The Millstone Township Pop Warner Eagles cheerleaders did their township proud at the Central Jersey Cheer Competition at Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton on Saturday. More than 35 towns competed in the competition that included the entire Central Jersey region. Millstone’s Junior Pee Wee squad (large novice) placed high enough to earn an invitation to participate in the state qualifier competition to be held at Sovereign in two weeks. Millstone’s Pee Wee squad (large novice) earned a second-place trophy and an invitation to advance to the state qualifier as well. Millstone’s Midget squad (small novice) earned a first-place championship trophy and an invitation to advance to the state qualifiers.

All three squads will participate in the state competition at Sovereign on Sunday, Oct. 30. Winners at that contest advance to a regional competition in November and ultimately to the national Pop Warner cheer competition in December, at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla.

Millstone cheerleaders intend to come home winners at every competition level, according to the squad’s leaders. It doesn’t matter that they are “the new Pop Warner kids on the block.” With only one cheer year under their belts, they believe they have what it takes to be victorious.

Said cheer coordinator Eileen Morrissey: “When these girls are on the competition mat, a relentless spirit and drive comes forth from each and every cheerleader. We have a clear knowing that they will go all the way.”

In another exciting game for the U9 Allentown X-Treme, the boys remained undefeated. Playing at home on a windy day against Toms River, the boys showed how to fight back. The team went down early playing into the wind. William Sjaastad and Jake Alessi put pressure on as the first half ended. The second half started with the X-Treme continuing pressure. A goal kick by TR was picked off by Matt DeRisi who one-timed it into the net. TR then went up 2-1. There was an abundance of passing by Rory Green, Robert Ellerson, and Eric and Connor Sullivan that eventually led to an Allentown direct kick. Joey Patrylow used the wind to put the ball in the net. The X-Treme kept up the pressure with Tom McCarthy and Kevin Pereira coming close to scoring on many occasions. Down 3-2 with only minutes left, Brody Zauner and Kevin Primich were able to clear the ball out and create an offensive play to Alessi who assisted Justin Scarano to tie it up. Josh Samuels had six saves in net to keep the X-Treme undefeated.

The Allentown Charge U11 girls soccer team took on the Ocean Township 11 Sunday. It had been a long layoff for the Charge due to the rain. Their tournament was canceled last week as well as numerous training sessions, so there were concerns on how the team would perform. Unfortunately, the first half of the game showed a lot of rust with missed opportunities. Ocean played hard and put pressure on Allentown. The defense stayed strong, but eventually succumbed late in the first half with a shot from the left side of the box into the net giving Ocean a 1-0 halftime lead. After a pointed talk between halves, the Charge came out quick with Shannon Abbott getting a breakaway opportunity, only to have her shot squirt right on the goal. Allentown continued to pressure Ocean’s defense with forwards Krysta Plummer, Kelly Rocklein, Lena Campbell, Stephanie Sjaastad, Taylor Frein, and Kimberly Wilson all taking their crack at the Ocean net. The Charge took control of the game with many opportunities, but it wasn’t until midway through the second half when Jillian Frein finally placed the ball past the Ocean goalie and into the net for an Allentown goal. The defense, led by Bianca Covitz, Stephanie Falsetti, Taylor Bachik, and Kelly Tohill kept goalie Sarah Mottram mostly untested. The midfield, including Jamie Perritt and Erin Primich did their best to support the offense and thwart any further Ocean progress. Though they dominated the second half, the Charge just couldn’t get that go-ahead goal, and the match ended in a 1-1 tie. The second half was great to watch, as the girls use their skills and worked together as a team. The coaches are looking forward to the next game as the Charge takes on the Middletown Shooting Stars away in Middletown on Sunday.

The Allentown United U14 team began its weekend on Saturday afternoon with a State Cup game against a team from Rutherford. The Rutherford Rec had reached the semifinals last year, so United knew that they had a tough match ahead. The first half was a scoreless affair, with both teams playing end-to-end soccer with United more than holding their own. The second half got under way with United now playing into a strong headwind, and the visiting team using their speed and size to the maximum. Eventually someone had to blink, just as it looked like the match would go into extra time, United gave up a penalty kick with only six minutes left on the clock. The Rutherford player hit a low drive to the right and Diana Braun almost pulled off a tremendous save, only to see the ball slip underneath her outstretched arms and into the net. The defense, led by Meghan Valnoski, Brittany Hodul, Ashley Pereira and Shannon Buckley, had all played a solid game in front of keeper Braun, and it was a cruel blow to go behind at this late juncture. United continued battling to the end, coming close on several occasions on efforts from Dawn Taylor and Ashley Perritt. Unfortunately the clock ran out, and along with it United’s hopes for an extended run in the cup. Rutherford went home the winners, but they knew that they’d been in a scrap against the underdogs.

Sunday afternoon saw United return to league play, at home against East Windsor. The result of this match could have significant bearing on the season for United. They were tied in points with East Windsor, and the winner would be able to put three points between them midway through the season, with the potential of going to the top, or at the very least second, but with points advantage over the trailing teams.

United came out with all cylinders firing, showing no overnight slump from the previous day’s cup defeat. Dawn Taylor picked up the ball on the left wing right from the kickoff and took off down the wing before getting to the end line and crossing the perfect ball into the box, which beat the Windsor keeper, and skated along the goal line and out the other side without any of her teammates being able to turn it into the goal. This was just a taste of what was to come, as United continued to pound away at the East Windsor defense. Forwards Katie Shields, Chelsea Donnigan and Ashley Perritt all came close, supported by Brittany Worrall, Shelby Doll and Dawn Taylor, who were pushing up from midfield. Eventually all of the hard work paid off as United took the lead with a nice goal by Katie Shields, after some good approach work with Perritt and Donnigan. That’s the way the first half would end, with only one goal separating the teams. That changed quickly after the restart when Katie Shields got her second of the game, a cool tap in on a cross from Tayler. After that United never looked back, supersubs Bailey, Myers, Horner and Deboer all got extended playing time in the second half, linking up well on offense and causing the East Windsor side plenty of problems. With 20 minutes to go Ashley Perritt made it 3-0, and not long after Coach Pereira switched keepers, with Shannon Buckley going in goal, and Diana Braun getting a chance to play the field. She immediately showed that she had not lost any of the skills that made her a feared striker in the league prior to becoming a goalie. After collecting the ball at her own halfway line, she beat a couple of players before taking a shot on goal that almost went in, but was hastily cleared by a now very weary East Windsor defense. The game ended soon after, a very well-earned victory by a side missing Angelique Calise, out with an injury, and Brittany Holbrook, who had the flu. Next week United are away to Sayreville.

The Upper Freehold Recreation Department will sponsor the 2005-2006 Upper Freehold/Allentown Winter Youth Basketball Program for children in grades 1-6 at the Upper Freehold Elementary/Middle School. The league runs from the end of November to February for grades 3-6, and from January to February (seven weeks) for grades 1-2. The costs are $60 for grades 3-6 and $35 for grades 1-2. The deadline to register is Oct. 21. Late registrations will not be accepted. To register your child, call the Upper Freehold Recreation Department at 609-758-7738, ext. 12, or visit www.uftnj.com. For more information regarding the program, call Katie Bailey at (609) 758-7577 or Maureen Scibilia at (609) 758-3707. Adult volunteer coaches are needed.