More than likely, field hockey teams in the Colonial Valley Conference are figuring this may be the year to get Allentown High.
Coach Kayla Peterson likes it that way.
“I’ve found in my years of playing or coaching, that sometimes after you have some big (personnel) losses, you kind come in with everyone having lower expectations,” the former Redbird and TCNJ standout said. “Everyone is saying it’s a rebuilding year or whatever, but sometimes with lower expectations you can really surprise people.”
Especially when enjoying the winning tradition Allentown has established.
Peterson took over a successful program in 2024 and kept it humming. The Redbirds proceeded to win the first two CVC Tournaments after it morphed from the Mercer County Tournament. They reached the NJSIAA South Jersey Group II final last year and the South Jersey Group II semifinals in ’24.
Graduation hit hard as Allentown lost 10 seniors, and only three players return who scored goals last year.
Goalie Annalie Simonds knows it will be a challenge but feels that the Allentown legacy, along with strong coaching, will prevent a falloff.
“Our success with the CVC title came down to everyone working together towards the same goal,” the junior said. “This season, with fewer returning starters, we have work to do to build our team culture.
“But the spirit of Allentown field hockey remains the same. Coach Peterson is a huge part of that. She prepares us to play hard and together as a unit. The whole coaching staff — coach Peterson, coach Koz (Tess Kozlowski), and coach (Beth) Rehmann – are so supportive and provide continuous feedback that makes us a better unit and individual players. We are a contender for the CVC again this year. We all share that goal.”
Simonds is a major reason for that optimism.
A big question mark last year was who would replace goalie Kylie Elefante, now playing for Princeton University. Simonds watched and learned from the older keeper and stepped in as a sophomore to allow just 2.8 goals per game while averaging 8.8 saves. She recorded five shutouts and made 26 saves against Group I champion Shore Regional.
“Ana is an incredible goalie,” Peterson said. “She’s just so hard working, she never lets the pressure get to her. I’ve coached her since she was in sixth grade in softball. Even as a softball player, she always rose to the occasion and I think that’s really what happened last year.
“She had a couple tough games — we play some really hard teams now — but as a sophomore she was able to really become that leader in the backfield. She’s told me that she is focusing a little more on field hockey, so I’m really excited to see how she comes up this year.”
Simonds began playing goal with Allentown’s Scarlets Field Hockey program in sixth grade. After attending a Scarlets summer clinic, “I ultimately knew that I wanted to be in the cage. The idea of wearing gear and being in charge of the field sounded so cool, and I have loved it ever since.”
There is even better news for Allentown where the goalie situation is concerned, as junior McKenna Dansberry is also talented and should see time, according to her coach. Having them both compete in practice is an added plus.
“She’s a tall girl and I love a tall goalie but she’s also super hard working, and she and Ana get along so well,” Peterson said. “Just watching them work together and push each other it’s so nice to have two really strong goalies. That doesn’t happen too often. They make each other better every single day. I know I can trust McKenna in there as much as I can trust Ana.”
Simonds has no problem throwing praise at her practice partner.
“McKenna is a strong goalie, we push each other to be better,” Simonds said. “She has taught me how to better slide tackle and how to be vocal in the circle. I have full faith in McKenna, which allows me to give everything I have because I know our team is in good hands.”
Peterson is of the mindset that if she has someone who can prevent balls from finding the back of the net, she’s at the perfect starting point. It helps that several other key performers return in the back.
“As sophomores they were not necessarily starters, but they got a chance to learn from a strong senior class,” Peterson said. “I’m expecting them to step up in quite a big way.”
Those juniors include Katie Haddock, who worked her way up as the year progressed and made a mark late in the season, and Sophia Reiner, who played defense and may move up to defensive midfield due to her quickness. Two other juniors who did not amass much time last year but show potential are Olivia Lauristen and Blaise Jarzyk.
One senior being counted on is Ellie DelGandio, who worked her way up to a starting spot last season and became a big defensive contributor.
“Our defensive unit works well together,” Simonds said. “We trust each other, pick each other up, and have a good rhythm. I finished last season with 150 saves, and my defense was a huge part of that success. This year, it will be critical for us to play together at a high level.”
Simonds will have to be a leader in the back. She seems to have figured out the formula.
“Leadership, to me, is picking people up, giving 100 percent in everything I do, and finding ways to be positive,” Simonds said. “This season is no different. I have been doing this my whole Allentown High School career, and I will continue to be a vocal and uplifting leader on and off the field.”
Peterson also wants a field player to fill that leadership gap left by the graduated Victoria Stawaris and defensive-center Avery Gower.
“We had an insanely good senior class last year,” the coach said. “Victoria did so well commanding backfield and Avery Gower was the key to our whole team, so it’s really gonna be seeing who steps up as the leader. We should have some good freshmen coming in and they’ll hopefully take them under their wing and help them out.”
The major questions are on offense, as the graduated players accounted for 95 of the 104 goals Allentown scored last year.
Sophomore Susannah Morino is the leading returning scorer with six goals, while junior Addison Meyers had two goals and sophomore Kyla Mitchell scored one. Morino knew how to rise to the occasion as she had a goal or assist in three CVCT games and three state games.
“Susannah Morino stepped up last year at the end of the season and scored in a lot of big games,” Peterson said. “Our first game against Notre Dame she scored the game-winner (in a 5-4 victory), which was huge for her as a freshman. She’s a hustler, she doesn’t think too much she just goes out there and plays.
“Kyla Mitchell should be another good midfielder or forward. Addie Meyers has been stepping up a lot in the off-season. She’s been getting the girls together to work out. I’ve seen a lot of good stuff with her.”
After that, Peterson will look for some other young returnees, along with 23 freshmen, to fill in the blanks.
“Having 23 freshmen coming out rarely happens,” Peterson said. “But when you have a successful team more girls want to come out. They see the team culture and I think I’ve helped continue a great team culture and that helps a lot. It kind of steps up better expectations early on. Our goal is always going to be to win.”
Graduating a bevy of girls will not change that thought process.
“The loss of those 10 players was critical to the team but the good news is we have strong returning upperclassmen and a lot of underclassmen who are eager to contribute,” Simonds said. “Team cohesion and everyone showing up and giving 100 percent are going to be some of the ways that we are going to be successful this season.”
Peterson said the Redbirds’ goal is to maintain their CVCT trophy and make another strong run in the states. Allentown will lean on its defense to keep the scores low while the offense figures things out.
“That’s my hope,” the coach said. “I know I can teach some girls to score some goals. That, to me, is an easier spot. I can push the girls to really put the pressure on other people’s defense.
“To have a defensive unit coming back that knows each other and works well together, that’s something that can usually take a little time to build. Coming in straight away with that ,I feel pretty comfortable. The rest is just gonna work itself out.”
And working itself out is what usually happens in a winning program like Allentown.
