Allentown won’t back down against powerhouse Moorestown
Allentown girls lacrosse coach Jen Garavente respects the many accomplishments of the Moorestown program and understands it can be a little intimidating.
While Garavente is willing to give the Quakers their due, she has been pretty impressed with what her Redbirds have accomplished, too.
“Moorestown is an incredible program and their reputation is something that could be intimidating,” said Garavente, as her Allentown team prepared to face Moorestown on Wednesday at Point Pleasant Boro High in the Group III state semifinal with the first draw set for 4:30 p.m.
The winner advances to Saturday’s state final at Kean University against the winner between Summit and Immaculate Heart.
“I think the most important thing to remember is that we are also an awesome team with great players and a lot of heart,” added Garavente. “We also earned a sectional and we can definitely compete with them.”
The Redbirds (15-4), who won their first sectional crown since 2013 with a 6-5 win over Notre Dame, faced Moorestown (19-2) early in the season and fell, 15-3.
“Playing them so long ago allows us to believe that we’ve come a long way since then,” said Garavente. “We’ve improved individually and collectively.”
As the season has progressed the most significant difference in the Redbirds has been the growth of the younger players and the fact that everyone is contributing — on the attack, on defense and in the area of mental toughness.
“All members of the team are stepping up and contributing,” said Garavente. “It is not just one person carrying us through to a victory. They all have moments of greatness throughout the game. More importantly, I see them overcoming adversity together. In the Notre Dame game there was not a moment of negativity or doubt. They believed in each other. This ties into the mental toughness we have been trying to achieve all season.”
The Redbirds need a dose of everything facing the Quakers.
Moorestown, which last won a state title in 2015, has amassed 22 state titles and 20 Tournament of Champions title.
The Quakers are led by Kacey Knobloch, the daughter of coaches, Deanna and K.C. Knobloch, with 48 goals and 17 assists, Robin Panzarella chimes in with 46 and 15, Kayla Franks has 41 and 14.
Marin Hartshorn leads the Redbirds with 51 goals and 19 assists, Kaitlyn Bergan and Brianna Samuels each have 34 goals and Bergan has a team high 20 assists. When Julianna Golden (28 goals) went down with an injury, players like Kylie Reed, Alyssa Castellano, Morgan Vaccaro and Isabella Walker have risen to the occasion.
Abby Howell has been superb in the cage for the Redbirds.
Plenty of the success at Allentown has to go to the eight seniors; Hartshorn, Golden, Sierra Wojcik, Mary Bellotti, Gianna Skowronski, Erin Wikoff, Hadley Borkowski and Riley Fogarty. Despite having three coaches in four years, the group has continued to stay focused and improving. “The seniors are awesome,” said Garavente, who has brought stability to the program. “They are a special group that plays in sync with each other and it shows they have been playing together for years. They are the type of players and leaders that make the younger girls dream bigger and work harder. They are an essential part of our team’s success this season.”