Peterson, Allentown blank Hopewell
ALLENTOWN >> When Kayla Peterson walked on the hockey field as a freshman she had a big sister to pave the way.
Her sister, Hayley, is now at Muhlenberg and Kayla is a senior at Allentown and still following Hayley’s lead.
“As a leader I take after a lot of my sister,” Kayla Peterson said after her goal and two assists led the Redbirds to a 4-0 win over Hopewell Valley on Monday on the grass at Allentown in a Colonial Valley Conference game.
“I watched her come out and give her best effort every time,” Kayla Peterson said. “That’s what I try to do is lead by example. I want to give 100 percent all the time and never slack off and I think that rubs off on some of the younger girls.”
Peterson’s performance against the Bulldogs (5-4-2) left a very strong impression with everyone. The stick work was impeccable, her passes were right on target and true to her word Peterson played hard every minute on the field.
The win keeps the Redbirds unbeaten at 8-0 and sets up a huge game on Wednesday as they travel to Robbinsville. The Ravens came into Monday’s game with Lawrence with a 6-0-2 mark.
Besides the one goal and two assist effort by Peterson the Redbirds got goals from Melanie Scibilia, Caitlin Noon and Rachel Dau.
“We treat every game no different we want to come out hungry every time,” Allentown first-year coach Dana Wells said. “We know what we want to accomplish. We want the top seed in the MCT and that is what we are striving to do. The midfield was phenomenal in this game.”
Allentown kept the pressure on the HV cage all game and it wasn’t until the second half the Bulldogs recorded a shot on goal.
“Dana (Wells) does a great job with them,” Hopewell Valley coach Pam Edwards said of Allentown. “They move the ball quickly and they have very strong drives. We played hard and we played strong. We’re are a good cohesive unit and we have grown.”
The Bulldogs got a solid game from Avery Bell and Sabrina Gomez, in the cage, kept the HV close down just 2-0 at the half.
The game wasn’t five minutes old when Peterson took the insert from Paige Zytkowicz and tipped a perfect pass to Scibilia for the first goal and a 1-0 lead. Just six minutes later Peterson executed another perfect pass to Noon for a 2-0 lead.
“We want to come out with a lot of intensity,” Peterson said. “It’s important to let the other team know we are determined to win.”
It was at the 22:40 mark of the second half when Peterson launched a laser that quickly found the back of the cage from just inside the circle.
“I was getting frustrated out there and I just nailed it,” Peterson said.
It was definitely a nail in the Bulldogs hopes and then with just under 10 minutes to go Dau got the final goal off a free hit.
The Redbirds got a solid performance from Sierra Wojcik on the wing and the defense led by Scibilia, Alexandra Pritchard, Victoria McGovern, Stephanie Otten along with goalie Katie White have been exceptional all season for the Redbirds. coach Jen Cicale said. “There have been several winnable games this season and I kept telling them they were going to get a win.”
Getting goals for the ‘Stars were Gabrielle Brown, Makenzie Patterson-Brown and Paige Rocco. Patterson-Brown, Rocco and Taylor Thompson all had assists.
Martinique Creech had eight saves in the cage for Nottingham.
“I’m so proud of these girls,” Cicale said. “They have never quit and they are always working hard to get better. For the seniors this is the first time they have ever won a game.”
28 (H).
(ND).
17 (S).
Margaret Welch 5 (P). Shannon Dargan
Maggie Blundi 2, KenniKoyona Graham
Meaghan Bailey 2, Melissa Gabriele (ND). Flannery O’Donnell 6 (ND). Kelly Quaste Collen Craven 2, Madison Sever (M).
Delaney Lawler, Susan Orth 2 (M). Kate Stefano 5, Lauren Pickul 9, Logan Donahue 5 (M). Aisha Oshilaja 8 (L). Virginia Wesleyan at TCNJ: 4:00