “It’s a magical set of ingredients. It’s years in the making. I’m fortunate to have several girls returning, but I also have some new players in the mix.
”I have a brand new goalie, Emma Timmons, who didn’t really see varsity time last year. It’s having competitive time to work together. We had three scrimmages. The weather hasn’t been as great. We haven’t been able to get outside. We need more playing time to get together.”
The Redbirds were happy enough with what they saw in their season opener last Friday. Allentown pulled away late from West Windsor-Plainsboro South for a 14-11 win. Andrea Trentacosti had five goals and Sydney Quinn added four for the short-handed Redbirds. Kali Hartshorn will be back in 30 days and Kirsten Littlefield is back this week.
”What I liked is how they worked together,” McCarthy said. “They brought in to the game what we were working on in practice. The older kids were working with the younger kids to get everyone to gel and mesh together.”
McCarthy’s two seniors are vital cogs for Allentown, which was scheduled to play WW-P North on Tuesday. Quinn has been playing four years of varsity for the Redbirds and anchors the midfield. Littlefield is the rock of the defense, an important piece for Allentown who will not come off the field.
”I have some returning juniors like Maura McNutt and Andrea Trentacosti,” McCarthy said. “Meg Napp is also a returning junior. Kali Hartshorn is a returning sophomore. They all played in the state finals last year.”
Napp put in three goals against WW-P South to get her junior season started well. McNutt and Casey Provost each had a goal apiece. Alyssa Sloane had an assist. The Redbirds are still working out where their offense will come from without Moore and Bulk on the field.
”Andrea definitely stepped up,” McCarthy said. “And Sydney. Andrea had five goals and Sydney had four. The more that score and the more we spread it around, the better.”
The defense played well enough to get Allentown out to an 8-5 lead at halftime before WW-P South tied it in the second half. The Redbirds put together a run of their own to finish the game strong and pick up the win and build off a solid preseason.
”We scrimmaged some very good teams,” McCarthy said. “We scrimmaged Shore Regional and Eastern and Manasquan, and then we started out with West Windsor South who’s always good. We have North (on Tuesday). It’s always been exciting and I expect it to be the same.”
The Redbirds are working out how to duplicate their success of a year ago.
”It will be different this year,” McCarthy said. “The strengths are different. It’s up to me as the coach to figure them out and work with the talents I have and how they play off each other. Every season is different.”
McCarthy is looking forward to some better weather and the increased chances for the team to work together. It’s important for the Redbirds as they try to find the key to a championship program.
”There are some similarities,” McCarthy said. “And there are some new kids in the mix. I was fortunate to work with the seniors last year for three years. We got in a groove and got in a pattern. With some of them, we’re starting all over gain. That’s high school coaching. Every year, a class is going to graduate. You have to be able to coach the kids you have and develop what you have. It’s my fourth year as a coach. I’m developing a program.”
McCarthy has found success in a pair of her teams over the last year. Last fall, her AHS field hockey team also put together quite a run in the midst of winning her 300th career game.
”In hockey, we were 19-2,” McCarthy said. “I do share some of the girls. Last spring and June, in lacrosse to be sectional champion and being in the state final and then in field hockey in the fall, to be sectional champs and be in state semifinals, it’s exciting to be in such top-level competition.”
McCarthy would like to see the success continue through this spring and beyond. The Redbirds got off to a promising start, and when the team is at full strength and has several games together, they figure to be more able to reach their goals against a challenging schedule that should prepare them for their big-time goals.
”It takes team work and being patient and understanding everyone’s roles,” McCarthy said. “Truly understanding what I expect from the position they’re playing. It’s going to take a little bit. We’ll see North (on Tuesday), but also see them in the Mercer County Tournament. You get another chance to see them again.”

