Peterson makes big save in final minute
By Bob Nuse, The Packet Group
Clinging to a one-goal lead with just over 30 seconds left to play, there was no one the Allentown High School field hockey team wanted to put the weight of its season on more than Hayley Peterson.
The Redbirds’ senior goalie turned away a penalty stroke shot with 36 seconds left, and then stayed strong in goal as Allentown turned away two corners in the closing seconds to defeat Moorestown, 1-0, and capture the Central Jersey Group III championship.
”It was probably the most nerve-wracking game I have ever been in in any sport,” Peterson said. “Until the last minute you never knew what was going to happen. We knew we wanted it.”
Peterson stopped the penalty stroke by the Quakers’ Alexa Massa and the Redbirds had their first sectional title since 2005 and seventh overall. In a career full of big wins for Peterson, this one was the biggest.
”This one means more than all of them added together,” the senior goalkeeper said. “I have not gotten this far in my high school career. This is the best feeling to win in a championship game like this.”
The game was scoreless at halftime and Allentown appeared to break through with a goal by Maura McNutt late in the second half, but the score was waved off by the officials. Just three minutes later, McNutt got her redemption and scored the go-ahead goal.
”It was really frustrating but I think it frustrated me enough to know I had to do it again,” McNutt said. “It added fuel to the fire to help me get the second one. (Allentown coach Mary Ellen McCarthy) told me I had motivation to do it again and couldn’t let that bother me. We’ve worked too hard to let them come down and score so she said you need to go out and do it again.”
Allentown would have another goal waved off a few minutes later. But with Peterson in goal, one was enough.
”After the first one I knew we had the momentum,” Peterson said. “I thought our hearts were in it. That was awesome when Maura scored again. I wanted her to have that redemption.”
The win raised Allentown’s record to 19-1 and sends them into the Group III state semifinals, where the Redbirds will face South Jersey champion Ocean City today at 6 p.m. at Robbinsville. The shutout was the 14th of the season for Peterson.
”I didn’t realize until my dad said it the other day that we had not given up a goal in the state tournament,” she said. “That is pretty awesome. Our defense is so good and I have all the confidence in the world in them.”
The drama was certainly there the whole game and the Redbirds did what they needed to do in order to win, overcoming two waved off goals, a penalty stroke in the closing minute, and an untimed corner to end the game.
”This team has heart,” McCarthy said. “I talked about it before we played Moorestown. This is a team that has chemistry. We’re friends. We have fun. We’re not going to quit. We’re not going to give up even though things were not going our way.
”I am very proud of them. This is a tradition-filled Moorestown and our team stepped up and controlled the game.”
And in the end, the Redbirds had the game right where they wanted it to be, resting on the shoulders of their goalkeeper and defense.
”For my defense and goalie, time after time and corner after to corner to come up the way they did and make the stops they did I am just so proud of them,” McCarthy said. “Haley is a senior and a starter for four years. She is such a leader for this team. The defense and Haley working together I am very confident in them.”
Added McNutt: “We started August 12 so it is three full months. We worked so hard in the off-season and all pre-season. We wanted this in the worst way and I am so excited.”