Allentown wraps up CVC Colonial title
ALLENTOWN >> When the Allentown High girls soccer team begins tournament play next week, it will do so once again as the Colonial Valley Conference’s Colonial Division champion.
The Redbirds wrapped up a second straight Colonial crown with a 2-1 victory over West WindsorPlainsboro South on Thursday afternoon.
“All the hard work that we all put in every single year, it’s just nice to win it every year,” said midfielder Vanessa Rodriguez, who was one of the team’s 14 seniors honored before the game. “I’m pretty happy with it.”
Allentown (11-4) has now won 36 of its last 38 CVC league games. Coach Kim Maurer’s side went a a perfect 13-0 in each of the previous two seasons and are 10-2 in the conference this campaign.
“It went by so fast,” Rodriguez said. “I don’t even know what to say. It’s been fun.”
The Redbirds entered play on Thursday needing a win or a draw combined with a Notre Dame loss against Nottingham to make it 2-for-2 in Colonial championships since the league wisely went away from the three division format and into two divisions of seven.
“I don’t even think they know what they’ve done,” Maurer said. “I don’t know if it’s hit them yet, the accomplishments they’ve had in the last three years. Madi Keefe and Vanessa have been a part of all of it. They’re my two captains, my two leaders ... the other kids, I don’t know if they care about winning 36 out of 38. I think they care about going far in the MCT and they want to win a sectional championship.”
Allentown had to come from behind to do it after the Pirates (5-81) took a surprising 1-0 lead in the seventh minute on Julianna Amore’s perfectly placed shot that caromed off the post and in.
South had the better chances in the first half as top scorer Amanda Guest fired high from 20 yards and Hailey Grecsek missed doubling the lead by a matter of inches with a 33rd-minute effort.
Eventually, the Denney sisters — Olivia and Kayla — got the Redbirds out of the jam after Olivia equalized early in the second half and Kayla headed in the winner from Olivia’s corner with four minutes remaining.
“We need a little bit of improvement,” Rodriguez said. “This proves it. When we bring it, we bring it. When we don’t, it shows. When it comes down to it in big games, we show up, and hopefully, we keep doing that.”
WW-PS (5-8-1) Allentown (11-4) 1 0 — 1 0 2 — 2
Goals: Amore (WWS). O. Denney, K. Denney (A); Assists: O. Ricci, O. Denney (A); Shots: 8 (WWS). 18 (A); Saves: Akman 7 (WWS). Strahle 1, Welsh 3 (A).