Rejuvenated Allentown marches into semifinals
ALLENTOWN » Now that’s more like it.
The Allen town High girls soccer team rebounded from its first loss of the season just as you’d expect a No. 1 seed to.
Vanessa Rodriguez scored twice inthe secondhalf, Olivia Ricci connected onthe opener and the Redbirds enjoyed a comfortable3-0victory over eighth-seeded Freehold Borough in the quarterfinals of the Central Jersey Group III playoffs on Thursday afternoon.
“After our loss, we had topick up our heads really quick,” said junior forward Emma Pascarella, who assisted on the first two goals. “We had to get back in the groove of things because we didn’t want to lose again. That feeling sucks.”
It only took 14 minutes to refind the confidence that carried the Red birds (18-1) to 17 straight wins before a set back against Steiner tin the Mercer County Tournament final. That the goal came from a sweet counter attacker made it even better.
Freehold (10-8-2) had an attacking free kick outside the Allentown penaltyarea, but Rodriguez cleared the initial danger and Pascarella drove at the defense until setting up Ricci for a right-footed finish.
“It was something we needed to pick our heads up,” said Pascarella, who has 18 assists. “As a center forward, I have to work. I can’t just stand up there. I have to do my job and (Ricci) was there.”
Defensively, Redbirds goal keeper Abby Howell (three saves) had very little do with the back four of Lauren Coiante, Alissa DeFelice, Marin H arts horn and Kassi dy Mu l ry ne in front of her.
That job was made even easier with tenacious midfielder Madi Keefe protecting them. The sophomore has been a key cog for Kim Maurer’s side since she was inserted into the lineup early in the season.
“As the season went on, I felt like I was more of a defender,” Keefe said. “I know that Carly (Roche) like to dribble and go around people, and I just felt solid there because I knew if I lost the ball I had a solid defense to protect me.”
Of course it takes some guts tofly into those 50-50 tackles.
“I feel like I’ve always had it in me,” Keefe said.
Allentown put the game out of reach in the 62 nd minute when Rodriguez thumped in a header from Pascarella’s corner.
The sophomore grabbed her second and the Redbirds’ third with 4:42 remaining when she tapped home are bound after Rochebarreled through the Colonels’ defense.
“We had to remind ourself that we were undefeated in the regular season for a reason,” the Rutgers-commit Pascarella said. “We had to pick up our heads ... and be a team again.”
Allentown hosts fifth-seeded Colts Neck in the semifinals on Monday afternoon. The Cougars beat Moores town 6-5 in a shootout following a 0-0 draw.
“We over came adversity ,” Maurer said .“They were still a little deflated from that loss to Steinert. Looking at themin the locker room the past fewdays itwas like their season just ended, but guess what ... I’d rather win a sectional title than a Mercer County championship.”