The Allentown field hockey team poses for a photo after defeating Notre Dam in the CVC Championship game on Saturday afternoon at David J. McIntire Field in Hightstown. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)Allentown's Ella Sluder, left, and Hailee Ladu, right, celebrate Sluder's game-winning goal in the fourth quarter against Notre Dame during the CVC field hockey championship game on Saturday afternoon at David J. McIntire Field in Hightstown. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)Allentown's Ella Sluder, 12, is hugged by teammate Hailee Ladu, 14, after she scored the game-winning goal in the fourth quarter against Notre Dame during the CVC field hockey championship game on Saturday afternoon at David J. McIntire Field in Hightstown. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)Allentown's Christina Sabbatini, right, and Hailee Ladu, center right, celebrate after defeating Notre Dame during the CVC field hockey championship game on Saturday afternoon at David J. McIntire Field in Hightstown. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)Allentown players celebrate with the championship plaque after defeating Notre Dame in the CVC field hockey championship game on Saturday afternoon at David J. McIntire Field in Hightsotwn. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)Notre Dame's Ellie Marrone, center, celebrates after scoring against Allentown during the CVC field hockey championship game on Saturday afternoon at David J. McIntire Field in Hightstown. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)Allentown's Christina Sabbatini follows through on a clearance against Notre Dame during the CVC field hockey championship game on Saturday afternoon at David J. McIntire Field in Hightstown. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)Allentown goalie Kylie Elefante, right, dives to try and save the ball off the stick of Notre Dame's Elena Ruppersberger, left, during the CVC field hockey championship game on Saturday afternoon at David J. McIntire Field in Hightstown. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)Notre Dame's Emma McVey, right, battles for the ball with Allentown's Addison Gingras, center, and Kelsey Loughlin, left, during the CVC field hockey championship game on Saturday afternoon at David J. McIntire Field in Hightstown. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)Notre Dame's Elena Ruppersberger celebrates after scoring in the fourth quarter against Allentown during the CVC field hockey championship game on Saturday afternoon at David J. McIntire Field in Hightstown. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)Allentown's Ella Sluder, left, and Notre Dame's Adria Durkin, center, and Grace Marrone, right, chase after the ball during the CVC field hockey championship game on Saturday afternoon at David J. McIntire Field in Hightstown. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)Allentown's Marleigh White, 5, celebrates with teammates after scoring against Notre Dame during the CVC field hockey championship game on Saturday afternoon at David J. McIntire Field in Hightstown. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)Allentown's Victoria Stawaris controls the ball against Notre Dame during the CVC field hockey championship game on Saturday afternoon at David J. McIntire Field in Hightstown. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)Allentown's Marleigh White, right, controls the ball as she's pressured by Notre Dame's Victoria Suschke, left, during the CVC field hockey championship game on Saturday afternoon at David J. McIntire Field in Hightstown. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)Allentown's Avery Gower, right, keeps the ball away from Notre Dame's Clementine Bowden, left, during the CVC field hockey championship game on Saturday afternoon at David J. McIntire Field in Hightstown. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)Notre Dame goalie Adriana Tattoli lunges to try and save the ball against Allentown during the CVC field hockey championship game on Saturday afternoon at David J. McIntire Field in Hightstown. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)Notre Dame's Elena Ruppersberger, left, shoots and scores past the defense of Alllentown's Emma Dombrowski, right, during the CVC field hockey championship game on Saturday afternoon at David J. McIntire Field in Hightstown. