Mightiest Warriors: Manasquan Buries Playoff Demons in Sectional Title Rout of Allentown

ALLENTOWN — Manasquan had this game circled on its calendar from the moment the season began.

For three consecutive years, the Warriors watched their season end at the hands of Allentown in the state playoffs. The memories of those heartbreaking defeats lingered, providing motivation throughout the year. This time, however, the outcome was different.

Manasquan finally got its revenge, dominating Allentown 14-2 to capture its third sectional championship and erase years of postseason frustration. The victory sends Manasquan into the Group 2 State Championship, where the Warriors will face Mendham on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at TCNJ.

The Warriors wasted no time making a statement.

Just 2:50 into the game, junior Dylan Carnahan opened the scoring and sparked what would become an offensive avalanche. Nearly two minutes later, Chloe Stevens doubled the lead before senior defender Logan McCarthy raced coast-to-coast for a goal just 25 seconds later, extending the advantage to 3-0.

Manasquan continued to apply pressure throughout the opening quarter. Senior Ellie Sitar capped the scoring with 3:59 remaining, giving the Warriors a commanding 4-0 lead after one quarter. From there, Manasquan never looked back.

The sectional title was the culmination of a season filled with both challenges and triumphs. It also marked a remarkable first year for head coach Rachel Lasda.

Lasda arrived at Manasquan with an impressive resume that included a successful stints at Oak Knoll, but taking over a program that had seen three coaches in three years presented a unique challenge. Winning over a locker room and establishing a culture takes time, but Lasda quickly earned the trust of her players.

“I’m really grateful for the support I’ve had from the team and the community rallying around me,” said Lasda. “It’s all I could ask for, and it’s great to be here.”

Her players credit her leadership as a major reason for the team’s success.

“Coach Lasda means a lot to me,” said McCarthy. “She did a great job changing the culture.”

“Coach Lasda came in, knew what she wanted, and pushed us so hard,” added Carnahan. “We wouldn’t be here without her.”

Carnahan has developed a reputation for delivering in big moments. Earlier this season, she scored the game-winner against Rumson-Fair Haven. On Wednesday, she once again rose to the occasion, helping set the tone offensively while playing outstanding defense.

The junior finished with two goals and three assists but chose to highlight the collective effort.

“It says a lot about every single person on our offense,” said Carnahan. “We have one of the most threatening offenses in the Shore, and I’m so proud of us.”

Another player with extra motivation entering the game was Stevens. A year ago, she watched Allentown celebrate a sectional title while she stood on the sideline injured. This time, she was right in the middle of the action.

Stevens scored twice while adding five ground balls and eight draw controls in a dominant all-around performance.

“It feels absolutely awesome to win this time around,” Stevens said. “I’m literally shaking.”

Stevens has been one of the Warriors’ most valuable players all season, combining elite defense with offensive production and draw-control dominance. She now has 60 goals on the year.

She also revealed the message that fueled the team before the opening draw.

“Before the game, our seniors said, ‘Don’t let Allentown end our season for a fourth straight year,'” Stevens said. “We knew we had to come out here and completely blow them away, and that’s what we did.”

Junior Sarah Sharpe was another key contributor in the victory, recording two goals and an assist.

Sharpe’s breakout season continues, as she now sits at a career-high 35 goals after scoring 23 last year. Like many of her teammates, she carried the memory of last year’s loss into Wednesday’s matchup.

“We definitely had a little more fire in us today,” said Sharpe. “I’ve been thinking about this game for so long, and it feels so great to finally win it.”

Sharpe has often flown under the radar on a talented roster, but her growth and production have been instrumental to Manasquan’s success.

“I loved seeing our balanced offense today,” Lasda said. “It shows how confident these players are in themselves and their teammates.”

While the entire team celebrated the victory, perhaps no players enjoyed the moment more than seniors Ellie Sitar and Logan McCarthy.

Before Wednesday, the only postseason experience they had against Allentown ended in disappointment. After three years of heartbreak, they finally earned the victory they had been chasing.

Sitar led the way with a hat trick, while McCarthy added a goal, six ground balls, and lockdown defense.

“It felt really good to score three goals in my last game against Allentown,” Sitar said. “The fact that it was such a big margin of victory shows how much we’ve improved as a team.”

“It feels amazing to finally do it,” McCarthy said. “Knowing I was able to do it with my fellow seniors made it even better.”

McCarthy has established herself as one of the Shore Conference’s top defenders during her career, and Lasda was quick to praise her impact.

“Logan has been incredible,” Lasda said. “She has been a leader on and off the field. Everyone wants a Logan on their team, and I don’t want her to graduate ever.”

Her leadership has not gone unnoticed by her teammates, who were determined to help the senior class finally overcome the obstacle that had ended their seasons for years.

Now, the Warriors are sectional champions once again.

The title is Manasquan’s third sectional championship and first since 2022. More importantly, it keeps alive the dream of capturing the program’s first-ever state championship. Standing in the Warriors’ way is Mendham, with history now just one win away.