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By JOHN ERZAR; Times Leader Sports Writer
Thursday, May 02, 1996     Page:

WILKES-BARRE — The Meyers Lady Mohawks accomplished more in 80 minutes
Wednesday than the rest of Division II had in the last 22 games.
   
And they did it convincingly.
    Lindsay Pappas and Christina Solomon scored two goals each as Meyers broke
Abington Heights’ stranglehold on Division II-A with a 4-2 victory in Wyoming
Valley Conference girls soccer.
   
“That was a team effort in a game we really needed,” Meyers coach Theresa
Solomon said. “Everyone played fantastic. They did exactly what we’ve been
practicing.”
   
The win propelled Meyers (8-1-1) into first place in Division II-A. It also
knocked Abington (7-1-0) out of first place for the first time in two years.
Berwick (8-1-0) also jumped ahead of Abington.
   
“We have to come out and play if we’re going to win,” Abington Heights
coach Chris Davis said. “They thought they had it in the bag, but they found
out differently. But I’m sure they will come out to play next time.”
   
Meyers’ four-goal performance came against a team that had surrendered one
goal all season and posted six shutouts. Moreover, it was the first time in
the last 23 regular-season games that Abington gave up more than one goal.
   
Pappas scored what proved to be the game-winner at 19:00 of the third
quarter. The freshman forward took a pass from Alicia Rapson and worked
through traffic in the right part of the penalty area, but had her initial
shot stopped at her feet. Pappas followed up with a liner just under the
crossbar, scoring her division-leading 19th goal of the season.
   
Solomon had tied the score at 2-2 just over two minutes earlier, placing a
shot inside the left post. She later added a 35-yard score in the fourth
quarter.
   
Still, the win was more than Solomon and Pappas, the defense also played a
big part. The fullbacks — Erika Madden, Nicole Joseph, Amber Rapson and Marti
Yeager — limited Abington to eight shots. That made for a rather easy day for
keeper Maggie Yeager, although Madden had to save a certain goal with a heel
kick.
   
After Meyers took a 1-0 lead in the third on Pappas’ first goal, Abington
quickly erased the advantage.
   
Amy Castro chipped in a 16-yard shot at 9:18, then Laura Hansen’s corner
kick about six minutes later found its way inside the left post.
   
Abington Heights 0 0 2 0 –2
   
Meyers 0 0 3 1 –4
   
First: None. Second: None. Third: 1. Mey, Lindsay Pappas (unassisted),
2:35; 2. AH, Amy Castro (Kari Davis), 9:18; 3. AH, Laura Hansen (unassisted),
15:37; 4. Mey, Christina Solomon (unassisted), 16:38; 5. Mey, Lindsay Pappas
(Alicia Rapson), 19:00. Fourth: 1. Mey, Christina Solomon (Nicole Joseph),
16:47.
   
Shots: AH 8, Mey 18. Saves: AH 13 (Brutico), Mey 4 (Mg.Yeager). Corners: AH
7, Mey 8.
   
Seminary 4, O’Reilly 0
   
FORTY FORT — Johanna Ashley ignited Wyoming Seminary with three goals as
it shut out Bishop O’Reilly, despite both teams having an equal number of
shots and corners.
   
Seminary keeper Claire Hedden made six saves.
   
Wyoming Seminary 0 1 1 2 –4
   
Bishop O’Reilly 0 0 0 0 –0
   
First: None. Second: 1. WS, Johanna Ashley (Laura Bruno) 1:45. Third: 1.
WS, Johanna Ashley (Tizzy Pomento) 16:08. Fourth: 1. WS, Johanna Ashley (Kiki
Miller) 4:00; 2. WS, Jessica Yarmey (penalty kick), 7:27.
   
Shots: WS 12, BOR 12 Saves: WS 6 (Hedden), BOR 6 (Long/Pipan). Corners: WS
3, BOR 3.
   
Pittston Area 4, Seton 0
   
PITTSTON — Gina Testa scored two goals as Pittston Area shut out Seton
Catholic.
   
Diana Marsh and Nicole Tieso also scored for the Patriettes. Keeper Tara
Kilcullen recorded the shutout.
   
Pittston Area 1 1 0 2 –4
   
Seton Catholic 0 0 0 0 –0
   
First: 1. PA, Gina Testa (Barbara Fisher), 6;15. Second: 1. PA, Diana Marsh
(Gina Testa), 0:43. Third: None. Fourth: 1. PA, Gina Testa (penalty kick),
6:21; 2. PA, Nicole Tieso (Maria Serino), 15;27.
   
Shots: PA 17, SC 19. Saves: PA 9 (Kilcullen), SC 12 (Reynolds). Corners: PA
2, SC 4.
   
Nanticoke 3, Haz. Area 1
   
NANTICOKE — Beth Kobylarz and Holly Szychowski each had a goal and an
assist as Nanticoke defeated Hazleton Area.
   
Kelli Malia scored the other Nanticoke goal.
   
Maria Sutherland scored for Hazleton Area.
   
Hazleton Area 0 1 0 0 –1
   
Nanticoke 1 1 0 1 –3
   
First: 1. Nan, Beth Kobylarz (Mary Beth Stauffer), 3:43. Second: 1. Nan,
Holly Szychowski (Beth Kobylarz), 11:32; 2. HA, Maria Sutherland (unassisted),
13:39. Third: None. Fourth: 1. Nan, Kelli Malia (Holly Szychowski), 15:31.
   
Shots: HA 9, Nan 26. Saves: HA 9 (Stecker), Nan 4 (Brojakowski). Corners:
HA 2, Nan 5.
   
Wyoming Area 2, GAR 1
   
WYOMING — Wyoming Area got first-quarter goals from Elena Ragantesi and
Meghan Calpin to defeated GAR.
   
Jennifer Gadomski assisted Ragantesi.
   
Jeana Kochanski scored her first goal of the season for GAR. Kara Elias
assisted.
   
GAR 0 1 0 0 –1
   
Wyoming Area 2 0 0 0 –2
   
First: 1. WA, Elena Ragantesi (Jennifer Gadomski), 14:15; 2. WA, Meghan
Calpin (unassisted), 19:30. Second: 1. GAR, Jeana Kochanski (Kara Elias),
13:00. Third: None. Fourth: None.
   
Shots: GAR 18, WA 30. Saves: GAR 28 (George), WA 11 (Oldfield). Corners:
GAR 4, WA 9.
   
Berwick 3, Tunkhannock 1
   
TUNKHANNOCK — Kelly Smith and Kristine Hurley connected on direct kicks in
the first half as Berwick topped Tunkhannock.
   
Paula Kaminski also scored for Berwick. Liz Ashworth asssisted. Rachel
Miller scored her third goal of the season for Tunkhannock.
   
Berwick 1 1 1 0 –3
   
Tunkhannock 0 0 1 0 –1
   
First: 1. Ber, Kelly Smith (unassisted), 3:08. Second: 1. Ber, Kristine
Hurley (unassisted), 19:03. Third: 1. Tunk, Rachel Miller (unasssited), 8:24;
2. Ber, Paula Kaminski (Liz Ashworth), 13:15. Fourth: None.
   
Shots: Ber 41, Tunk 12. Saves: Ber 4 (Brislin), 21 (Kutney). Corners: Ber
5, Tunk 3.