Brian Finn (class of 2005) blocks a shot by Steve Viglianti (class of 2011) during the annual Allentown High School alumni soccer game last weekend. ALLENTOWN — Former and current Allentown High School soccer players donned their school colors once more for the third annual alumni soccer game.
Genevieve Finn, manager for the high school varsity team, thought back in 2009 that it would be fun if her brother Brian, a soccer alumnus, and his friends played against the high school team at the time.
Her dinner table conversation with Brian was the inspiration for the first alumni game, and Genevieve said she hopes to keep the tradition going.
The game takes place Thanksgiving weekend because recent graduates away at college and others who have moved away often return home for the holiday weekend.
Many family members and fans came out to see the game, which for some has become part of their own Thanksgiving tradition.
This year, the alumni ranged from the class of 1998 to the most recent class of 2011. Participation by the high school team members was more difficult this year due to conflicts with travel soccer tournaments, so instead of high school players as opponents to the alumni, the teams were drawn based on graduation year.
The competitive spirit remained the same, as it was still a case of the older guys against the younger guys. Seven former high school team opponents returned this year as alumni players. The black team was made up of more recent graduates, from 2009 through 2011, who were joined by two high school players. The veteran alumni team, from the classes of 1998 through 2007, wore red.
The volunteer referee was Bob Finn, father of Genevieve and Brian.
The veteran red team won, 5-4, in a competitive game against their younger counterparts.
High school student Ryan Darrell set things in motion with a goal for the black team, then Anthony Tallarido, class of 2011, and Bryan Pope, class of 2009, each scored, leaving their veteran opponents behind at 3-0.
It didn’t take long for the red team to come back with a goal by Piero Mancini, class of 2007, which was soon followed by another from Brett Mallinson, class of 2003, ending the half at 3-2.
The red team scored on a penalty kick by Chris Katzman, class of 2007, early in the second half, and the tie score seemed to ignite both teams.
The game went back and forth when Brian Pope, class of 2009, scored for the black team and Brett Mallinson, class of 2003, scored again for the red team.
With two minutes left in the game, Ryan Provost, class of 2007, scored the winning goal for the red team.
Red team goalies were Brian Finn and R.J. Blanchard, both class of 2005, with R.J. in the net for most of the game. The veteran players had 17 saves and took 22 shots.
The black team goalie was Connor Darrell, class of 2010, who was replaced in the net by Bryan Pope, class of 2009, near the end of the game so that Connor could join his classmates on the field. The younger team had 11 saves and took 28 shots.