The Millstone Township Pop Warner Eagles cheerleaders did their township proud at the Eastern Regional Cheer Competition, held at the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton on Sunday, Nov. 20. Towns throughout all of New Jersey, as well as New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Connecticut, competed in the competition. The Junior Pee Wees, Pee Wees and Midget cheerleaders displayed a great presence on the competition floor with outstanding performances. Out of hundreds of teams in the region, Millstone’s cheerleaders finished in the top four spots in their divisions — quite an accomplishment for only a second-year program.

Millstone Eagles Junior Pee Wee squad (large novice) finished fourth. Through all the ups and downs of the season the Junior Pee Wee team pulled through by placing at every cheer competition. Even though more than half the squad was new to the team, they were able to adapt to major changes throughout each competition. The coaches stated, “We are extremely proud of the team. If there was an award for the team with the most heart, it would belong to the Millstone Eagles’ Junior Pee Wee Cheer Squad.”

The cheerleaders are Alissa Anselmo, Kelly Baber, Catherine Borna, Kelsi Chandonnet, Hannah Cuffari, Brielle Daugherty, Mellissa Hanley, Sara Hanley, Corrianne Kennedy, Monique Kowalik, Kara Leibowitz, Catherine Lu, Gabriella Morrone, Alexandria Mullarkey, Olivia Nitti, Amanda Olivera, Gabrielle San Nicola, Kiran Sinha, Melanie Rose Stefanchik and Carlie Trentacosti. The coaches are Stephanie Nitti, Barbara Mullarkey and Gina Morrone and team mom Louise San Nicola.

The Millstone Eagles Pee Wee squad (large novice) finished third, winning a Spirit Championship Plaque and bronze medals. This was achieved even after the team suffered the loss of Stephanie Maiorano and Alexis Flotteron to injuries this past week. They had to rework the entire routine that had won them second place at two prior competitions. The girls pulled through with an incredible performance. The cheerleaders are Natasha Adler, Sarah Ahern, Ashley Alvarado, Erinn Benedict, Sarah Brown, Courtney Chandonnet, Brooke Cote, Cassidy Cunningham, Marissa DelGuercio, Alexis Flotteron, Alexa Gentempo, Erin Glenn, Katie Hombach, Kayleigh Juba, Kelly MacNiven, Stephanie Maiorano, Erin Meyer, Jordan Millet, Karli Moke, Brianne Mullarkey, Nicole Muraski, Evalyse Pallante, Gina Salonna, Alyssa Sanfilippo, Briana Sigona, Katherine Smith, Gianna Tassone, and Tess Vander Gaag. The coaches are Kathie Chandonnet, Michele Pallante, Bobbi Vandergaag, Michele Muraski and Eileen Morrissey and team moms Allyson Hombach and Lisa Salonna. Junior coaches are Jessica Schember and Raquel Dos Santos.

The Millstone Eagles Midget Squad earned a second-place finish, and will advance to the National Pop Warner Cheer Competition this month at Disney World. The cheerleaders are Caroline Balzano, Kerianne Baylor, Kristen Borna, Jacqueline Budrewicz, Taylor Campbell, Samantha Goldsman, Margaret Manfredini, Victoria Mazza, Christine Meyer, Amanda Podhurst, Leandra Pomaro, Adrianne Sacchetti, Kartrina Sharp.The coaches are Denise Houghton, Marian Baylor, Dvora Goldsman, Anne Borna and team mom, Tricia Mazza. Junior coaches are Sara Gravatt and Erin Gravatt.

“We are not finished yet,” said Denise Houghton, head coach for the Midgets. “All the teams at the competition did an excellent job, and our team was fortunate to have done so well. The girls have worked very hard, and they are very excited about the trip to Florida. We hope to come home winners from the Nationals in early December.”

The town of Millstone is behind them every step of the way.

The Midgets are trying to raise funds to support their trip with the help of the other two squads. Any businesses or organizations that would like to donate toward their cause may send contributions to MEFCBC, P.O. Box 457, Perrineville, NJ 08535.

The Western Monmouth Babe Ruth League is a baseball league designed to give children between the ages of 13 and 15 the opportunity to play baseball. The league is open to all 13 to 15 year olds (as of April 30, 2006) living in Millstone Township, Allentown and Upper Freehold Township The home fields are in Allentown and Millstone, but some travel will be required. The deadline to sign up for the Babe Ruth League is Jan. 8. All new players will be evaluated on Jan. 14. A league for 16- to 18-year-olds is also available. Please call for details. For more information, e-mail wmoball@aol.com or call 609-947-3450.

The UFA 40 were at home on Sunday to Pine Beach in the penultimate game of the fall. Unfortunately the long hard season was starting to show on the squad, with several players out with injuries and other commitments, so UFA would have a tough game on their hands.

