PIAA GIRLS LACROSSE: Historic season included two state tourney victories

Before the most successful girls lacrosse season ever by a District 2 team came to an end, Abington Heights produced one more historic victory.

The Lady Comets put together a stunning second-half performance June 7 to become the first Wyoming Valley Conference and District 2 team to reach the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state semifinals.

Abington Heights followed up its first state tournament victory ever by winning again in the Class 2A quarterfinals, wiping out a four-goal halftime deficit while avenging last year’s season-ending loss with a 13-7 victory over Upper Moreland at Emmaus.

Freshman Morgan Davis led the way with five goals and four assists.

Abington Heights scored all nine of the second-half goals after Upper Moreland took a 7-4 halftime lead in the rematch of the Lady Comets state debut a year ago.

“The important part for us was that we were able to come back from a halftime deficit and that was the first time we had to do that this season,” Abington Heights coach Becky Davis said. “I was super impressed with the girls’ determination.”

Allie Rothenberger added four goals while Sadie Gilbert scored three.

The Lady Comets fell behind early, but recovered to take a 4-3 lead after one quarter on a goal by Rothenberger with 18.5 seconds left in the first quarter.

Upper Moreland dominated the second quarter to take the three-goal lead.

The Bears applied pressure over the first three minutes of the second half, but could not add to the lead.

Sophia Santarsiero made a clutch save with 8:54 left in the third and Gilbert’s long run with possession flipped the field.

Upper Moreland tried to counter, but Abington Heights charged back in with Davis passing from the right wing to find Gilbert in the critical scoring area. Gilbert converted and the comeback was on.

Again, it took a key stop on the defensive end to create an opportunity for the offense.

LeAnna Walters stole a dangerous pass in front and less than 20 seconds later, Davis made a similarly difficult catch in front of the cage and converted it into a goal. The score cut the deficit to one before the midway point in the third quarter.

Davis won the ensuing draw, controlling possession and taking the ball right into the offensive end. After more possession time for the Lady Comets, Davis made a pass into traffic, finding Gilbert, who scored quickly for the tie with 5:14 left.

Abington Heights went ahead to stay with 3:39 left in the third quarter. Rothenberger made a sharp cut past three defenders to get to the right post where she received a Lauren Bartell pass and turned it into the game-winning goal.

The Lady Comets did not stop there. They went from outscoring Upper Moreland 4-0 in the third period to overwhelming the Bears 5-0 in the fourth.

Annalise Messina led Upper Moreland with five goals and four draw controls. Keira Hess had a goal and three assists.

The win was the last of 22 straight to begin a season that included two championships.

Abington Heights 15, Hershey 10

CLARKS SUMMIT — Rothenberger made sure Abington Heights never trailed.

Gilbert came through when a Hershey comeback needed to be diffused.

Rothenberger and Gilbert each finished with six goals June 3 as Abington Heights posted the first state playoff win in program history with a home-field victory in the first round.

“We have amazing coaches and I have amazing teammates,” Gilbert said. “It means the world to me to be part of history.”

Rothenberger scored on the game’s first two shots, converting passes from Morgan Davis and Olivia Kim to score from in front and give Abington Heights a 2-0 lead just 51 seconds in.

“My teammates are just always looking to pass me the ball, which is super helpful,” Rothenberger said. “And, I’m always looking for them. I think we have great team chemistry.”

Hershey answered two minutes in with the first of seven goals by Campbell University commit Hanna Russell.

There was no more scoring in the final 10 minutes of the first quarter.

Gilbert got involved in the scoring in the first minute of the second, again connecting on the first shot of the quarter. Her biggest goals, however, came late in the third quarter.

The Lady Comets outshot the Trojans 19-8 while building an 8-3 halftime lead.

Gigi Butala came out from behind the cage to score and increase the lead to 9-3 early in the second half.

The lead stood at six goals until midway through the third when Russell took over, scoring four times in just 50 seconds to pull Hershey within 9-7.

Gilbert scored the next two goals. She reached high to pull in a pass from behind the net and quickly get off a low shot, then less than two minutes later, she converted on an 8-meter restart.

“I wouldn’t be able to do it without my teammates,” Gilbert said. “I just cut and they send me the ball and it works out well in my favor.”

Rothenberger followed with another goal and Hershey never got closer than four again.

Davis, who finished with two goals and an assist, gave Abington Heights a 13-8 lead to carry into the fourth quarter.

Butala had a goal and an assist. Kim and Lauren Bartell had two assists. Brielle Crowell also had an assist.

Avery Weaber scored twice for Hershey and Zoey Hess had two assists.

Strath Haven 17, Abington Heights 7

BETHLEHEM — Kate Fox scored four goals and assisted on two while Annie Dignazio produced three goals and five assists June 10 as Strath Haven downed Abington Heights at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium.

Blake Fairbanks also scored four goals, all in the first half, to help Strath Haven hand Abington Heights its only loss.

“I definitely want them to focus on the amazing season they had,” coach Davis said. “They’re going to be a little sad and a little frustrated, but overall, they just had an incredible run.

“We talk about just being grateful to be here and working hard. District 2 isn’t known for its lacrosse, but we got through two rounds and I’m just so proud of them overall.”

The Panthers put together streaks of four straight goals in each of the first three quarters to build a 14-4 lead.

“They certainly had a lot of midfield speed and they were able to strike with that high in the critical scoring area,” Davis said.

Abington Heights forced a 1-1 tie on Rothenberger’s goal with 4:43 left in the first quarter.

Strath Haven took charge from there.

Fox had the first two goals and assisted on the last as the Panthers scored four times in 2:28 to make it 5-1 with 1:13 left in the first.

Goals by Morgan Davis late in the first and Gilbert early in the second allowed Abington Heights to creep within 6-3.

Four different Panthers scored in the last 5:13 of the second quarter for a 10-3 halftime lead.

Strath Haven held Abington Heights scoreless for a stretch of 10:03 between goals by the Lady Comets early and late in the third quarter. Tessa Dignazio had a goal and two assists during that time to build the 14-4 lead.

Gilbert finished with three goals while Davis and Rothenberger had two each. Kim and Butala had assists.