The Abington Heights soccer teams suffered just one loss each in the regular season, winning championships and entering the postseason with the best credentials in District 2.
In both cases, the Comets won Lackawanna League Division 1 titles, finished as the top seed for their district or subregional tournament, had the district’s best overall record as the district tournaments began and produced the best power rating in any classification in the system the district uses to determine seeds.
BOYS
The Comets went 16-1 overall, including a perfect season in league play
The only loss was suffered late in the season against Crestwood in a Saturday morning non-league road game after a Friday night league home win.
By finishing 14-0, Abington Heights became the first Lackawanna Division 1 boys team to have a perfect record in soccer since the 2007 Comets team also went 14-0. After that season, Abington Heights added six more championships in succession and eight in the next 10 years, but never with a perfect record.
The closest any teams came was in 2015 when Scranton Prep went 12-0-1 and in 2016 when Abington Heights was 12-0-2.
Abington Heights outscored division opponents, 51-5, but needed to come from behind in the second half for the clinching victory Oct. 18 in the next-to-last game of the regular season.
Wallenpaupack took the lead in the ninth minute and held it through halftime.
Kohen Stiles tied the game in the first minute of the second half with an assist from Michael Maldonado.
Maldanado, who scored the game-winner with less than nine minutes left, and Robert Saunders each finished with a goal and an assist.
Saunders added an insurance goal on a free kick.
Abington Heights led in shots, 16-11, and corner kicks, 4-2.
Niko Williams made eight saves.
Abington Heights earned the top seed and a bye into the Nov. 2 semifinals for the District 2-4 Class 4A Subregional.
GIRLS
Abington Heights won the division with an 8-1-1 record, won all eight of their non-league games for a 16-1-1 overall record and carried a 15-game unbeaten streak into the playoffs, which opened Nov. 1.
The Comets posted a dozen shutouts, including three straight after playing to a 3-3 tie with second-place Valley View.
The Comets wrapped up the division Oct. 19 with a perfect defensive effort, holding North Pocono without a shot or corner kick in a 2-0 victory.
Abington Heights had trouble converting, scoring just twice despite 40 shots, 21 of them on goal and eight corner kicks.
Maddie Hoinowski scored in the first half on an Alyssa Steenback assist.
Bryn Stiles scored in the second half. Brynn Carey had the assist.
Scranton Prep finished fifth in the division at 3-6-1 and wound up seeded fifth in District 2 Class 2A at 5-9-1.
