Abington Journal

Abington Heights uses fast start to advance in girls lacrosse playoffs

CLARKS GREEN — No. 7 seed Abington Heights scored five goals in the first 11 minutes and rolled to a 12-2 win over No. 10 seed Pittston Area in the first round of the District 2 Class 2A girls lacrosse playoffs May 16.

Head coach Becky Davis felt the fast start was important, especially since the win advanced Abington Heights into the quarterfinals, on the road, against No. 2 seed Lake-Lehman (12-2) the next day.

“It was great and it gave us a chance to get our midfielders some rest, and substitute a lot,” Davis said. “It was important to get out and get a nice lead.”

Lake-Lehman defeated Abington Heights, 16-5, May 17. Abby Brown and Ashley DeRiso each scored two goals for Abington Heights. Brennan Tates added a goal and assist for the Lady Comets. Hallie Jenkins led Lake-Lehman with five goals and three assists. Alicia Galasso added four goals and two assists, and Kate Roberts had three goals and an assist.

Lady Comets senior attacker Lauren Simakaski opened the scoring against Pittston Area less than two minutes into the game and added another goal with 14:17 left in the first half.

DeRiso, a senior attacker, who scored a game-high three goals, gave the Lady Comets a 2-0 lead with 19:06 remaining in the first half.

“She’s a great attacker,” Davis said. “She’s definitely a threat out there. When she goes to goal, she’s going hard and is looking to shoot.”

Sophomore midfielder/attacker Morghan Stiles scored to put the Lady Comets ahead, 3-0, and Tates, a junior attacker, added a goal, off an assist from senior midfielder Kaila Steenback, during Abington Heights’ strong start.

Abington Heights (5-8) took a 6-0 lead with 6:48 left in the first half when DeRiso scored her second goal after a dash to the net.

“I just made sure I was open and drove in hard,” DeRiso said.

Senior Nina Cirelli scored for Pittston Area (0-12) with 3.2 seconds remaining in the first half.

DeRiso scored off an assist from Tates less than two minutes into the second half, and Steenback and Brown, a senior midfielder, followed with goals to put Abington Heights ahead, 9-1, with 15:43 left to play.

“I feel like we really bonded as a team this year,” DeRiso said. “Last year, we were new and didn’t really know each other coming from different sports. We have chemistry on the field this year, which really helped us a lot.”

Junior Julia Emmett scored for Pittston Area with 12:38 left in the second half.

Sophomore midfielder/attacker Lauren Berry, junior attacker Camille Marquardt and Stiles scored the final three goals for Abington Heights.

Sophomore goalkeeper Sidney Horvath made eight saves for Abington Heights, including five in the second half.

“She’s been really consistent for us all season,” Davis said. “We have full confidence that she’s going to make great saves.”

Pittston Area junior goalkeeper Brooklyn Pedana made 16 saves.

Abington Heights’ Leia Parry attacks the net as several Pittston Area defenders converge during a District 2 Class 2A girls lacrosse playoff game May 16.
https://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/web1_ABJ-AH-Lacrosse-2-5.jpg.optimal.jpgAbington Heights’ Leia Parry attacks the net as several Pittston Area defenders converge during a District 2 Class 2A girls lacrosse playoff game May 16. Robert Tomkavage | Abington Journal
Abington Heights’ Paige Morgan heads toward the net during the Lady Comets’ 12-2 win over Pittston Area May 16.
https://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/web1_ABJ-AH-Lacrosse-3-5.jpg.optimal.jpgAbington Heights’ Paige Morgan heads toward the net during the Lady Comets’ 12-2 win over Pittston Area May 16. Robert Tomkavage | Abington Journal
Pittston Area’s Nina Cirelli, who scored one of the Lady Patriots’ two goals, carries the ball into the offensive zone as Abington Heights’ Kaila Steenback defends during a District 2 Class 2A first-round girls lacrosse playoff game May 16.
https://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/web1_ABJ-AH-Lacrosse-4-3.jpg.optimal.jpgPittston Area’s Nina Cirelli, who scored one of the Lady Patriots’ two goals, carries the ball into the offensive zone as Abington Heights’ Kaila Steenback defends during a District 2 Class 2A first-round girls lacrosse playoff game May 16. Robert Tomkavage | Abington Journal
Abington Heights’ Lauren Simakaski scored two goals during the first half of the Lady Comets’ 12-2 win over Pittston Area in a District 2 Class 2A first-round girls lacrosse playoff game May 16.
https://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/web1_ABJ-AH-Lacrosse-1-5.jpg.optimal.jpgAbington Heights’ Lauren Simakaski scored two goals during the first half of the Lady Comets’ 12-2 win over Pittston Area in a District 2 Class 2A first-round girls lacrosse playoff game May 16. Robert Tomkavage | Abington Journal

By Robert Tomkavage

rtomkavage@timesleader.com

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