Abington Journal

District 2 Class 2A Soccer

By Tom Robinson
Go Lackawanna sports correspondent

SCRANTON – Dallas succeeded in part of its defensive game plan, forcing Abington Heights wide as often as possible.

The Comets, however, had an answer.

They simply scored from there.

Derek Klingman and Zack Shiposh scored from near the right sideline in the final 8:41 of the first half to carry Abington Heights over Dallas, 3-0, Tuesday night at Scranton Memorial Stadium in a District 2 Class 2A boys soccer semifinal.

“I was very happy,” Dallas coach Chris Scharff said of his take on the game as it approached halftime. “Our game plan coming in was to neutralize their speed and disrupt their passing game.

“We were marking up a few players and letting them pass to the sides and back. I thought maybe we had them frustrated a bit.”

Each team had just one shot in the first 22:45 and the Comets had added just two more when the Dallas defense gave Klingman a little too much room to dribble 25 yards from the goal.

Klingman pivoted and launched a hard shot just under the crossbar to break the scoreless tie.

“I thought they came out strong,” Abington Heights coach Steve Klingman said. “They came out and took the play to us for about 20 minutes.

“They didn’t dominate, but I thought they were playing well.”

Abington Heights kept Dallas down from there.

Shiposh drew a foul in the penalty area 27 seconds later but Dallas goalkeeper Drew Schaub dove to his left to make a tough stop on Derek Klingman on the ensuing penalty kick.

The Comets added to the lead 1:47 before halftime when Shiposh sent a high ball toward the net on an indirect kick from 22 yards out. Schaub went up high to play it, but the ball went off his hand and into the upper part of the net for a 2-0 lead.

“We were fine,” Scharff said. “I was thrilled. Then we got a little bit unlucky.

“Klingman has a powerful shot, we lose him and he turns and smacks a great shot. I don’t know if our goalkeeper was ready for that shot.

“Then, Shiposh tries to cross and it ends up in the goal.”

Abington Heights outshot Dallas, 7-1, while adding to its lead in the first 20 minutes of the second half.

“As the game wore on, we took over,” coach Klingman said.

The Dallas defense stopped a Shiposh pass and tried to clear the ball only to have Brian Levy knock it down and step through three defenders before the Mountaineers could react. Levy went in alone and scored with 26:50 left.

Abington Heights had a 14-4 lead in shots until Dallas had the only four shots in the final 16 minutes.

By beating Dallas, 3-0, in the semifinals for the second straight year, Abington Heights advances into Thursday’s final against Coughlin at Lake-Lehman at 6.

“It’s a similar story to last year,” Scharff said. “They’re a little more mature team.

“We start three seniors and they start six.”

First half: 1, AH, Derek Klingman, 32nd minute; 2, AH, Zack Shiposh, 38th minute.

Second half: 3, AH, Brian Levy, 54th minute.

Shots: D 8, AH 14. Corner kicks: D 1, AH 5. Goalkeeper saves: D 5 (Drew Schaub 5, Scott Napkora 0), AH 4 (Justin Passetti).