Allentown, ND set for another state clash
The last two seasons the Allentown and Notre Dame state tournament contest has been one of the most hotly contested games in the area.
The third time should be just as intense.
The first two years it was for the sectional title, but this year with the emergence of Red Bank Regional as the No. 1 seed, the Colonial Valley Conference rivals meet semifinal.
The first draw on ND’s Msgr. Nolan Field will be at 4:30 p.m. as the No. 2 seeded Irish (14-4) and No. 3 Redbirds (8-7) look for a berth in the Central Jersey Group III sectional final.
“Allentown has played a brutal schedule, they are tested and ready to defend their title,” said ND coach Bryan Fisher. “It will take an enormous effort out of us to move on, but we are ready to show our best.”
The Irish (14-4) won the regular season meeting, 6-3, and you can count on defense playing a large role in this one as neither team has cracked double digits in goals in the last three games.
“It is going to come down to the team that capitalizes on the opportunities given,” said Allentown coach Jen Garavente. “Taking care of the ball will be a key.”
Both possess strong goalies led by All-Trentonian performers in Allentown’s Abby Howell and Nicole Burney of Notre Dame.
ND advanced with a 19-4 win over Brick Township and has been led all season by Danielle Losier with 46 goals, including nine in the last three games.
Julia Dell’Angelo has been steady with 36 goals and 21 assists, Gabby Skowronski has 36 and 24 and another big contributor to the Irish has been Emily Guenther with 34 goals.
Brianna Samuels led the Redbirds with 37 goals and 10 assists, Kaitlyn Bergen has 35, including nine in the last three games, and Morgan Vaccaro has caged 20.
“Our team has grown so much since the last time we played and it’s going to be a different game,” said Garavente. “Our confidence is up and we believe in each other and what this team can do. The girls are ready and excited to step up to the challenge.’”
It has been an emotional year for the Irish and they will look to turn the adversity into a positive.
“Adversity doesn’t build character, it reveals it,” said Fisher. “These seniors have given so much to ND these past four years and they are excited for the challenge on Monday.”
Princeton, WW-PN Face State Tilts
No. 1 Princeton (16-2) will be defending its Central Jersey Group IV crown on Tuesday when No.4 Howell (11-5) invades Tigertown.
Howell advanced with a 4-3 win over a very tough West Windsor-Plainsboro South team.
The Tigers led by Michigan-bound Mariana LopezOna with 98 goals and 28 assists. Shaylah Marciano, who will join Lopez-Ona in 2020 at Michigan, has 55 goals and 44 assists.
Over in Central Jersey Group III, No. 4 North (12-8) has the task of upending topseeded Red Bank Regional (144) on the road.
Maria Tello and Jillian Pelosi lead the Knights with 66 and 62 goals, respectively.
Free Position Shots
— Sarah Berardi came into Lawrence’s state tourney game with Hopewell Valley needing just four goals for 100. Hopewell’s goalies Katie Kemether and Jessica Sedor did a great job denying Berardi, who ended the game with three goals for 99 on the season.
When she spoke after the game there was nothing but class as she commented on how impressive it was to score that many goals this season.
Mostly, the Rowan-bound senior wanted to talk about her team and how hard it played all year and how together.
Rowan’s getting a good one, on and off the field.
— It has been a tough year at times for Hopewell Valley, but this is a team that has grown throughout the year. While you have Maddie Schrader, following in the excellence or her sisters, Ryan and Sabrina, she is not the only weapon on the Bulldogs. Carly Sison put together a great junior season.