CLARKS SUMMIT — A stretch of five goals in less than seven minutes helped Abington Heights defeat Pittston Area, 13-6, in the first round of the District 2 Class 2A girls lacrosse playoffs May 17 at Comets Stadium.

After leading 6-4 at the half, Abington Heights junior Ashley DeRiso stretched the Lady Comets lead to four by scoring her third and fourth goals of the game within the first seven minutes of the second half.

“That was the swing for us and then the momentum picked up,” Abington Heights assistant coach Rich Grenfell said.

Sophomore Brennan Tates scored her third goal of the game with 16:16 left in the second half to increase Abington Heights’ lead to 9-4.

Senior Emily Marquardt and junior Perri Scott followed with goals, two minutes apart, to give the Lady Comets an 11-4 advantage with 13:57 remaining in the second half.

Junior Kaila Steenback scored off a spin move and junior Madelyn Brown added a goal for Abington Heights with 5:05 left in the second half.

Grenfell credited the play of the Lady Comets defense for slowing down Pittston’s attack.

“They’re a very aggressive team and they starting getting charging fouls,” he said. “We play a tight zone and our girls held their ground.”

Eight different players scored to help Abington Heights earn the first girls lacrosse playoff win in the school’s history.

“Everybody shared the ball and passed it around to get shots on goal,” Grenfell said. “We’re not a one-person team, that’s the beauty of it.”

Abington Heights junior Leia Parry opened the scoring with a goal on a strong drive to the net with 21:32 left in the first half.

Junior Lauren Simakaski split several Pittston defenders to score a goal and give the Lady Comets a 2-0 advantage 6 1/2 minutes into the game.

Pittston Area junior Bailey Jordan scored to put the Lady Patriots on board with 16:29 remaining in the first half.

Tates answered with two quick goals, the first off an assist from Simakaski, and Abington Heights led 4-1 with 8:24 to play in the first half.

“I feel like after we score goals, we get more intense and ready,” Tates said.

DeRiso notched her second tally of the game before Pittston Area responded with goals from Nina Cirelli and Jordan in the final 1:27 of the first half.

Cirelli and Jordan, who each recorded a hat trick, scored the final two goals for Pittston Area (2-10) in the last two minutes of action.

Grenfell has been impressed with the development of the team, which played a full league schedule in the Wyoming Valley Conference for the first time this year.

“Every game has been a stepping stone to the next,” he said. “We were happy to see one pass connect when they first started, now we’re seeing balls connecting all the way down (the field) to include a shot and a score. Their ball handling, passing, defense, shots on goal and field awareness, in general, has really increased game to game. They expect each other to play well and they trust each other, that’s the key.

“They’re great athletes and they became lacrosse players.”

DeRiso believes the Lady Comets made a statement during their first season as a Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) sanctioned team.

“I feel like we were doubted in the beginning of the season and we’ve come a lot way,” she said. “I’m really proud of our team. We improved our basic skills and got a lot better.”

Abington Heights (5-7) will travel to play Wyoming Seminary (11-0) in a quarterfinal game at 5:30 p.m. Friday.

Abington Heights’ Abby Brown, middle, battles with Pittston Area’s Julia Yanchis (No. 23) for possession of the ball in front of the net during a District 2 Class 2A first-round girls lacrosse playoff game May 17.
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_ABJ-AH-Lax-A-Brown.jpg.optimal.jpgAbington Heights’ Abby Brown, middle, battles with Pittston Area’s Julia Yanchis (No. 23) for possession of the ball in front of the net during a District 2 Class 2A first-round girls lacrosse playoff game May 17. Stephanie Walkowski | For Abington Journal

Ashley DeRiso, who scored a game-high four goals, brings the ball upfield during Abington Heights’ 13-6 win over Pittston Area in the first round of the District 2 Class 2A girls lacrosse playoffs May 17.
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_ABJ-AH-Lax-DeRiso.jpg.optimal.jpgAshley DeRiso, who scored a game-high four goals, brings the ball upfield during Abington Heights’ 13-6 win over Pittston Area in the first round of the District 2 Class 2A girls lacrosse playoffs May 17. Stephanie Walkowski | For Abington Journal

Abington Heights’ Emily Marquardt fires a shot during the Lady Comets’ 13-6 win over Pittston Area in a District 2 Class 2A first-round girls lacrosse playoff game May 17.
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_ABJ-AH-Lax-Marquardt.jpg.optimal.jpgAbington Heights’ Emily Marquardt fires a shot during the Lady Comets’ 13-6 win over Pittston Area in a District 2 Class 2A first-round girls lacrosse playoff game May 17. Stephanie Walkowski | For Abington Journal

Abington Heights’ Leia Parry scored a first-half goal during the Lady Comets 13-6 win over Pittston Area in a District 2 Class 2A first-round girls lacrosse playoff game May 17.
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_ABJ-AH-Lax-Parry.jpg.optimal.jpgAbington Heights’ Leia Parry scored a first-half goal during the Lady Comets 13-6 win over Pittston Area in a District 2 Class 2A first-round girls lacrosse playoff game May 17. Stephanie Walkowski | For Abington Journal

By Robert Tomkavage

rtomkavage@timesleader.com

Reach Robert Tomkavage at 570-704-3941 or on Twitter @rtomkavage.