Opening day at the Mark Harbourt Soccer Complex in Allentown saw the Allentown United U15 girls at home and ready to take on the Ocean Rage from Monmouth SC. The weather was perfect and the fields were in excellent shape as the fall 2006 MOSA season got under way.

The Rage were the first to strike - on a long speculative shot that looped over the head of the retreating keeper, Diana Braun, and into the net. Not quite the start United was looking for, but they got right back into the game, and immediately started moving the ball around with authority.

The passing was crisp, and the girls were constantly moving, making runs, looking for an opening. It would come in the 20th minute. Chelsea Donnigan after receiving a nice pass from Shelby Doll in midfield, ran onto it and saw her well-struck shot hit the back of the net to tie up the game.

From there on in Allentown pretty well controlled the play. Just before the half Brittney Hodul had pushed forward from her stopper position to support the forwards on a corner kick. The ball broke loose out of the 18-yard box and came to her around 25 yards from goal. She struck it on the half volley and watched it fly into the roof of the net to give United a lead they would not relinquish. This was a rare goal for Hodul, who spends most of the time at the back stopping opponents from scoring.

In the second half Donnigan got her second as she raced on to a through ball from Meghan DeBoeur; she beat the defender to it, and calmly slotted the ball past the advancing goalie and into the net. That's how the scoreline ended with United taking a comfortable 3-1 victory over the Rage.

Next week they are at home to the Mustangs from Staten Island, N.Y.

The Upper Freehold-Allentown Women's Soccer team opened their fall season away with a 6-0 win over the Holmdel Mystic Riders. Kristin Kelley had a hat trick, while Tiffany Miller, Melanie Astore and Karen Coleleski added one apiece. Melanie Samuels recorded the shutout and saved a penalty kick in the process.

The women's next home game is Sunday at 9 a.m. at Byron Johnson Park. For more information contact Melanie Samuels at soccermel97@aol.com.

The UFA 40 opened up their season away to Sayreville, and within 15 minutes of the kick off, they were 3-1 down on some very sloppy defending at the back by Alan Nicholls and company. They were able to pull back to 3-3 with about 30 minutes to go, and then the game seesawed back and forth with Sayreville regaining the lead on a very dubious penalty call. Then Danny Tiexiera hit a fine shot to tie up the game again, only to see the Sayreville awarded another penalty after goalkeeper Martin Scarano brought down their striker in the box. FIFA rules dictate that if the last defender commits a foul in the box, the referee has no other decision other than to send him off. Scarano had to leave the field of play and UFA continued with 10 men. Sayreville converted the penalty for the 5-4 lead and eventual win. UFA fought on bravely, and saw a valid claim for their own penalty turned down after an opponent appeared to handle the ball in the box. Despite some heated protests, the referee waved play on and Allentown ran out of time and went home losers. Next week they are away to South River.