Allentown and Manasquan are definitely not strangers when it comes to girls lacrosse and the state tournament.
The two perennial state title contenders will be meeting for the sixth straight year and the second straight in the South Jersey Group II sectional final.
Top-seeded Allentown (18-5), the defending state champion, has won four of the last five meetings with No. 2 Manasquan (10-8), including a 10-6 victory last June to send the Redbirds to the state championship game.
The first draw control in the sectional final is set for 4:30 p.m. Tuesday on the turf in Allentown.
The North Jersey Group II final has No. 1 Mendham (15-5) hosting No. 2 Sparta (16-2).
The Redbirds called in some heralded alumni to talk with this group about the importance of staying focused and not taking anything for granted.
“This group just wants to be the best version of themselves,’’ said coach Justin Schmid. “Our practices, especially after bringing Kali Hartshorn in, have taken it up a notch as we’ve been in states. The competitive fire is there.’’
Hartshorn scored 238 career goals at Allentown and went on to have an All-America career at the University of Maryland. She was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and is third all-time in draw controls with 421.
The pep talk from the All-America player worked as Allentown has won its state games by a 25-6 margin.
It has been a full field effort. All-America honoree Megan Conroy has come up big in the cage, the back line defense set the tempo in the win over Barnegat, the midfield has been solid, and the attack has been very opportunistic.
Addison Wagner, coming off a five-goal game, leads with 65 goals and 28 assists; Eva Tomlinson has 46 goals, Nylah Ladu has 38 goals, 36 assists and 115 draw controls; Addison Riley has 18 goals; and Hayden Raff has 16 goals and 36 assists.
Some of what Allentown has done has been amazing as it lost 2025 Trentonian Player of the Year Marleigh White to a knee injury and recently lost midfielder Maddie Sullivan to an illness. Sullivan has 55 goals and 39 caused turnovers.
“You can’t replace players like them,’’ said Schmid. “Everyone just has to take their game up that much more and lock into the preparation. Focus on what we can control.’’
Allentown will need to control the Warriors’ Chloe Stevens, who has 58 goals and 101 draw controls. Sarah Sharpe has 33 goals, Dylan Carnahan has 24 goals and Ellie Sitar has 18 goals.
Logan McCarthy has 71 draws and 47 caused turnovers, while Alexandra Stamos has 88 saves in the goal.
“Manasquan’s athleticism and speed jump out on film,’’ said Schmid. “They’re really good on the draw and in the ride.’’
Allentown will be looking to ride into a second straight state final with a strong defense and a patient but effective attack.
“We have to be active off the ball and move their defense to create lanes,’’ said Schmid. “Defensively we have to communicate and stay together to force long shots.’’
These two are not strangers, and neither has ever been considered a long shot.