2 weeks Ago By Rick Fortenbaugh
LAWRENCE TWP. — Following a Colonial Valley Conference girls soccer match on Thursday, Allentown is 4-0 and Notre Dame is 1-4-1. While the initial reaction to those results might be Allentown must be the better side, keep in mind the old saying about how records can be deceiving.
In an entertaining game with plenty of hard marking and lots of attacking, visiting Allentown just got past Notre Dame by the score of 2-1. Don’t be surprised if these two collide again in the CVC Tournament because they are clearly among the best in the county and based on Thursday’s game about dead even with each other. “It was a great game,” said Allentown coach Kim Maurer.
“Anytime you can beat Notre Dame it is a good win.” Part of the reason the Irish have gotten off to a slow start is a tough schedule and losses to quality non-league opponents. Although Allentown had the better of the play in the first half, Notre Dame was also creating chances and took the lead on a 30-yard bomb on a free kick by Isabella Lynch with five minutes remaining before the break.
Seven minutes into the second half Allentown drew even on a 25-yard blast by Amanda Hoglund. As was exactly the case on Notre Dame’s goal, Hoglund scored on a high shot that went over the keeper’s head and dipped under the crossbar. After Notre Dame nearly took the lead when Riley Cunningham smashed a shot off the crossbar, Allentown got the winner on a goal with 17:05 on the clock off a corner by Hoglund.
It was hard to see exactly what happened with all kinds of players crowded together in the box, but Allentown credited Martha Olorunnisola with the goal on a header. There was also the opinion it was actually an own goal that deflected off a Notre Dame player, but whatever it was Allentown had scored what proved to be the winning goal. It nearly wasn’t the winning goal because once Notre Dame fell behind it turned up the attacking heat even more.
This included a wild scramble in the Allentown box following a corner with seven seconds remaining in the game. With the clock nearly expired, Notre Dame managed to get off two shots, including one that hit an Allentown defender in the face from point-blank range. “I would say the way we were able to come back,” replied Maurer when asked what pleased her the most about the game.
“We lost a lot of key players who were a big part (of our attack), so entering the year it was like who is it going to be (to take over). We have a lot of new blood, but the players are starting to find their rhythm and they are stepping it up.” The competitive nature of the game was reflected in the fact Notre Dame got off 15 shots and Allentown had 13.
Each team could have easily scored more, but some great looks at goal and dangerous crosses just missing finding their mark. “Everyone played well,” said Maurer. “You need that to beat a team like Notre Dame.
Among the players who had strong games for Notre Dame were center forward Reagan O’Mara and Cunningham, who created all kinds of havoc down the right wing before serving accurate passes into the box. Allentown (4-0) 0 2 — 2 Notre Dame (1-4-1) 1 0 — 1 Goals: A-Hoglund, Olorunnisola. ND-Lynch.
Assists: A-Hoglund. Shots: A-13. ND-15.
Saves: Cieslak 3, DeCarlo 2. ND-Zeidman 6..
