ALLENTOWN: Redbird boys set for new soccer challenge

By Justin Feil, Packet Media Group
Will Sjaastad and his Allentown High School boys soccer teammates had been warned over and over about the new challenges after sharing a state championship.
Until the Redbirds started to play, however, they could not fully appreciate it.
"Since we’re co-state champions, we have a bulls-eye on our head," said Sjaastad, a senior captain. "I know teams were saying we weren’t the best team, we shouldn’t have gone that far last year. They know we’re a good team, and they’re putting in 100 percent and every game is going to be a challenge."
Allentown only tied once last year in a 17-3-1 season that saw them capture their first sectional and state titles. They opened the year with ties in two of their first three games.
"Up until the last game, we didn’t play hard," said AHS head coach Andrew Plunkett, whose team improved to 3-0-2 with a 6-1 win over Nottingham on Friday. "We were playing at 50-75 percent of our potential. Having the seniors back, I think they thought they’d just come out and win. Every team is playing like it’s the state final. They got a good wake-up call."
While the Redbirds would rather have won all of their first five games, the two ties seemed to snap them to the attention that pre-season warnings couldn’t.
"Coming back with 15 seniors, coming into it, and trying not to get our heads wrapped around it, it’s a lot harder than you think," Sjaastad said. "I honestly think it was one of the best things for us (to tie). As fun as it was in the postseason, we know what we need to do to get the wins and hopefully progress and get far in states and MCTs this year."
Allentown has won two in a row since its ties. It stopped Lawrence, 2-1, then crushed Nottingham. The Redbirds are starting to show their experience. They lost just one starter from a year ago.
"It really did help us," Sjaastad said. "Since we have so many returning players, we knew how to play with each other. It did give us a head start on teams that are playing freshmen and sophomores up this year."
It’s been difficult for any underclassmen to break through for the Redbirds. Freshman Nick Eng was brought up.
"He’s fitting well on the squad," Sjaastad said. "He’s a really quick kid. He’s fitting in nice."
Allentown also has two juniors, but the majority of their team is back. They have 15 seniors on the roster.
"It can be a blessing or curse," Plunkett said. "It’s not easy. They’re all seniors. The hardest thing is discipline and reeling them back in. They accomplished so much, it’s hard with the discipline."
Said Sjaastad: "The games have been tough lately. The subs haven’t gotten in a lot. They’ve gotten in a little, but they’ve shown they’re up to it."
Sjaastad has been steady in the back. He is the captain of the defense in front of another captain, Josh Samuel. The Redbirds expect with so many pieces back to be even tougher to score on, but have just their opening shutout over Hamilton.
"I think the one problem, the beginning of the season everyone was hyped up thinking we were never going to lose," Sjaastad said. "We weren’t trapping back on our man. We weren’t working hard. I think that finally changed."
The Redbirds have captains at each level. Sjaastad is a key among the defensive field players. Kevin Primich is a captain at forward. Kevin Perreira is a captain in the midfield.
"Personally, I just want to make sure our team clicks together," Sjaastad said. "Since I’m one of the four captains, I need to keep everyone level-headed and as serious as possible. It’s hard to control anyone. There really is no seniority over anyone."
A senior-laden team also has another concern. Most of those seniors are still in the process of deciding what they will be doing next year.
"It’s definitely hectic trying to figure out where you want to go, focusing on schoolwork, soccer and going to the gym," Sjaastad said. He has interest from Division I programs, but is strongly considering Rowan University for the chance to pursue his engineering interests. For the moment, he is intent on enjoying his final year at Allentown High.
"I was anxiously waiting," Sjaastad said. "I love high school soccer. I love my team. I love playing with them. That eight months went by pretty quick for me, even though our club team had some good traveling."
Sjaastad’s Upper Freehold/Allentown Soccer Association Strikers team reached the national finals before falling to a team from Washington Township, N.J. Now, Sjaastad is working toward a big finish with his high school team as they begin to gel.
"School soccer, you have eight months break from each other," Sjaastad said. "W all go to clubs and play a different style and don’t get to click with each other. Finally this week, we found that click.
"Honestly, I think the skill is there. As long as we keep working hard, I think that can push us through."
Last year, Sjaastad provided defense, yet proved dangerous on the attack as well. He led the team in scoring last year. He has two assists through five games.
"Will’s role is the same role as last year," Plunkett said. "He anchors the defense. He gets us organized offensively and defensively. He’s in the very back. He’s considered our sweeper.
"He scores off of set pieces. We work on those throughout the season. He’s an intelligent player. He’s tall. We work on set pieces and how to get him free and his timing on runs. He makes a very high percentage of opportunities he has."
Sjaastad is confident he can contribute again at both ends. He hasn’t scored his first goal yet, but feels that he will have his chances.
"The one thing that has been really beneficial for me is I can always make runs up the field," Sjaastad said. "That turned into five goals last year. And then five goals came off corner kicks. Since it’s been a little close, I haven’t been able to make runs up the field. Against Nottingham, I had a few runs that resulted in assists and almost had a goal."
Sjaastad is hoping that he can show the way that the Redbirds want to play every game. He tries to lead the team with his play.
"I try to come out every game hard," he said. "Being a captain, you have to come out every game knowing what you have to do to win the game, set an example for the other team, for the community, whoever comes out to see the team. It’s like a job. People are always watching. You have to be on your ‘A’ game."
The same is true of the entire team. The Redbirds are going to get great efforts from opponents this year who want to show they can knock off a defending state champion.
"We talked about it," Plunkett said. "I don’t think they were really battle tested yet. After the first tie, we worked on playing at a higher tempo. We got in a nice groove of passing it around last year. Teams aren’t going let us get in comfortable groove and pass it around as much. We need to get in a higher tempo."
Plunkett believes that being able to pass efficiently at a faster clip could separate the Redbirds from their foes, but they have to dictate play.
"Being able to move the ball at a high tempo pace," Plunkett said, "A lot of high school ball is won on set pieces and defending you’re third. If we can pass the ball well and pass the ball quickly, that’ll separate us from everyone else."
It may have taken a little longer than expected with so much back on the team from a year ago, but the Allentown High boys soccer team is starting to take the shape of a champion again.
"It takes a while coming back from the state championship to get your head wrapped around not being better than everyone else," Sjaastad said. "We’re not. I think after Friday’s game, we finally clicked to figure out what we had to do to win games this year."