Allentown High School’s Will Sjaastad uses his head to direct the ball to a teammate during the Redbirds’ match against Hightstown High School on Sept. 23 in Allentown. It took two overtimes, but Allentown won the game, 2-1. STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER ERIC SUCAR I t’s a new name and a new frontier for Millstone United Women’s Tennis Team, which is heading to Tucson, Ariz., next week to compete in the USTA National Championships on Oct. 10-12.
Known in the past as Millstone Spirit, the squad performed very strongly last year during the Winter League before losing in the district. This year’s team has yet to taste defeat, winning all 16 winter league matches, all four district matches and all five section matches, the latter against teams from Delaware and Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Lancaster in Pennsylvania.
The team practices at the Rocky Brook Park tennis courts, where it played its league home matches, and at Abate Park. Because some players were unavailable for the winter league matches from September through February, the roster was expanded by five players to 14.
There are two singles and three doubles contests at every match.
There will be two matches on the first day of nationals, with the semifinals on Oct. 11. The winner advances to the finals on Oct. 12.
Players pay for their own travel and personal expenses with support from team sponsor Woodland Run Equine Veterinary Facility.
“Even with the five new players, we’ve all become great friends,” said captain Tracey Klehr, who felt that no individual players could be singled out.
Team members include Fran Chinea, Carol Jacobs, Jeanne Dicicco, Jackie Valesi, Tracy Littlefield, Tangie Massey, Barbara Cholewa. Ela Eren, AnneMarie Denney, Laurie Scisente, Judy Azoulai, Joyce Galindo and Jennifer Sharp.
“Being captain of this team is one of the best experiences of my life. It’s funny that no matter how old you get, the feeling of being on a team is so great,” Klehr said. “No matter what happens, we are here for each other, win or lose. Everybody is an important part of the team. Every single player has been a major contributor to the team and its success. It’s why we have good depth.”
ALLENTOWN
Quarterback Michael Curry played a solid all-around game, as Allentown High School’s football team overcame an early 7- 3 deficit and rolled past Nottingham High School, 24-7, on Sept. 27. The team improved to 3-0 for its third 3-0 start in coach Jay Graber’s five seasons at the helm. Next up is a night game at home against winless Steinert High School on Oct. 2.
“[Nottingham] has a good quarterback who throws well and a good defensive front, but our offensive line has been playing well,” Graber said. “We struggled a little in the first half and came out of it. I’m happy with how we’re playing.”
Matt DeRisi kicked a field goal for a 3- 0 Allentown lead before Nottingham went ahead on a 43-yard run. Curry put Allentown back ahead with a 5-yard TD run in the second quarter, before Jordan Winston and Curry put the game away in the final quarter with 8-yard scoring scampers.
Curry rushed for 77 yards on 19 carries and completed 5-of-7 passes for 82 yards. He also intercepted two passes on defense, as did Jake Morse. Winston rushed for 91 yards on 16 carries. Ricky Mottram and David Krieg each made eight tackles.
“We played tough. We filled the gaps and played against the pass well,” Graber said.
Allentown has outscored its opponents, 89-20. At 2-0 in the West Jersey Football League Colonial Division, it is in a threeway tie for the lead.
Cross-country
Conor Murphy clocked a time of 16:12, just one second off his time in the NSIAA Central Jersey Group III sectionals last November, to win the Central Jersey Shootout at Thompson Park on Sept. 27.
“He’s way ahead of where he was last year,” Allentown boys coach Brian Harshman said. “He’s really thrived from the work he’s done the past three years. He has continued to progress, and we hope all of our athletes follow and continue to get better.”
Hunter Mulryne was 29th in 17:55, followed by Andrew Fortier in 35th (18:14).
For the girls team, Michelle Foley clocked in at 21:55 for 31st, followed by Mimi Crawford in 36th (22:13) and Sara Gutter in 37th (22:31).
In dual meets, Allentown’s girls are 4-1 and the boys are 3-2.
The girls swept past Trenton Central High School and Steinert in a triangular meet on Sept. 23 at Mercer County Park, as Crawford finished in 20:34. Gutter and Foley came in together at 21:11, and Jesse Bragger and Samie Tendler clocked in with identical 23:04 times.
Murphy had a winning time of 17:01 when the boys swept their triangular against the same teams, both by identical 22-35 scores. Also running well were Mulryne (17:34), Fortier (18:12) Vincent Ferriola (18:13) and Nate Byrnes (18:18).
Allentown’s girls and boys had a quadmeet scheduled for Sept. 30 with tough opponents Notre Dame High School, Princeton High School and Hightstown High School. They’ll be at the Shore Coaches Meet in the B Division on Oct. 4 at Holmdel Park.
Field hockey
Allentown’s field hockey team improved to 6-0 with a 10-0 rout of Nottingham, as Maura McNutt scored three times. Kayla Peterson and Colbie Kennedy each scored twice. Emma Timmons notched the shutout in goal.
The Redbirds have a busy week, with games scheduled for Sept. 29 at Lawrence High School and Sept. 30 at Bridgewater- Raritan High School. They host Freehold Township High School on Oct. 2.
Boys soccer
Kevin Pereira scored in double overtime to give the defending Group III state cochampion Allentown boys soccer team a 2- 1 victory over Hightstown on Sept. 23 in Hightstown. Will Sjaastad assisted on the goal. Josh Samuels made five saves for Allentown, which got a goal in the first half from Matthew Skinner before Hightstown tied it in the second half. Allentown, which has a 15-6 scoring edge in a 4-0-2 start, played host to Notre Dame on Sept. 30 and travels to Hopewell Valley Central High School on Oct. 2.
Girls soccer
With standout midfielder Kali Hartshorn out of the lineup with a concussion, Allentown struck first on a goal by Christina Denney before losing to Hightstown, 3-1.
“[Hightstown’s] star player, [Dakota Mills], scored all three goals, and we just can’t stop the big players’ threats,” coach Kim Maurer said as the Redbirds slipped to 4-2. “The same thing happened when we lost to West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North, 5-3.”
Allentown has a big week with games scheduled for Sept. 30 against Notre Dame and Oct. 2 against Hopewell Valley.
Maurer said freshman Carly Roche stepped in well in Hartshorn’s spot. Fellow freshman Cassidy Mulryne excelled at stopper, along with striker Veronica Gotilla, right fullback Toni Catelli and center fullback Sarah Settlecowski in the flat back four configuration.
“Workhorse” defensive midfielder Alyson Sloane and high-scoring wing forward Denney, who is the only senior in the starting lineup, have also played well for the Redbirds.