Terence Allen's three goals power Kellenberg past Barrington of Rhode Island

The most dangerous guy on the soccer field was at it again and again and again, scoring three times. He could’ve scored five times if the goalkeeper hadn’t leaped to his right and dove to his left during the second half.

Terence Allen owns 14 goals for Kellenberg through eight games after depositing 12 last season.

“He does give us the best opportunities to finish,” coach Bill Masiulis said after the senior striker powered Saturday’s 4-1 home win over Barrington of Rhode Island in the first Firebird Invitational, a two-day, five-game gathering.

“But … his opportunities as a finisher are because our other players give him the opportunity to do his job."

The Firebirds have been doing their jobs well. The team is 7-1. Last season, it exited in the NSCHSAA AA semis, falling 1-0 to eventual state champ St. Anthony’s.

“I feel like [with] the chemistry we have this year and the connections we’ve built up, we’ll be able to contend and most likely win this year,” Allen said. “This is our year.”

The year was 1997 when Kellenberg last claimed a league crown.

“In a very humbling way, I would love to always be respected in the league and competitive in the league,” Masiulis said. “When you have to get through quality programs like Chaminade and St. Anthony’s that have become a staple of soccer in New York state, it is a tall hill to climb.

“I think over the last few years, we’ve been able to have the right type of players coming into our school as well as into our program.”

These players have the two tall measuring sticks ahead at home — Tuesday vs. St. Anthony’s and Thursday vs. Chaminade.

“It’s going to be the toughest week we’ve had all season,” Masiulis said, “because that’s really going to be the indicator of where we really do stand within our league at this time.”

Barrington (1-3-2), which plays St. John the Baptist Sunday to conclude the event, was in a scoreless match with Kellenberg for most of the first half. Goalkeeper Michael Illiano made two diving stops for the Firebirds.

Then Allen collected a ball that been deflected by a defender and beat Tristan Gilfillan from the left side of the box with 2:11 left until halftime.

“He’s phenomenal,” Eagles coach Don Denham said of Allen.

Liam Helfich replaced Gilfillan for the intermission. Liam Gragnano sent Allen in on a breakaway, and he beat Helfich to make it 2-0 3:30 in.

Allen rocketed a free kick from about 25 yards away for the third goal, and Miles Abdeldain cashed in a penalty kick for a 4-0 lead.

“They play hard,” Denham said. “They’re very organized and disciplined [and] well coached.”