Allentown working to findmore cohesion early on
ALLENTOWN >> Kim Maurer knew it might take a little time for her Allentown High girls soccer team to jell with all the new players getting big varsity minutes for the first time.
The Redbirds’ 2-1 loss to Middletown South on Saturday afternoon show they are still a work in progress.
The Eagles scored thewinner with 1:06 remaining in the game after Keira Prince swooped in and took advantage of a mix up in the back.
“Just finishing games and playing smarter,” Maurer said. “Playing 80minutes instead of 79.”
Allentown (1-1) was staked to an early lead when Gabby Ricci knocked the ball in after a scrum inside the box. That advantage stood up until EmmaLaudisi equalizedwith 19:32 left in the second half.
In truth, the Eagles (3-0) bossed the second half and wereunluckynot to addmore also having hit the crossbar twice and forcing two good saves out of Redbirds goalkeeper GraceWelsh.
“This was our first game with everybody together,” Maurer said. “It’s going to take a little bit of time to adjust to new bodies and moving people around. We have six new starters, so it’s not going to come easy like it has in the past.”
Goals: E. Laudisi, Prince (MS). G. Ricci (A); Nicholas (MS); Shots: 13 (MS). 11 (A); Saves: Bennett 4 (MS). Welsh 9 (A). NOTTINGHAM4, HIGHTSTOWN3 HAMILTON >> Reigning CVC Player of the Year Gia Girman scored all four goals for the Northstars (1-1) as they held off the Rams (0-2) in a seven-goal thriller. Emma Schwom scored twice and Jamie Seip added one for Hightstown. HOPEWELLVALLEY2, OLDBRIDGE1 OLDBRIDGE>> CharlotteHare scored off a pass fromSarah Yancey and the Bulldogs (2-0) picked up a nice road win over the Knights (1-1-1) by scoring the game’s lone goal in the second half. Lucy Flemingmade three saves for the shutout.
HUN6, EWING1 PRINCETON >> Nicole Angelini paced the attack with a pair of goals and the Raiders (1-0) got their season started with a victory over the Blue Devils (0-2). Olivia D’Aulerio, KirstenMauer and RileyHayeswerealsoon target for Hun. PENNINGTON2, EPISCOPAL1 PENNINGTON>> EllieHawkey scored the winning goal to cap a come-from-behind victory for the Red Raiders (1-0) against the Churchwoman. Kylie Daigle equalized in the second half for Pennington, which got assists from Nikki Johan-Wisnierski and Stephaine Balerna and four saves from Sophia Kavulich. NOTREDAME5, EDISON0 LAWRENCEVILLE>> Meghan Tash and Grace O’Donnell both netted twice, Gretchen Strand added one and Nicole Rende made five saves and the Irish (2-0) blanked the Eagles (2-1). CRANFORD2, LAWRENCE1 CRANFORD >> Lauren Edgar scored in the second half for the Cardinals (0-2) who were much improved from their opening-day defeat to Steinert. Cranford (2-0) tallied once in each half. DELRAN2, WW-PN1 PLAINSBORO>> Sydney Vogel was on target for theKnights (1-1), but it was the Bears (20-1), who picked up the onegoal win.