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PLAINS TWP. – The premier rivalry in Wyoming Valley Conference girls soccer has been one-sided of late. Going back to the spring-to-fall season switch in 2012, Dallas has routinely had the Crusaders’ number. Against a team ranked in the top three in the conference year in and year out, the Mountaineers won all five contests, including two playoff shutouts by a combined eight-nil score.
Coughlin’s eight seniors earned their first-ever win over their rivals with a 3-2 victory over Dallas Monday in WVC girls soccer. The Crusaders (12-1) put themselves into sole possession of first place in the division with two games remaining against Nanticoke and Hanover Area.
With his first head coaching win over longtime friend Abe Lewis, Coughlin’s Joe Spagnuolo Jr. was focused on the bigger picture that it is the strong likelihood he’ll have to face Dallas again in the District 2 Class 2A playoffs in just a few weeks.
“Like I told our girls, it’s just a regular season game,” Spagnuolo said. “It’s nice to get the win and enjoy it tonight. But you have to go back to work tomorrow. It’s just a regular season game.”
The Crusaders came back from a one-goal halftime deficit to come back against the Mountaineers (10-2). Mary Tona scored both the game-tying and –winning goals in the second half.
Coughlin assistant coach Desiree Boris saw an adjustment that Coughlin could make up top. The Crusaders slotted Hailee Dumont as a forward. Within minutes, Dumont fed a pass back to Mary Tona. Tona turned on her defender and muscled a ball into the net in the 72nd minute for a 3-2 lead that ultimately stood.
“I just think that both teams played out and played a great game,” Dallas coach Lewis said. “Coughlin just put the last goal of the match in. It was a good game. They scored last. It is what it is. Coughlin has a very good team this year. It just goes to show that on any given day, anything could happen. The calls didn’t go our way but you can’t point to that.”
Tona tied the contest in the 57th minute on a soft call in the box on a throw-in, allowing her to score on a penalty kick.
Coughlin had fortune on its side to take the lead in the 17th minute. Le’June Berry hit a shot that bounced off a Dallas defender’s knee and into the corner of the net for an own goal.
“When you’re putting the defense under distress and you get an own goal, it’s kind of hard to downplay that,” Spagnuolo said. “We’ve been on the other side of those soft calls and the other side of luck. Today, the breaks went our way for a change.”
After a first half full of Dallas chances, the Mountaineer offense frittered in the second half. Dallas’ only two chances came in the 60th and 62nd minutes. Both times Ruby Mattson beat a defender to have a chance at net. Mattson shot too high on the first, and Coughlin keeper Paige Davis raced to the top of the box to stop a second at short-range. Admittedly, Spagnuolo said he called “Dallas goal” on the sidelines on both breakaways.
“We just didn’t put our chances in the net,” Lewis said. “They had a really nice goal there. Tona turned on our defender. Like I told our girls, we have to take care of our opportunities. If we took care of a couple more opportunities in the first half and connect on one of those in the second, it wouldn’t have been an issue.”
Megan Miller scored the first Dallas goal from Tiffany Zukosky on a chip shot from the left side that the keeper tried to stop with one hand in the 25th. Dallas took the lead in the 28th when Rachel Maniskas crossed a ball to Gabriela Ramirez. Ramirez one-touched the ball with her back heel.
Breanne Georgette saved a Dallas goal from going in when a Zukosky shot went through Davis’ hands, and Georgette shielded it away at the front line-back post.
Dallas is looking to get a No. 3 or 4 seed if it wins its remaining games versus Meyers, Nanticoke and Pittston Area.
Lewis said, “I’d like to play (Coughlin) again on a big turf field.”
Crestwood 3, Holy Redeemer 1
After a scoreless first half, Crestwood’s Bella Termini, Nina Atie and Melissa Herrera each scored a goal to help the Comets get the win over Holy Redeemer. Crestwood out shot the Royals 19-15 and McKenna Mera, the Crestwood goalie, made 11 saves during the game.
Lydia Lawson scored the only goal of the night for Holy Redeemer.
Wyoming Valley West 1, Berwick 0
Michaela Shonk scored with 10 minutes remaining in the second half to give Wyoming Valley West the lead and eventuall the win over Berwick. Although Berwick out shot the Spartans 11-10, Wyoming Valley West held a 10-1 advantage in corner kicks.
