The Allentown High School girls’ soccer team suffered its first loss of the season when it was defeated in the championship game of the Mercer County Tournament.
The Redbirds, who entered the game with a 17-0 record and were the favorites to claim the county tournament crown as the No. 1 seed, were shut out by No. 3-seed Steinert High School, 3-0, on Oct. 26 at The College of New Jersey in Ewing. This is Steinert’s first Mercer County championship since 2006.
Steinert’s Gabby DeLisa scored two goals in the game. Emily Gulsby also scored for the Spartans, while Michaela Miranda notched an assist. Goalkeeper Erika Golik made four saves.
Goalie Abby Howell had six saves for Allentown in the losing effort. Howell had anchored 13 shutouts coming into the game and had not allowed more than one goal in a game all year before the county tourament finals.
Allentown advanced to the championship game with shutouts victories over Hopewell Valley Central High School, 2-0, in the semifinals, Lawrence High School, 1-0, in the quarterfinals, and Trenton Central High School, 6-0, in the first round.
The Redbirds have the No. 1 seed in the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group 3 tournament. They receive a bye in the first round and will play their first game of the tournament in the quarterfinals on Nov. 2 against the winner of the game between No. 8-seed Freehold High School and No. 9-seed Northern Burlington County Regional High School.