Allentown High School’s Joe Mannino, middle, powers his way through the Nottingham High School line behind his blockers during the Sept. 25 game played in Allentown. Nottingham surprised the Redbirds, 20-14. STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER ERIC SUCAR Allentown High School’s field hockey and girls soccer teams remained unbeaten heading into this week, when the Redbirds’ girls soccer team has two big games at home.
The field hockey team rolled along in a 5-0 start and a relatively high 23-4 goalscoring ratio under new head coach Dana Thompson, which included a 4-0 victory over Hamilton High School West Sept. 24 and a 7-1 rout of Steinert High School Sept. 21.
The girls soccer team (6-0) has a 21-3 scoring edge and has a string of three shutout victories coming into this week despite playing without goalie Ali DeSalvatore, who is expected back this week after suffering a wrist injury two weeks ago.
Molly Robinson has helped fill in at goalie in the meantime, along with Abby Howell, in a 5-0 victory over Lawrence High School Sept. 21 and 7-0 over winless Nottingham High School Sept. 24.
But the Redbirds will be without Kali Hartshorn, who suffered a concussion that will sideline her for three games, while center fullback Hannah Robertson in the flat back four defense also has been injured. Coach Kim Maurer has had to rotate in young players who have filled in adequately.
The Redbirds played Hightstown High School (6-0-2) Sept. 29. They play Notre Dame High School (4-1-1) Oct. 1 and go on the road Oct. 5 to play Hamilton West.
“Kali is a physical presence on the field. She attracts defenders,” Maurer said of Hartshorn, who also suffered a concussion in the game against Nottingham last season. “We missed her last season and we lost to Hightstown afterward but beat Notre Dame.”
But with a strong, balanced offense that has taken the pressure off last year’s go-to scoring leader (Hartshorn), the Redbirds are off to a fast start like they were a year ago when they reeled off five straight victories after a 3-2 start.
“We got a little more offense than we have had in the past,” Maurer said. “We’ve been outshooting teams by a lot. But we’re finishing our opportunities. We outshot West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North, 25-2, and only beat them, 1-0. But lately, we’re taking 15 shots and scoring five or six goals now. We’ve had people step up, and we’re playing 16, 17 girls a game, and I’m very happy with the way we’ve been playing.”
Alyssa Sloan scored twice to lead six players in scoring against Nottingham. Nikki DeSalvatore, Veronica Gotilla, Morgan Gravatt, Delaney Matthews and Hartshorn scored the others. Gotilla struck for two goals against Lawrence and Hartshorn, Emma Pascarela and Alex Searing fired in the others. As for field hockey, the Redbirds have a lighter load this week playing winless Nottingham Sept. 28 and Lawrence (2-4) Sept. 30, both at home, before going on the road Oct. 5 to play rival Hopewell Valley Central High School, which is struggling at 3-2-2.
Olivia Pozza scored twice in a 4-0 victory over Hamilton West (3-2-1) Sept 24, and Kayla Peterson and Hope Norozniak put in the other goals. Katie White secured the shutout.
Paige Zytkowicz had the hat trick in a 7- 1 victory over Steinert (1-6) Sept. 21, while Pozza, Norozniak, Colbie Kennedy and Shaelyn O’Leary fired in the others. Allentown broke away from a 3-1 halftime lead.
Football
Coming off an 81-56 victory over West Windsor-Plainsboro North, Allentown (2-2) took an early 14-0 lead but was shut down from there as Nottingham won, 20-14, Sept. 28.
Quarterback Jordan Winston rushed for 145 yards on 25 carries, giving him 902 rushing yards on the season. Winston scored on a 1-yard run, and Joe Mannion ran 14 yards for the other touchdown. Matt Fritsky kicked both extra points in the first quarter.
Nottingham rallied from there, scoring the winning touchdown on a 3-yard run off a long drive in the third quarter. Late in the game, Allentown drove 18 plays to the 22- yard line but was pushed back on a holding penalty and gave the ball up on downs at Nottingham’s 20-yard line.
“I thought defensively we played better, but we could not get off the field,” Allentown coach Jay Graber said. “They converted a lot of third downs, and we got only six possessions, including only two in the second half. Two of the six were touchdowns and two were drives stopped short and the other two were 1-2-3 and punting out. They controlled the entire game.”
With a bye in the schedule this weekend and no significant injuries reported, Allentown next travels Oct. 9 to Lenape High School (3-0) — the only NJSIAA Group V schoolonitsschedule—fora7p.m.kickoff. Lenape opened its season with a 35-0 victory over Nottingham and also beat Seneca High School, 20-7, and Trenton Central High School, 27-7.
But Graber pointed out that at 2-2, Allentown still is alive for a Central Jersey Group III berth where it reached the finals last year.
“All is not lost,” Graber said. “We still have a long way to go.”
Boys soccer
After two decisive losses by 4-0 and 5-0 scores, Allentown (2-2-1) bounced back with a 1-1 tie with Lawrence Sept. 21 and beat Nottingham, 2-1, Sept. 24.
Chris Patrylow scored against Lawrence, while Joe Jurik and Chris Reeder shared time in goal. Kyle Lubeski and Nick Eng struck for goals against Nottingham, and Reeder went the distance in the nets.
Allentown is on the road this week to play Hightstown (2-4) Sept. 29 and Notre Dame (6-1) Oct. 1.