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KINGSTON — As a freshman a year ago, Hannah Rushkowski wasn’t on the field for last season’s district title game defeat that kept Coughlin out of the state playoffs.
Kyra Wozniak was.
And both made sure this year’s one-goal decision in a district championship final felt a lot different than the last one the Crusaders were in.
Wozniak scored the game’s first goal Tuesday and Rushkowski pushed in what proved to be the winner and both assisted each other as unbeaten Coughlin held off Hazleton Area, 2-1 to win the District 2 Class 3A field hockey final at Wyoming Seminary’s Nesbitt Stadium.
“This is a great feeling,” Wozniak said, “especially being our senior year. This is what we worked for. It ended in the same score as last year.
“But it’s great being on the other side of it.”
Last season’s 2-1 district title loss to Wyoming Valley West kept Coughlin sitting on the sideline during the state playoffs. Tuesday’s decision not only brought the Crusaders their third District 2 championship in four years, it sends them into the first round of the PIAA Class 3A tournament against the No. 4 team from District 1 at a time and site to be determined.
“Last year was last year,” Coughlin coach Colleen Wood said. “It’s just great to win it, especially just for the seniors in general. It’s great senior leadership we have. It’s a great group. They’ve played together since they were freshmen.”
After a scoreless first half, Wozniak – one of Coughlin’s 11 seniors – cracked through when she cashed in the game’s first goal 32 seconds into the second half.
But it was the shot from sophomore Rushkowski that proved pivotal. She re-directed Wozniak’s pass into the back of the cage with 19:45 to play, and that 2-0 Crusaders lead turned out to be just enough to help her older teammates heal last season’s district heartbreak.
“I just watched it. I was a freshman last year, so I wasn’t playing,” Rushkowski said. “I just wanted to be able to get the win and help them (the team’s seniors), in their last year, go out strong.”
The Crusaders did, improving to 14-0 through the district playoffs, but not without a strong finish from Hazleton Area.
The Cougars, making their first-ever trip to the District 2 championship game, rallied to cut their deficit to 2-1 behind an unassisted goal from Megan Reed with 7:42 to play.
And Hazleton Area had three prime opportunities to tie it by lining up for penalty corners in the game’s final five minutes.
“I really couldn’t be more proud of my team,” beamed Hazleton Area coach Mary Kelly. “They played tough. So did Coughlin. Both teams wanted it badly. It was heartbreaking. We did have some chances, a couple runs that could have tied the game.”
The Crusaders wouldn’t allow it.
They clamped down behind a defense that’s recorded eight shutouts and hasn’t allowed more than a single goal in a game all season to stave off Hazleton Area’s late charge, while claiming a third district gold medal for Coughlin’s senior class.
“It feels good being here again,” Wood said.
That sense of excitement was shared from Coughlin’s upper classes to the lower grades.
“It’s awesome,” Rushkowski said. “It’s a great feeling.”
Coughlin 2, Hazleton Area 1
Hazleton Area`0`1`—`1
Coughlin`0`2`—`2
Second half — 1. COU, Kyra Woznia (Hannah Rushkowski) 0:32; 2. COU, Rushkowski (Wozniak) 10:15; 3. HAZ, Megan Reed 22:18.
Shots — HAZ 6; COU 13. Saves — HAZ 11 (Margaret Fulton); COU 5 (M’Kensie Lee, Megan Novak). Penalty corners — HAZ 8; COU 11.