Allentown makes seamless transition with interim coach
There’s a new face and yet a very familiar face on the sidelines at Allentown this fall as Mary Ellen McCarthy has stepped in for coach Dana Wells.
Wells and her husband Chris welcomed a new addition to the family in Brynlee, so Dana is taking the year off to tend to Brynlee.
The Redbirds didn’t have to look far for a coach, though. When the call went out McCarthy, who stepped down in 2013, was ready for the challenge.
“I just want to keep the program moving forward and I’m loving every minute of it,’’ said McCarthy. “My passion is coaching, it’s where I find the most satisfaction and comfort.’’ Once back on the field, McCarthy realized she missed the interaction since leaving in 2013 as the Central Jersey Group III champions.
“I missed the day-to-day, the planning, the teaching and the execution of the plans,’’ said McCarthy. “I am a student of the game.’’
A game that has the Redbirds (4-2) ranked as the No. 1 Colonial Valley Conference team by The Trentonian at this point of the season.
There were some pretty impressive pieces returning at Allentown in Mary Bellotti, Sierra Wojcik and Katie White. Bellotti is one of the premier players in the area, Wojcik was the 2016 Trentonian Midfielder of the Year and Katie White is solid in the cage.
Bellotti has nine goals on the season and two assists, junior Brielle Uher has four goals and four assists and Wojcik has a pair of goals and four assists.
“I’m extremely fortunate to work with this talented team,’’ said McCarthy. “The girls are amazing and their potential is unlimited. My team comes to practice every day ready to be challenged, ready to work hard, they step up and the most important thing is they have fun doing it.’’
One of the questions McCarthy hears often is, “Have you changed?”
“I’m more patient,’’ said McCarthy. “My goals and outcomes are the same, but my delivery might be a little different. I’m really enjoying the time on the sidelines with this team. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with these girls and I’m excited to see where we can go.’’
There is no disputing how far McCarthy can take a team as she has a proven track record of producing winners and there just might be another one in her future.
Big Red Scheduling Up Again
It would be hard to find a team with a tougher schedule than Lawrenceville. The Big Red (1-4) has played Germantown, Episcopal, Moorestown and Oak Knoll. The lone win was over Hopewell Valley.
Germantown has wins over Peddie and Princeton Day as well and Episcopal is 6-0, including a win over Germantown. Moorestown is always a state title contender, and Oak Knoll is 5-0-1. The tie was a 2-2 game with Eastern.
The only goals Oak Knoll has given up were the two to Eastern. Its five wins were by a total of 34-0.
Lawrenceville hits the road this weekend to Choate Rosemary Hall in Connecticut.
“We have a lot of returner’s that might not have been starters last year, but we able to get some valuable playing time,’’ said Lawrenceville coach Lisa Ewanchyna. “Some are trying out new spots and they are picking it up quickly, which is fun to see.’’
The Big Red has a key prep showdown on Sept. 28 as it travels to defending Prep B champion Princeton Day. It’s also a rematch of the 2016 Mercer County Tournament finals won by the Big Red, 3-0.
Ewanchyna has always played a grueling early-season schedule and it might not always give the Big Red a good MCT seed, but they have won five of the last six so it must be working.