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)Notre Dame coach Cheryl Harris, right, watches the action from the sideline against Allentown during the CVC field hockey championship game on Saturday afternoon at David J. McIntire Field in Hightstown. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)Allentown head coach Kayla Peterson, left, stands next to assistant coach and her sister Hayley Peterson, right, on the sideline against Notre Dame during the CVC field hockey championship game on Saturday afternoon at David J. McIntire Field in Hightstown. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)Allentown coach Kayla Peterson smiles after defeating Notre Dame during the CVC field hockey championship game on Saturday afternoon at David J. McIntire Field in Hightstown. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)Show Caption1 of 20The Allentown field hockey team poses for a photo after defeating Notre Dam in the CVC Championship game on Saturday afternoon at David J. McIntire Field in Hightstown. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)Expand HIGHTSTOWN – Once the penalty corner was whistled, Ella Sluder knew it was time to fixate and focus. It came with just under three minutes left and No.1 Notre Dame and No. 2 Allentown tied at 4-4 in the Colonial Valley Conference championship game. Allentown’s Kelsey Loughlin placed the insert perfectly on Sluder’s stick and the junior sent a rocket to the backboard for a 5-4 lead with 2:54 left to play. The Redbirds defense rose to the occasion to protect the one-goal lead and give them a hard-fought CVC championship over Notre Dame on Saturday afternoon on the Hightstown High turf. “I saw KP (Kayla Peterson, Allentown coach) call it going to me,’’ recalled Sluder, of the game winner. “I told myself to lock in because this has to go in there’s no way I want to go to overtime. I’d rather celebrate now.’’ And the Redbirds soon did. The Irish (13-2) had intense pressure on the Allentown (14-4) cage the entire fourth period as they tied the game at 4-4 on an Elena Ruppersberger goal off a Clementine Bowden assist. But the Redbirds called time and regrouped. “This means everything,’’ said Peterson, Allentown’s first-year coach. “To come back in my first year and be able to pull this off is incredible. We had the heart and at halftime we just told them to out and have fun. If you’re not having fun it’s not worth it and they play their best when they are having fun.’’ The Irish, who defeated Allentown, 4-3, in the regular season, held a 2-1 halftime advantage. The Redbirds came out of the half fired up and scored three straight goals to grab a 4-2 lead. Then the Irish battled back and tied the game at 4-4 with 5:41 left to play. “The girls gave everything that was possible to give,’’ said ND coach Cheryl Harris. “We knew they are a second half team. We came on strong and we had to finish. I’m very proud of them. There was a lot to be proud of on both sides of the ball. “We knew Notre Dame is not going to give up,’’ praised Peterson. “So, we had to call time to regroup and have Ella put it away.’’ Sluder led the way with three goals, giving the UMass-Lowell recruit five goals in the tourney. Kelsey Loughlin had a goal and two assists and Marleigh White, who did a great job in transition, had one goal. White’s goal was the first in the three-goal Redbird run. “It was Marleigh’s goal that changed the game,’’ said Peterson. “She has been phenomenal and a very high level lacrosse player. So, to have her is fantastic.’’ Kylie Elefante had 13 saves. “After Ella’s goal we just wanted to focus on the next two minutes and get ready for their counterattack,’’ said Elefante, who is the all-time saves leader at Allentown. “We got caught off guard a couple of times,, but we did a good job of coming back from it.’’ The last time the Redbirds won an event like the CVC Championships was Peterson’s senior year at Allentown when they won the county tournament, defeating Robbinsville, 1-0, on a Sierra Wojcik goal. “I’ve had my eye on that championship trophy for a while,’’ said Elefante. “So, happy to do it in my senior year and it feels like a great ending to my career at Allentown.’’ The Irish never wavered and played hard all game getting a pair of goals from Ellie Marrone, two goals and an assist from Ruppersberger and assists from Bowden and Emma McVey. Allentown (14-4) 1 0 3 1 – 5 Notre Dame (13-2) 1 1 1 1 – 4 Goals: A: Sluder 3, White, Loughlin. ND: E. Marrone 2, Ruppersberger 2. Assists: A: Loughlin 2, Ladu. ND: Ruppersberger, Conway, McVey, Bowden. Shots: A: 16, ND: 17. Saves: A: Elefante 13, ND: Tattoli 11