S. ABINGTON TWP. — Abington Heights head soccer coach Frank Dyska took a lot of positives from his first season at the helm last year. The Comets finished with a 12-0-2 league record, won the Lackawanna League Division 1 championship and advanced to the semifinals of the District 2 Class 3A playoffs.

Dyska believes that, due to the return of five starters, many other players with varsity experience and a few promising newcomers, the team may be able to surpass last season’s results.

“We were thrilled with the success we had last year and feel we have a group of guys that can keep up that level or, hopefully, exceed what we did last year,” Dyska said.

Senior Jackson Danzig returns as the starting goalkeeper and Dyska has been impressed by his mindset and determination.

“He’s been working on being a vocal leader,” Dyska said. “He was a phenomenal presence last year and came up really big in the playoffs. He’s focused on getting better and helping to make the team better.”

Senior Evan Florey returns in the midfield; seniors Liam Neary and Dom Angelicola, and junior Cole Madera return on defense; and senior Sam Stevens returns on the wing.

Freshman Gray-Paul Bossi, sophomore Jimmy Lefchak and junior Luke Abdalla are expected to contribute in the midfield; freshman Russell Booth will play on the wing; seniors Kyle Kostiak and Fred Hickman should see time on defense; and seniors Anthony Freda and Colin McIntyre, junior Bailey Scholonas and freshman Sean Wilkerson are expected to contribute at forward.

“We’re really excited that we have a freshman class with a lot of talented players and a lot of our sophomores improved and are ready to challenge some of the older guys,” Dyska said. “I think things are really starting to take shape. There were still a lot of question marks before the season, even with all the returning starters, with how all the pieces were going to fit together, but our coaching staff feels like the guys are getting more comfortable playing together.”

The Comets won their first two Lackawanna League games and will travel to play Scranton Sept. 14.

Senior members of the Abington Heights boys soccer team are, from left, first row, Parth Patel, Liam Neary, Kyle Kostiak, Trevor Gabura, Anthony Freda. Second row, Koty Stiles, Sam Stevens, Jackson Danzig, Dom Angelicola, Colin McIntyre, Evan Florey and Fred Hickman.
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_ABJ-AH-B-Soccer.jpg.optimal.jpgSenior members of the Abington Heights boys soccer team are, from left, first row, Parth Patel, Liam Neary, Kyle Kostiak, Trevor Gabura, Anthony Freda. Second row, Koty Stiles, Sam Stevens, Jackson Danzig, Dom Angelicola, Colin McIntyre, Evan Florey and Fred Hickman. Robert Tomkavage | Abington Journal

By Robert Tomkavage

rtomkavage@timesleader.com

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