Parity rules in District 2 soccer tourney

Parity rules in District 2 soccer tourney
BY JILL SNOWDON
STAFF WRITER
05/18/2008
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There were no surprising upsets last week when the District 2 girls soccer tournament got underway. But as the field is narrowed in each class, the match-ups aren’t as easy to predict.



Of the teams that remain alive in the tournament, only Crestwood and Dallas have played each other this season. Dallas won both meetings, but Crestwood gave the Mountaineers a solid challenge in their first showdown. The Comets also defeated one of the tougher teams, Holy Redeemer, twice during the regular season proving they are certainly capable of an upset.

Holy Redeemer, Berwick and Abington Heights are all Division A teams and will face Division B squads. Of those Division B teams, undefeated Wyoming Seminary may be the best pick to advance to the district finals.

Here’s a closer look at each match-up.

CLASS AA Semifinals

No. 1 Dallas (14-1) vs No. 4 Crestwood (7-8)

When: Monday, 7 p.m.

Where: Lake-Lehman

What’s next: Both teams advance. The winner moves onto the championship game, while the loser will play in the third-place game.

The skinny: Besides Dallas’ 1-0 loss to Abington Heights last week, one of the Mountaineers’ toughest games this season was to Crestwood. Dallas edged the Comets, 1-0, in the opening game of the season on Ellen Arnaud’s unassisted goal. It’s important to note, however, that was the first game situation for Dallas, which had to cancel its exhibition games because of weather.

In the second meeting between the teams, Dallas posted a 5-1 victory.

No. 2 Holy Redeemer (10-4-1) vs No. 3 Wyoming Seminary (13-0)

When: Monday, 5:30 p.m.

Where: Lake-Lehman

What’s next: Both teams advance. The winner moves onto the championship game, while the loser will play in the third-place game.

The skinny: Wyoming Seminary head coach Anna Shapell said one of her team’s strengths this season is to know when and where to pick things up on the field, without even being told. Well, the Blue Knights did just that in its District 2 opener with Nanticoke Area. Sem fell behind 2-0 at halftime, but regrouped and rattled off four second half goals en route to a 4-2 victory.

Holy Redeemer is arguably the best team Sem has seen thus far. The Royals have strengths throughout the line-up and a nice mix of players who can distribute and finish.

Class AAA Semifinals

No. 1 Berwick (8-4-2) vs. No. 4 Valley West (9-4)

When: Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Lake-Lehman

What’s next: Only the winner advances to the AAA championship game.

The skinny: Berwick, which earned a first-round bye, takes the field for the first time since it’s 4-1 victory over Nanticoke Area on May 8.

The Bulldogs are a scrappy team with one of the top freshman in the league with Isabella Jaffin. Jaffin has 15 goals and six assists on the year.

Valley West is well-balanced and has a number of go-to players, making this match-up one of the more interesting ones of the tournament.

No. 2 A. Heights (8-6-1) vs No. 3 Del. Val. (7-3-2)

When: Monday, 5 p.m.

Where: Dunmore High School

What’s next: Only the winner advances to the AAA championship game.

The skinny: Abington Heights closed out the regular season with three straight shutout victories over well-respected Division A squads, including Crestwood, Coughlin and Dallas.

The Comets met a challenge each time they took the field this season in Division A, making them the hands-down favorite to advance to the final.