On Mother’s Day, the Allentown Charge U10 girls soccer team wanted to do something special for their mothers. They wanted to put up a win against an undefeated opponent. The Jackson Lightning traveled to Allentown, bringing with them an unblemished 5-0 record. The Charge was emotionally “fired up,” and went out strong as the game began. The front line, led by Kelly Rocklein, Taylor Frein, Stephanie Sjaastad, Krysta Plummer and Lena Campbell, applied immediate pressure to the Lightning defense. It didn’t take long when, at the seven-minute mark, Campbell took a hard shot from the right side of the box that eluded the Lightning keeper for a 1-0 Charge lead. Next were the Allentown midfielders, led by Erin Primich, Jillian Frein, and Jamie Perritt, who would not be denied. They controlled the middle of the field and passed the ball brilliantly around the Lightning defense, probing for opportunities. At the 14-minute mark, Jamie Perritt squeezed through the Lightning defenders into the penalty box and placed a hard shot into the goal for a 2-0 lead. The momentum was on the Charge’s side, thanks to splendid defensive play by Erin Drennan and Bianca Covitz. The defining moment in the game was late in the second half. The Lightning was looking to come back into the game, when their forward got around the Charge defense. The Lightning player was able to get off a low driving shot towards the left corner of the goal. The shot would have hit the back of the net if it were not for an outstanding save by Charge goalie, Shannon Abbott. This marvelous save seemed to take the wind out of the Lightning sails, who now sensed they went up against a talented Allentown Charge team. The second half was scoreless, as the Charge maintained possession of the ball throughout most of the period. When the final whistle blew, the Allentown Charge had defeated a previously undefeated Jackson Lightning, 2-0, and gave their Mothers this extra present on their special day. It was the best game the Charge had played together as a team. Next Sunday, the Charge takes on the Sayreville Huskies.

The Allentown United U13 girls soccer team played two games this past weekend. On Saturday, United traveled to Brick to take on the Brick Cyclones. United went into this game with only 11 players and managed a 3-3 tie. United came out strong and could have scored a couple of goals, but the Cyclones’ goalie came up with key saves. Brick survived United’s attack and began pushing the ball into United’s side of the field. Within five minutes, Brick scored two quick goals to take a 2-0 lead. United came right back when Ashley Perritt took the kickoff, dribbled through two defenders and took a long shot past Brick’s goalie to cut the lead to 2-1. Five minutes later, United tied the game on a goal from Dawn Taylor. United took a 3-2 lead on Brittany Worrall’s beautiful goal from outside the box. Seconds before the half ended Brick tied the game at 3. In the second half, United dominated but could not convert.

On Sunday, United traveled to Colts Neck to take on the first place Peninsula Eagles. With its full squad back, the game was back and forth for the first 15 minutes. Peninsula took a 1-0 lead half way through the half.

Five minutes later, United tied the game when Ashley Perritt made a nice cross and Danielle Turner one timed it into the back of the net. In the second half, United played more aggressively and began putting pressure on the Eagles defense. But it was the eagles who scored first to take a 2-1 lead. With about 15 minutes left in the game, United tied the game at 2 when Dawn Taylor crossed the ball and Carolyn Horner chipped it over the goalie’s head into the net. United could have scored its third goal, but Carolyn Horner’s shot hit the post. The game ended a 2-2 tie. It was a well-played game by both sides. United’s next game is Sunday when they travel to Sea Girt to take on the Monmouth Coast Monsoons.

The Allentown-MASA Grizzlies U11 boys soccer team played at home on Sunday against the Sayreville Rollin’ Thunder, and they seemed to benefit from some of the “best-game karma” left behind on the Mark Harbourt fields immediately after the Allentown Charge U10 girls team’s resounding Mother’s Day victory (see above). For this long-anticipated rematch, the Grizzlies also uncorked their finest game of the season. Kyle Alston ignited the Grizzlies’ attack with slicing moves into the core of the Sayreville defense. Grizzlies forwards Nick Caruso, John Lansing and Matt

Fleischacker moved the ball extremely well, with strong support from midfielders Nick Howell and Kyle Golla. The Grizzlies got on the board at the 10-minute mark on a free kick by Scott Nicholson from outside the box.

The Grizzlies’ offensive pressure intensified, and a long cross from the rightside endline found Lansing charging the far post, and he easily drove it into the net to give the Grizzlies a 2-0 halftime lead. In the second half the play became more physical as Sayreville attempted to rally, but Danny Lamb and Grizzlies defenders Matt Molnar, Zack Caruso, Scott Nicholson, and Luke Olexsak met the challenge. By aggressively challenging every pass and loose ball, they collapsed repeated Sayreville offensive drives with mechanical precision. The lightning-fast Sayreville striker finally got loose on a break and tore down the field toward the charging Grizzlies goalkeeper Bob Millar, who had a shutout on the line.

The striker unleashed a tremendous drive towards the corner, but Millar dived to his left and got a strong, sure hand on the ball for what was undoubtedly the save of the season. Following some rough play, two Sayreville players were cautioned. Meanwhile, the renewed Grizzlies’ offensive pressure netted two more goals for the hat trick by John Lansing. After the outcome was no longer in doubt, Sayreville managed a lone goal on another solo break. The final score of the intense match was 4-1 Grizzlies.

UFA 40 opened up a three-game homestand with a comfortable win over the visiting team from Lakewood. With regular goalkeeper Briin Reed running late, Super Sub Didier Mory was changed and ready to go between the posts in an effort to get the game started on time, when Reed arrived with seconds to spare and took up his position anchoring the team. UFA got off to a quick start with goals from Kaplan and Sedon, and then Dan Caruso went on a solo run down the left wing before cutting into the box. His first shot was parried by the Lakewood keeper, which allowed Caruso to ram the ball home on his second attempt. Sedon got two more for the hat trick, Amaro Pereira scored his first for the team after a nice link up in midfield with Mike Leyden. Bemba Buruschkin scored the first of two spectacular goals after a series of crisp one touch passes which started with goalkeeper Reed playing the ball out from the goalmouth. Two passes later, Buruschkin received the ball, rounded the opposing goalkeeper and slotted the ball home. With less than five minutes left, Z-crossed a perfect ball into the box for Buruschkin to run onto and send a powerful header past the statue-like Lakewood goalkeeper for a tremendous goal to wrap up the scoring. Next week they play a team from East Brunswick.