Abington Journal

Abington Heights senior Schuyler Smith stars in field hockey classic

KINGSTON – The best players from the Wyoming Valley Conference played for more than 30 minutes in Sunday’s first District 2 Field Hockey Senior Classic without producing a goal.

Schuyler Smith changed that.

The Abington Heights senior surprised even herself when she scored again later in the game while leading the East to a 3-1 victory over the West in the game at Wyoming Valley West’s Spartan Stadium.

“I thought I didn’t stand a chance of scoring a goal with all these teams,” Smith said.

In a game populated with multiple NCAA Division I recruits, state finalists and all-state performers, Smith was the only player to be involved in more than one goal.

The East did not manage a shot while the West dominated play in the first of the four 20-minute quarters.

Smith was part of a combination that turned those advantages around in the second quarter while taking a 2-0 lead.

Holy Redeemer’s Kayla Kruk centered a pass from the right sideline. Smith, set up in front, controlled the ball and got off a quick shot to open the scoring with 9:41 left in the half.

“It came through to me and I slapped it in,” Smith said.

Defense dominated the third quarter in which neither team could manage a shot.

Smith then added to the lead with 6:12 remaining when she converted an assist from Kat Finnegan, another player from WVC Division 2 champion Holy Redeemer, for a 3-0 lead.

Abington Heights coach Samantha Krut served as co-coach with Holy Redeemer’s Maura McCormick.

Ashlyn Fitzgerald and Anna Van Wert also represented the Lady Comets.

Fitzgerald played the second and fourth quarters in goal. She made three saves and combined with Melinda Ratchford from Dallas to hold the West scoreless until Madison Woods from Wyoming Valley West scored with 1:18 remaining.

Abington Heights, Holy Redeemer and Dallas players were joined by players from Crestwood, Hanover Area, Meyers, GAR, Pittston Area, Wallenpaupack and Coughlin on the East team.

Karley Cresswell and Courtney Dwyer represented Lackawanna Trail on the West team, which also included players from state finalists Wyoming Valley West and Wyoming Seminary as well as Honesdale, Wyoming Valley West, Wyoming Area, Berwick, Lake-Lehman, Delaware Valley, Northwest and Tunkhannock.

By Tom Robinson

For Abington Journal

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