Time was starting to run out for Steinert.
After a frustrating back-and-forth affair with Colonial Valley Conference Colonial Division opponent Allentown, the Spartans knew they had to generate something on offense as time ticked down.
Finally, with 10 minutes remaining in the game, Chris DiMarco was able to break through the Redbirds’ defense and he scored his team-leading ninth goal of the season to lead Steinert to a 1-0 victory.
“We were pushing all game,” DiMarco said. “Their defense was strong and it was our last action all game so it felt good to get through their defense.”
It was the third-straight win for Steinert, and six in its last seven games as the Spartans moved into second place in the division at 3-1 behind Notre Dame and Princeton, which both sit at 4-0.
Allentown lost for the fourth time in five games after starting the season 3-0, but three of those losses have been by one goal.
“They’re always a hard team to play, they’re close to us so it always feels good to beat them,” DiMarco said of Allentown. “We’re always going to get a good game from them. With all of the CVC Colonial teams, it’s always a good game so we knew we had to earn it.”
It was Steinert’s first 1-0 victory of the season as the Spartans had combined to score 20 goals in their previous five wins.
“I feel like today was just a real grind for us,” DiMarco said. “To know that we are capable of it and that we didn’t turn on each other, it feels good because obviously it was hard.”
Steinert took seven corners compared to Allentown’s one, but couldn’t capitalize. Allentown’s defense, which has allowed seven goals in its eight games, managed to keep Steinert off the board for a solid 70 minutes before DiMarco’s goal.
Allentown goalie Dan Ciodyk finished with seven saves, while Steinert’s Andrew Ivens finished with five for his third shutout of the season
“I thought we played great,” Steinert’s Ryan Checkowski said of the defense. “Ryan Kelleher and Luca Witzel definitely stepped up today. I thought we moved as a unit very well, transitioning back and forth when our team doesn’t have the ball and when we had the ball, so I thought we played great.”
Steinert opened the season with a 2-1 loss to Marlboro before winning three-straight over Nottingham, Hightstown and Princeton Day. A 2-1 loss to Lawrence on Sept. 16 snapped the streak, but the Spartans managed to rebound behind an offense that has generated 23 goals and 20 assists so far this season. The defense has allowed eight goals in eight games.
“Honestly, I think we did start off a little slow, I think we realized that we needed to be better with some of the results that we’ve had,” DiMarco said. “I know everyone on this team, we want to be better and I think that the steps that we’re taking now are making us play better. I think we’re making the right steps in the right direction, we just have to keep our momentum going.”