Allentown girls lacrosse needs to regroup after strong 2007 Redbirds went 11-6, but lost eight players to graduation BY DOUG McKENZIE Correspondent After enjoying a strong 11-6 season that included a Colonial Valley Conference Valley League championship, as well as a first-round victory in the state tournament, the Allentown girls lacrosse team is hoping to pick up where it left off. The Redbirds will have to do it with a lot of new faces, however, because head coach Jeff Hanford's team will need to overcome the loss of eight players to graduation, including two First TeamAll-Area performers and two honorable mention All-Area players. That's not to say that the cupboard is bare, since Hanford likes what he sees from his team in early spring practice sessions. "They look young," he said. "That's my biggest concern. But if we can play to our strengths as we've done in the past, we'll be pretty good." Success with the Redbird girls usually starts with defense, and this year should be no exception. "Since I've been with this program [a four-year stretch that has seen the team go 39-19], our defense has been the strength of the team," Hanford said. "That's been the great equalizer for us, and if that's the case for us again this year, we'll be OK." And with his team making the state playoffs for the past three years, that defensive focus has paid off. The Redbirds will be led by senior Jessica Abramo on defense. Abramo, an honorable mention All-Area performer a year ago, injured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her knee in the final 30 seconds of the Redbirds' 7-0 win over Manchester in the first round of the Central Jersey Group II playoffs. "She got hurt in the Manchester game and didn't play in the second-round loss to Camden Catholic," Hanford said. "She went down and the rest of the team kind of crumbled without her, even though she was just a junior. "It's great to have her back, but I'm bringing her along slowly at this point." Another player the Redbirds are happy to have back is senior Becca Wishbow, who was diagnosed with leukemia last summer and missed the entire 2007 season. Her return has provided a tremendous lift to this young team, according to Hanford. "She looks great out there," the coach said. The defense will be led by co-captains Abramo and Kristen Hum, a three-year starter who brings experience and leadership to the young defense. Junior Taylor Harvey will also be looked to to lead a defense that allowed only two teams to score double-digit goals all of last year. Sophomores Alexia Berry and Maria Serrano, along with juniors Abby Chek (who Hanford called a "rising star in Central Jersey"), Kate Shamlian and Kiersten Hendrickson, and freshman CieraWeatherbee will be relied upon to fill some very large gaps on the vaunted defensive unit. Sophomore Annie Matrone will be the new anchor in goal, and will need to prove herself capable of being the reliable goalie the Redbirds have been accustomed to in recent years. The offense will be led by senior captain Jackie Turner, a three-year starter who emerged as the team's leading scorer during the Lady Redbirds' playoff run. "The reunion of her and Becca will hopefully be the one-two punch to lead what is an extremely young offense," Hanford said. Juniors Lauren Mottershead, Nicole Miller and Emily Petrov, along with sophomores Margret Manfredini, Samantha Scibilia and Jordan Blair and freshman Maddy Collins will be thrown into the fire immediately and be asked to produce quickly if the Redbirds are going to continue the program's success and contend for another state playoff berth. "Manfredini and Collins will be instant impact players with their great speed and scoring ability," Hanford said. So while there are a lot of question marks with this year's Allentown team, Hanford is confident that another solid season looms on the horizon. "We have a very tough out-ofconference schedule, but if things break the right way, I think we can have another good year," he said. "We're looking at making the state playoffs first, and competing for the conference second." It all gets under way on April 1, when the Redbirds host West Windsor-Plainsboro North at 4:15 p.m.