Tale of the tape between the Comets and Wildcats

To some, tonight would be a second chance for Crestwood, which lost in overtime to Greenwood in the PIAA Class 2A field hockey tournament last season.

But that was last season, and these are two new editions of the state powers.

Crestwood coach Elvetta Gemski recalls a Wildcats team that was very skilled and had quality coaching from Kent Houser.

I certainly remember quite a few of their players, Gemski said. We know they are another very good team out of District 3.

Greenwood, the district runner-up, has defeated Line Mountain, 3-0, and Forbes Road, 6-1, to reach the semifinals. Crestwood has 1-0 wins over Hamburg and Selinsgrove to reach the semifinals.

The prize ahead for the winner is a trip to the state championship game Saturday against either District 3 third-place squad Donegal or District 1 champ Villa Maria.

Stats leaders (goals, assists, points):

Greenwood – Brittany Fleisher, senior, 22-3-47; Mallory Fortenbaugh, freshman, 14-6-34; Taylor Tompkins, senior, 13-3-29; Hattie Kuhns, junior, 8-10-26; Katie Barton, junior, 9-6-24; Mackenzie Wirth, senior, 5-11-21; Lauren Wilson, junior, 8-1-17. Goalie Katie Osborne, senior, .914 save percentage.

Crestwood – Marissa Surdy, junior, 18-11-47; Ashleigh Thomas, freshman, 15-6-36; Casey Cole, sophomore, 10-11-31; Elizabeth Dessoye, freshman, 10-8-28; Maury Cronauer, junior, 11-6-28; Chandler Ackers, senior, 8-10-26; Morgan Kile, junior, 6-5-17. Goalie Dallas Kendra, sophomore, .853 save percentage.

Common foes:

Greenwood -- Defeated Selinsgrove 2-0 on Sept. 10; defeated Hamburg 3-2 on Oct. 31.

Crestwood -- Defeated Selinsgrove 1-0 on Sept. 8; defeated Hamburg 1-0 on Nov. 6.

Last year:

Crestwood had a 21-7 advantage in shots and a 20-6 edge in penalty corners, but Greenwood won the PIAA first round playoff matchup 3-2 in overtime.

Hattie Kuhns, now a junior, scored the decisive goal last year, batting a waist-high ball with her stick reversed into the goal to win the game. Crestwood senior Chandler Ackers scored on a corner to make it 2-1 with 11 minutes left in regulation.

Wildcats goaltender Katie Osborne made 19 saves in the victory.

-- John Medeiros