Danielle Cook, goaltender for the Spartans, made six saves to secure the shut out while her counterpart, Raina Goulstone, made eight stops for Berwick.
Lake-Lehman 17, GAR 0
Lake-Lehman exploded for 17 goals as they dominated GAR at home. Julia Hutsko (4g-4a), Amanda Ayers (2g-1a), Megan Spess (1g-2a) and MacKenzie Love (3g-1a) were just a few of the offensive leaders for the Black Knights.
Kalyee Kishbaugh made three saves during the game to secure a shut out for Lake-Lehman while the team out shot GAR 41-3.
Nanticoke Area 4, Meyers 1
Alexis Selli scored twice in Nanticoke Area’s win over Meyers. Kayla Aufiero and Elizabeth Mulhern provided two more goals for the Trojans.
Erin Morris tallied the only marker of the night for Meyers.
Coughlin 3, Dallas 2
Dallas`2`0`—`2
Coughlin`1`2`—`3
First half — 1. COU (own goal), 17th minute; 2. DAL, Megan Miller (Tiffany Zukosky), 25th; 3. DAL, Gabriela Ramirez (Rachel Maniskas), 25th. Second half — 4. COU, Mary Tona (PK), 57th; 5. COU, Tona, 72nd
Shots — COU 10, DAL 6. Saves — COU 2 (Paige Davis), DAL 7 (Rachel Nelligan). Corner kicks — COU 2, DAL 5
Crestwood 3, Holy Redeemer 1
Holy Redeemer`0`1`—`1
Crestwood`0`3`—`3
Second half — 1. CRES, Bella Termini (Bree Fetterman), 31:18. 2. CRES, Nina Atie, 29:28. 3. CRES, Melissa Herrera (Katelyn Whetstone), 9:46. 4. HR, Lydia Lawson, 5:39.
Shots — HR 15; CRES 19. Saves — HR 9 (Gabby Tomasura); CRES 11 (McKenna Mera). Corner kicks — HR 6; CRES 5.
Wyoming Valley West 1, Berwick 0
Wyoming Valley West`0`1`—`1
Berwick`0`0`—`0
Second half — 1. WVW, Michaela Shonk, 10:00.
Shots — WVW 10; BER 11. Saves — WVW 6 (Danielle Cook); BER 8 (Raina Goulstone). Corner kicks — WVW 10; BER 1.
Lake-Lehman 17, GAR 0
GAR`0`0`—`0
Lake-Lehman`10`7`—`17
First half — 1. LL, Amanda Ayers (Kyra Apaliski), 36:34. 2. LL, Julia Hutsko (Ayers), 28:15. 3. LL, Megan Spess (Ashley Brubaker), 26:39. 4. LL, MacKenzie Love (Spess), 20:52. 5. LL, Lauren Austin (Love), 16:13. 6. LL, Love (Apaliski), 14:04. 7. LL, Aryan Blazick (Hutsko), 12:58. 8. LL, Hallie Jenkins (Hutsko), 6:23. 9. LL, Brubaker (Hutsko), 3:42. 10. Hutsko (Brubaker), 1:34. Second half — 11. LL, Hutsko (Spess), 32:20. 12. LL, Ayers (Makalie Blazick), 29:52. 13. LL, Love, 26:27. 14. LL, Taylor Cragle (Apaliski), 9:10. 15. LL, Morgan Fedorczyk (Cragle), 5:24. 16. LL, Hutsko (Lexi Conklin), 2:32. 17. LL, Kaitlin Sutton (Hutsko), :22.
Shots — GAR 3; LL 41. Saves — GAR 15; LL 3 (Kaylee Kishbaugh). Corner kicks — GAR 0; LL 8.
Nanticoke Area 4, Meyers 1
Meyers`1`0`—`1
Home`2`2`—`2
First half — 1. NAN, Kayla Aufiero (Katie Butczynski), 36:23. 2. MEY, Erin Morris, 8:12. 3. NAN, Elizabeth Mulhern (Amiah Lukowski), 6:30. Second half — 4. NAN, Alexis Selli, 27:52. 5. NAN, Selli, 19:44.
Shots — MEY 7; NAN 8. Saves — MEY 12 (Keiper); NAN 6 (Seery). Corner kicks — MEY 3; NAN 3.
