Abington Heights’ Jordan Alu shoots on goal during their game against Crestwood.
Buck Norton-Jennings | For Abington Journal
Comets’ Tanner Shane dribbles the ball towards the goal during their game on Aug. 25.
Buck Norton-Jennings | For Abington Journal
Joey Pivorotto evades Crestwood’s goalie during the Comets’ Aug. 25 game.
Buck Norton-Jennings | For Abington Journal
Matthew Bednar takes his shot during the Aug. 25, game against Crestwood.
Buck Norton-Jennings | For Abington Journal
Nico Bustos shoots on goal during the Comets’ game against Crestwood.
Buck Norton-Jennings | For Abington Journal
Four-goal games by Joey Pivirotto and Nico Bustos got the Abington Heights boys soccer team off to a highly impressive start.
Pivirotto and Bustos showed why they were already two of the Lackawanna League’s top players prior to this season.
The defending Lackawanna Division 1 champions and 2024 District 2 Class 3A finalists took on two of Wyoming Valley Conference’s top programs in their August games, outscoring them by a total of 15-3.
Pivirotto scored four goals and assisted on one in the opening, 9-1 rout of Crestwood.
Five other players scored, including Matthew Bednar and Jack Walsh who also had assists.
Bustos had his four-goal game in a 6-2 victory over Dallas, the team that defending Abington Heights in the district final in a penalty kick shootout after the teams remained tied through overtime.
Pivirotto added the other two goals.
Abington Heights was scheduled to open league play Sept. 2 against Wallenpaupack. The Comets were 13-1 in the division and 17-4 overall last season.
Scranton Prep finished second to Abington Heights last season, going 12-2 in the division, then adding a District 2 title and a trip to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class 2A state quarterfinals to finish 20-3 overall.
The Cavaliers won their two non-league games in August, shutting out Holy Cross 3-0 and Hazleton Area 2-0.
