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BERWICK — In a defensive struggle where offensive execution was made more sloppy and slippery by the rain, not many people saw a goal coming.

Including the girl who scored it.

But Peyton Lipsey flicked out her stick just quick enough to tip home the lone tally with 18:12 to play Monday, lifting Berwick over Hanover Area, 1-0, in a key early-season Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 field hockey game at Berwick.

“I just got in to the post and tipped it in,” Lipsey, a forward, said. “We just had to work hard, keep going.”

With the victory, Berwick went to 3-1 and set up a showdown at rival Northwest — the Rangers are the only unbeaten in Division 2 at 2-0 — on Wednesday.

“This is going to lift us up a little bit,” Lipsey said.

The Bulldogs certainly needed a pick-me-up, after suffering their lone loss in a 6-0 defeat to Lackawanna Trail on Thursday. And things didn’t get much easier against a determined Hanover Area team that ultimately fell to 1-1 in a game played in rain that was moderate at times, while light but steady at others.

“They said it’s a perfect day for hockey,” Berwick coach Amy Daniel smiled, relaying how her Bulldogs dealt with the elements. “I like cool weather, and the rain.”

She liked it even more when Berwick drew its first penalty corner of the second half.

“I was happy when we got one,” Daniel said. “In the past, we’ve been consistent on penalty corners.”

Just under 12 minutes into the second half, Alexis Nevel got her stick on the corner insert and rifled a laser toward the goal. It re-directed off the stick of Lipsey and into the goal for the game’s winning score.

“I don’t even know if she saw the ball,” Daniel said. “But she was right where she was supposed to be on penalty corners.

“Right place, right time.”

And just in time to make Wednesday’s battle with Northwest very interesting.

“This win is a confidence-booster,” Daniel said. “We were concentrating on defense, not reacting to the play but staying involved. This is a nice turnaround going into our game (at Northwest).”

Wyoming Sem 11, Pittston Area 0

Alex Wesneski erupted for five goals and a pair of assists and the Blue Knights warmed up for Wednesday’s Division 1 showdown with rival Wyoming Valley West by pasting the Patriots.

Hannah Maxwell dished out five assists and scored a goal, Julia Christian scored twice and Kelsey Reznick added three assists for the Blue Knights, who moved to 4-0 on the season and stretched their league winning streak to 14 consecutive games over the past two seasons.

The Blue Knights remained tied with Wyoming Area at 4-0 in the league’s Division 1, while 3-0 Valley West slipped a half game behind after its game against Hazleton Area was rained out Monday.

Wyoming Area 7, Wallenpaupack 0

Toni Minichello and Lauren Parente both had hat tricks as the Warriors won their fourth straight game to start the season and remained tied with Wyoming Seminary at the top of the WVC Division 1.

Both players had two goals and assist in the first half as Wyoming Area took a 4-0 lead into intermission.

Ellie Glatz fended off two shots as the Warriors kept their season shutout streak intact through four games.

Madison Kier made 23 saves for Wallenpaupauck.

Wyoming Area 7, Lackawanna Trail 0

Kayla Kiwak scored six goals and assisted on the other as the Warriors rolled to a non-league victory Saturday.

Kiwak scored all four goals in the second half, while Toni Minichello finished with the other goal and two assists.

Ellie Glatz made nine stops in goal to secure the shutout, while Lilly Rejrat made eight saves for Trail.

Three games washed out

A trio of WVC games were postponed by Monday’s evening rain.

The battle between Crestwood and Lake-Lehman in Lehman was rescheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, while Coughlin will now play at Honesdale on Sept. 28. The game between Hazleton Area and Wyoming Valley West will be made up at a later date.

Berwick 1, Hanover Area 0

Hanover Area`0`0 — 0

Berwick`0`1 — 1

Second half — 1. BER, Peyton Lipsey (Abbie Nevel), 18:12.

Shots — HAN 8; BER 10. Saves — HAN 9 (Alyssa Wivell); BER 8 (Jackie Nevel). Penalty corners — HAN 3; BER 4.

Wyoming Sem 11, Pittston Area 0

Wyoming Sem`8`3 — 11

Pittston Area`0`0 — 0

First half — 1. SEM, Alex Wesneski (Hannah Maxwell); 2. SEM, Wesneski (Maxwell); 3. SEM, Maxwell (Kelsey Reznick); 4. SEM, Quinn Medico (Wesneski); 5. SEM, Julia Christian (Reznick); 6. SEM, Christian (Maxwell); 7. SEM, Wesneski (Maxwell); 8. SEM, Maxwell (Wesneski). Second half — 9. SEM, Aubrey Mytych; 10. SEM, Wesneski (Maxwell); 11. SEM, Wesneski (Reznick).

Shots — PA 4; SEM 23. Saves — PA 12 (Avery Strucke); SEM 4 (Mia Magnotta). Penalty corners — PA 2; SEM 4.

Wyoming Area 7, Wallenpaupack 0

Wyoming Area`4`3 — 7

Wallenpaupack`0`0 — 0

First half — 1. WA, Toni Minichello (Lauren Parente), 29:06; 2. WA, Parente, 14:03; 3. WA, Minichello, 10:49; 4. WA, Parente (Toni Minichello), 0:57. Second half — 5. WA, Parente (Cassidy Orzel), 25:25; 6. WA, Minichello, 23:15; 7. WA, Alyssa Gustitus (Parente), 3:35.

Shots — WA 30; WAL 2. Saves — WA 2 (Ellie Glatz); WAL 23 (Madison Kier). Penalty corners — WA 14; WAL 0.

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By Paul Sokoloski

[email protected]

Reach Paul Sokoloski at 570-991-6392 or on Twitter @TLPaulSokoloski