TUNKHANNOCK — Abington Heights entered Thursday’s game knowing a win would extend its season.
The Lady Comets faced some early adversity, but closed the first half with a flurry and held off Tunkhannock, 2-1, in a Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 field hockey game.
Abington Heights (3-11) will face Honesdale (3-11) in a play-in game at 4:15 Friday at Wallenpaupack to determine the No. 6 seed in the District 2 Class 2A playoffs.
Tunkhannock (0-14) took a 1-0 lead just six minutes into the game when Sarah Seward connected with Sophia Burke for a goal off a penalty corner.
The Lady Comets tied the game in the 21st minute when Caroline Kelly scored off an assist from Schuyler Smith.
“I knew Sky was on my outside and I knew she was going to pass it to me because that’s how we communicate in there,” Kelly said. “I just knew I was going to hit it in.”
Abington Heights’ Arla Davis scored the game-winning goal in the 24th minute by controlling a loose ball, after several passes inside the circle, and firing it into the cage.
“We came in with the mindset that we could do it,” Davis said. “We couldn’t let any setbacks hold us back, we just kept pushing forward. I saw a wide open lane toward the right corner and I knew I had to take the shot.”
Davis is excited about the potential of participating in the district playoffs.
“This (opportunity) is huge for us,” she said. “We haven’t gotten to the quarterfinals in a bunch of years and if we win (Friday’s) game, it gets us in.”
Abington Heights head coach Samantha Krut was happy with how the team responded, on defense, after surrendering an early goal.
“Defensively, Audrey Cottell played an outstanding game,” Krut said. “We were missing our starting defensive back (Nina Kozar) and Audrey took her place and stepped up big time.”
Despite falling short, Tunkhannock head coach Ashley Darby was proud of her team’s effort.
“We really played hard today,” Darby said. “They were really hungry, we have nine seniors and we haven’t won a game all season so they really wanted to go out with a bang and get a victory. They came together as a team and really played their hearts out, but we just ran out of time.”
