The Allentown boys soccer team took the field Saturday without four of its players who were critically injured in a Monday car accident.
And while the four students were not there physically, they were on the minds of their teammates who returned to action for the first time since the crash.
While Saturday’s game - a 2-1 loss to visiting Moorestown - did not produce the desired result, it was a much-needed chance to return to a sense of normalcy for a couple of hours and honor those they have played together with since they were children.
“We think and talk about them every single day,” Allentown head coach Shamus Matthews said. “They’re still with us, they’re on the road to recovery, they’re fighting. We chose to honor them through our play and our energy.
“We all believed that the best thing for these young men was to resume doing what they love and be a part of what they love to do. To get them out on the field, to get them thinking about a game, to get them moving forward, it was the best thing we could do. We’re not doctors, we’re not nurses, we did what we knew what we could do and I believe it was the right thing to do.”
According to Matthews, the team got together Monday afternoon and talked just hours after a car carrying the four players crashed with a pickup truck in East Windsor, near the intersection of Windsor-Perrineville and Cedarville Roads.
The team met again Tuesday and Wednesday, then returned to practice, with Saturday set as the day for its first game back.
“I think the team was anxious to get back to playing and get back to a little bit of normalcy as best as possible,” Allentown Athletic Director Phil Ricci said. “That’s exactly what their teammates would want them to do is to get back at it and play games and be competitive. That’s what we’re trying to do. It’s been a tough week.”
A moment of reflection was held before the game for the four players injured in the crash.
Matthews said he could tell his team was locked in after a pregame talk and in the 26th minute, Allentown (1-4) took a 1-0 lead on Jayce Pagano’s goal that was assisted by Steve Cardona.
Moorestown (4-2) would answer back as goals by Robert Intenzo and Justin Talbot put them in front. Brian Muhic made four saves as well.
Matthews said the disappointment his players resembled the emotions typically seen at the end of a state tournament loss, however he stressed that they had every reason to leave the field with their heads held high.
“I couldn’t be prouder than I am of them today. We didn’t get the result we dreamed of, but it was definitely a tough match and a good game,” Matthews said. “These are great young men and they became men this week from what they had to overcome and see through.
“Not getting the win was a little devastating for them, but I hope that they can take the joy of what they did, playing in a very tight game and they battled this whole week with the adversity and they came together as a team.”
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