Steinert grinds out key win over Allentown

Sometimes you got to HAMILTON >> win ugly.

That’s what the Steinert High girls soccer needed to do on an uncharacteristically scorching early-October afternoon.

The in-form Margarita Ivanova scored from the penalty spot five minutes into the second half and the Spartans held on for a 1-0 victory over Allentown on Wednesday.

“You got to find a way to win those weird games,” Steinert coach Mike Hastings said. “Those games where it’s tough to get a feel. You had to stop it twice in the first half and once in the second (for water breaks). Soccer is all about rhythm and it took it out of us. Both teams were kind of looking around like, ‘Is this a scrimmage?’ The heat had a lot to do with it, but you find ways to win, it kind of trains the culture a little bit.”

It was far from that, however, as both teams looked to improve seeding for both the county and state tournaments.

The Spartans (8-2-1) won their fifth straight, while the Redbirds (83) had their six-game winning streak snapped.

“Since the game on Monday (against Nottingham), I felt like we kept up the injury,” Steinert senior Maddie Klein said. “We just wanted it more.”

Steinert scored the game’s only goal after a handball in the box resulted in a penalty kick, which Ivanova calmly deposited into the corner. She had to take the PK twice after the referee judged that not everybody was ready on the first go-round.

Ivanova also netted twice in that thrilling 4-1 win over Nottingham in front of a big crowd at Veterans Park on Monday night and has a team-best six goals on the season.

“She’s really picking it up as a captain and as a leader,” Klein said.

Allentown was without co-leading scorer Olivia Ricci (illness) and struggled to generate chances in the 95-degree heat. Kayla Denney had the two best opportunities, but shot wide early in the first half and had an effort from a tight angel saved by Spartans goalkeeper Kat Calle with 12 minutes remaining.

“It was just a bad day,” Redbirds coach Kim Maurer said. “It hurt not having Olivia, but we have to score goals. We had four opportunities to score, and we didn’t, we’re hitting the school instead.”

Allentown and Princeton are in a virtual tie atop the CVC Colonial Division since both have dropped four points with four games to go. The Redbirds have an extremely easy CVC schedule to close, while the Tigers must play Notre Dame and Hopewell Valley.

Steinert closed the gap on Hopewell in the CVC Valley Division to four points, with the two sides still yet to meet.

“We’re meshing more together,” Klein said. “We’re way better as a team. I feel like we’re closer, we’re playing better, we’re connecting more and the energy keeps our momentum up.” Klein has a had a lot to do with that. “She’s stepped it up big time,” Hastings said. “As her fitness has gotten better, she’s been dominant. She’s been box-to-box and her vision is great. She’s a great leader on and off the field. Maddie is playing really well for us right now.”

Allentown (8-3) 0 0 — 0 Steinert (8-2-1) 0 1 — 1

Goals: Ivanova (p) (S); Shots: 12 (A). 8 (S); Saves: Welsh 4 (A). Calle 4 (S)