Against the run of play they took an early lead after keeper Martin Scarano sent a long ball down the field, where it was collected by Steve Sinai who one-timed it into the box into the path of David Sebag, who met it on the bounce and headed it over the advancing goalkeeper for a textbook goal. Pine Beach pulled one back a few minutes later after a series of slick passes that pulled the defense out of position, and goalie Scarano had no chance with the shot. After this quick start, UFA settled down and started to string their passes together, continuing to press the Pine Beach defense. Eventually all of the hard work paid off and Danny Teixiera got his first goal for the team after Steve Sinai crossed the ball from deep in the corner after beating a couple of defenders and centering it into the box, where Teixiera had a simple tap in to give UFA the lead going into the break. Pine Beach were quick to go on the offensive at the resumption of play, getting the equalizer just five minutes into the second half.

It stayed that way until the 70th minute when the visitors scored what would be the game winner, leaving UFA winless in four games, with just one game to go. Next week’s finale is against Little Silver at Thompson Park.

The Allentown United U14 girls took part in the Howell Thanksgiving Soccer Classic, placing in the top bracket against two highly ranked N.J. teams and a team from Philadelphia that was ranked fifth in Pennsylvania. The first game was at 8 a.m. on Saturday morning against Twin County Power. Temperatures were in the high 20s and the field was frozen solid, making for very difficult playing conditions. This would prove to be the first of three very tough, but also very evenly contested games in a bracket loaded with talent.

Play was end-to-end with both forwards and defenders kept busy, and goalkeeper Diana Braun forced to make a couple of early saves to keep the Twin County scoreless. At the other ends, forwards Ashley Perritt and Katie Shields both made fine runs into the box and Perritt came close on a couple of occasions with shots that proved tricky for the Twin County keeper, given the slippery conditions.The game was tied at 0-0 when Perritt was fouled in the 50th minute, just outside the box.

On the ensuing direct free kick, Dawn Taylor sent her shot flying into the top left corner of the goal, unstoppable. United had the lead, and now they had to hang on for the remaining 10 minutes. Defenders Meghan Valnoski, Brittany Hodul, Shannon Buckley and Ashley Pereira played a solid game in front of goalkeeper Diana Braun, and it looked like they were going to start the tournament off with a win, when Twin County had their own chance with two minutes to go. They won a free kick on the edge of the box and Braun had to use all of her skill and agility to pull off the save of the match, diving high to her left and making a one-handed save to keep the ball out of the goal. United were winners, and with a quick 75-minute break, they would return to the field at 10.30 a.m. to play against the powerhouse Philadelphia Copa Cavaliers.

This was a fast-moving game, since conditions had improved on the field and the two teams were able to move the ball around more efficiently without fear of slipping on the glassy surface as had been the case in the previous game. As before, Coach Amaro Pereira elected to go with a 4-4-2 lineup, putting an extra player in midfield to help control the game and slow down the Cavalier offense. It seemed to work, as Shelby Doll worked tirelessly with Dawn Taylor on one wing half and Brittany Worrell on the other, and either Carolyn Horner, Meghan De Bouer, Brittany Holbrook or Kelly Bailey helping out in the middle. United stayed in the game, and kept the score sheet clean going into the break.

The second half resumed with Allentown not giving an inch. The play was fast and furious with plenty of action in both goal areas. The Cavaliers would be the first to break the deadlock, getting a very nice goal after a series of moves down the right hand side of the field. The Cavalier winger took the ball all the way to the end line; in doing so, she drew keeper Braun over to block that side of the goal, and at that moment, she slid the ball back to the edge of the six-yard box, giving her supporting midfielder a simple shot on goal. United played hard right up to the final whistle, causing the elite team a few scary moments as they clung to their slim one-goal lead.

Sunday morning play was resumed at 9.15 a.m. against the N.J. Rangers. This team had beaten the Philadelphia Copa Cavaliers 1-0 on Saturday, so United were under no illusions: they knew they would have another tough 60 minutes of soccer ahead of them. Again, the local girls came to play, and again they brought their “A” game, matching the Rangers stride for stride and tackle for tackle. The game was scoreless at the half, but with another 30 minutes of play still to go, United was fighting to hang on. Diana Braun played superbly in goal, time and again stopping every shot that was fired at her, before launching long punts up field for her forwards to run to, and at the same time giving her defenders a chance to regroup before the next onslaught. Angelique Calise got extended playing time in defense for this game, subbing in for the injured Shannon Buckley. With less than 10 minutes to play, they conceded a corner, and from the kick, the Ranger forward curled the ball high into the box, and into the top far corner of the net. On paper, Allentown United came away from the tournament with one win and two losses, but they only conceded two goals in 180 minutes of soccer against top class opponents. As with their Memorial weekend tournament in Orlando Fla., the team walked away empty-handed, no winner’s trophies. What is not on paper is the fighting spirit that these young ladies showed every time they stepped onto the field, from Sammy Myers, who played a few minutes here and there, helping out wherever she could, to MVP Diana Braun, who played every minute of every game. They played as a squad pulling together, representing local soccer with a style and dignity not often seen in these days of win at all cost’ sports. Next week, United turn to indoor soccer for the winter, in preparation for the spring season in Mosa U14 Premier division.