CLARKS SUMMIT — Abington Heights faced one of its toughest challenges of the season and responded in a big way.

The Lady Comets picked up their intensity in the second half and held off Wallenpaupack, 2-1, in a Lackawanna League Division 2 girls soccer game Tuesday afternoon.

Wallenpaupack’s Rachael Tirjan, who missed the previous matchup between the teams, wasted little time making an impact.

She scored a breakaway goal to give the Lady Buckhorns a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute of the contest.

“There’s a big difference between playing to win and playing not to lose and I felt, in the first half, we were concerned about not losing the game and ‘Paupack was extremely concerned about winning it,” Abington Heights head coach Errol Mannick said. “They were giving all they had and we were hesitating, and when you hesitate against a very good team, they are going to take advantage.”

Abington Heights (9-0) outshot Wallenpaupack, 6-3, in the first half, but several shots sailed high or wide of the goal and Lady Buckhorns goalkeeper Olivia Gregory made two of her three saves.

The Lady Comets generated many quality scoring chances in the second half and Gregory made a diving kick save on a cross from Hannah Kowalski that was headed for the far post in the 44th minute.

Kowalski came through with the game-tying goal off a cross from Emily Mahoney in the 48th minute.

“She gave me a great pass,” Kowalski said. “We play those balls to each other all the time and I knew we would connect; I was just hoping I could place it. I tried to get whatever I could on it so it would roll in.”

Kowalski was pleased with how the team was able to overcome adversity and pull out the win.

“We haven’t really been faced with that type of challenge yet this season,” she said. “It was definitely really challenging, but we got ourselves together at halftime. I think we needed to be down to know what it takes to come back from it. We needed to be more aggressive and I think we did a really good job of that in the second half.”

Anna Marchetta, who helped set up the first goal by winning the ball off a throw-in, scored the game winner in the 60th minute from 25 yards out.

“I saw a wide open shot and I was just looking to get it on goal when I put my foot to the ball,” Marchetta said. “It hit the back of the net and I was happy.

“We knew we had to come together and outhustle them, and I think we did. We did a good job of bouncing back and finishing strong.”

Mannick was proud of the team’s ability to execute down the stretch of the game.

“We have to get used to performing under pressure and I thought we did a really good job of stepping up and doing it,” he said. “Also, in the second half, with our substitutions and conditioning, we were fresher and it made a huge difference.”

Abington Heights’ defense limited Wallenpaupack (5-3) to just one shot in the second half.

“We just had to keep our confidence up like our coach told us at halftime and play to win,” Lady Comets sweeper Paige Morgan said. “Wallenpaupack is a great team, so we’re really happy about our performance today and we’re going to keep it up.”

Abington Heights’ Hannah Kowalski heads the ball while Wallenpaupack’s Mackenzie Turner defends in a Lackawanna League Division 2 girls soccer game Oct. 3. Stephanie Walkowski | For Abington Journal
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_ABJ-AH-G-Soccer-1-1.jpg.optimal.jpgAbington Heights’ Hannah Kowalski heads the ball while Wallenpaupack’s Mackenzie Turner defends in a Lackawanna League Division 2 girls soccer game Oct. 3. Stephanie Walkowski | For Abington Journal Stephanie Walkowski photos | For Abington Journal

Abington Heights’ Anna Marchetta, who scored the game-winning goal against Wallenpaupack Oct. 3, moves the ball upfield. Stephanie Walkowski | For Abington Journal
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_ABJ-AH-G-Soccer-2-1.jpg.optimal.jpgAbington Heights’ Anna Marchetta, who scored the game-winning goal against Wallenpaupack Oct. 3, moves the ball upfield. Stephanie Walkowski | For Abington Journal Stephanie Walkowski photos | For Abington Journal

Abington Heights’ Maddie Lucas, left, and Wallenpaupack’s Aliah Balch work for control of the ball during a Lackawanna League Division 2 girls soccer game Oct. 3. Stephanie Walkowski | For Abington Journal
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_ABJ-AH-G-Soccer-3-1.jpg.optimal.jpgAbington Heights’ Maddie Lucas, left, and Wallenpaupack’s Aliah Balch work for control of the ball during a Lackawanna League Division 2 girls soccer game Oct. 3. Stephanie Walkowski | For Abington Journal Stephanie Walkowski photos | For Abington Journal

By Robert Tomkavage

rtomkavage@timesleader.com

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