Tired of ads? Subscribers enjoy a distraction-free reading experience.
Click here to subscribe today or Login.

Defending WVC Div. A champ could have dropped opener, coach says.

Santina Kosmach, of Coughlin, left, and Kelci Gibbons, of Dallas, try to head the ball Thursday.

Times leader staff photo/Don Carey

WILKES-BARRE – Considering the opponent, the circumstances and the conditions, Coughlin felt pretty good about the outcome Thursday.
Even if it meant the defending Wyoming Valley Conference Division A girls soccer champion had to settle for a 1-1 overtime tie with Dallas.
“It’s much better than losing the first game,” Coughlin coach Joe Spagnuolo said. “It was very hard going into overtime the first game, too. But I was pretty satisfied with the way we played.”
Junior Caitlin Parry scored in the 53rd minute of regulation for a 1-0 Coughlin lead. Dallas tied the score with about 15 minutes remaining in the second half on a goal by Kiley Williams.
Coughlin (0-0-1) had practiced just twice outside, both times on a small path of grass behind Solomon/Plains Memorial School. The Crusaders were on their home field for the first time Thursday, and while the surface looked nice from a distance, it was littered with divots and lumps.
“It was kind of like running on the beach. It was ridiculous,” Coughlin senior midfielder Randi Segear said. “All of us were getting cramps. It was extremely hard on all of us.
“This is the first time we got on (our field). It’s definitely a lot harder than playing in the gym.”
And then there was Dallas (1-0-1), a long-time rival and defending District 2 champion which was fresh off a 5-0 shutout of Crestwood three days early. The Mountaineers were dominant in spurts, including the first 10-minute overtime, during which Kayla Caruso, Sammi Elston and Melissa Gorski all had opportunities.
Coughlin’s best chance in overtime came in the second extra period on a designed play off the kickoff. The Crusaders put together some crisp passes, with Segear getting the ball inside the penalty area only to have Dallas keeper Jill Spring stop the threat. Segear then left the game briefly with a calf cramp.
“Every corner and overtime we came out, we’d have good offense for two minutes,” Segear said. “Then we were back on defense. I think with a little more practice and getting to know how everybody plays, we’ll be better as a team offensively and have more confidence in ourselves.”
Coughlin shuffled in 26 players, an inordinate number for such a big game, and received some strong efforts in the defensive end. Fullback Adriana Serpico gave the Crusaders a physical presence, while sophomore Maria Chiverella cleared a ball about to go into the goal late in the second overtime.
Dallas’ Alyssa Pyros did the same thing early in the second half to prevent a Coughlin score.
“They had some opportunities, but we had a lot of opportunities,” Spagnuolo said. “It’s just that we’re not game-ready yet. We will be.”