Title game between Allentown, Lawrenceville pits two best teams
Throughout most of the season, Allentown has been the top-ranked Colonial Valley Conference team and Lawrenceville has been the best of the prep schools.
So, it’s only fitting that the two are meeting in the girl’s lacrosse Mercer County Tournament championship game set for Friday at 5 p.m. on the turf in Allentown.
“It’s exciting and it means a lot to be going to the finals with this group, they have been special,” said Allentown coach Jen Chiusano. “We’ve had a lot of ups and downs. We fought all year and we earned our way to the finals.”
The No. 2 seeded Redbirds (12-4) are in the final for the first time since 2018 when they fell to Lawrenceville at West Windsor-Plainsboro North.
The Big Red has won the last three meetings of the two teams.
Allentown’s only title came in 2013 at the expense of WW-P North.
Top-seeded Lawrenceville (95) are the three-time defending champion and have been to the final in four of the last five years.
“The finals are always exciting,” said Big Red coach Lisa Ewanchyna. “It’s loud, its energized and we are excited to be in the finals. Since we haven’t played in the MCT since 2019, it’s great to see the kids have this again since they missed it last year.”
If there is one thing both teams have in common, it’s that each have a perfect blend of both youth and senior leadership.
Freshman Lexie Koch leads the Big Red with 36 goals, her sister Bella, a senior, has 34 goals and 22 assists along with 56 draw controls and is the quarterback of the Lawrenceville attack.
“We have to play our game, play together and execute all of our plays,” said Bella, as the key
to victory. “We have to stay gritty and continue to work together.”
There has been a lot of support up and down the field for the Big Red as sophomore Chloe Babich has 27 goals, junior Jaylyn Bennett has 23 goals and 11 assists and sophomore Maddie Brogan has 22 goals and 15 assists.
Caitlin Hoover has been solid on defense and Mel Josephson stands tall in the cage.
The Big Red is a very methodical team with patience on offense and good stick checking ability.
“We know it’s going to be a good game and our girls are just going to come out and compete,” said Ewanchyna. “Our goal was to have a game on Friday and we do.”
The Redbirds, though, have shown they can play with anyone and are excited for the challenge. They upped the level of competition down the stretch of the regular season and it showed they are a worthy title contender.
Their four losses have come by a total of eight goals.
Senior Jolee Roth leads Allentown with 60 goals and 12 assists, Sophomore Chloe Conti, who had the game winner in overtime in the semifinals, chimes in with 34 goals, 44 assists and 78 draw controls and sophomore Abby von Harten has 30 goals.
“Abby has really been stepping up for us,” said Chiusano, of von Harten. “She transitioned into that midfielder role this season and has been huge for our team’s success. I’m extremely impressed, but not the least bit surprised with how she’s been playing.”
Despite being a sophomore von Harten brings a level of poise and calmness to the field.
“She is so consistent, disciplined, and fundamentally sound, and the best part is she is nowhere near her peak yet,” added Chiusano. “I’m so excited to see her continue to develop as a player.”
Some other young guns for the Redbirds are freshman Delaney Nolan (26 goals), freshman Mya Lourenco (15/19) and sophomore Miranda Ricciardi (57 draw controls).
Seniors Megan Tanner, Natalie Ruglio, freshman Bella Magliozzo and a very solid Reagan Stewart in the goal anchor the Allentown defense.
From the start of season to now the script has been followed and the two best have arrived at the doorstep of a Mercer County Tournament championship.