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Abington Heights ousts Crestwood

By Adam Roberts aroberts@theabingtonjournal.com

SCRANTON—After suffering their only regular-season loss 1-0 to Wallenpaupack last week, the Abington Heights High School boys soccer team had something to prove.

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Comet defender Dominic Castanzo clears the ball.

Abington Journal/ Ellen Bugno

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Dave Cochrane crosses the ball resulting in an assist to Zack Shiposh scoring.

Abington Journal Photo/ Ellen Bugno

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Its players did so in its first game of the District II Class 2A playoffs on Friday night, Oct. 30, when they knocked out Crestwood 5-1 on a weather-rescheduled matchup at Marywood University.

The game, which was originally slated as a Wednesday, Oct. 28, home game for Abington Heights, was played under the lights on Marywood’s new turf field.

Abington Heights (14-1) struck early and never looked back, scoring three goals on 10 shots in the first half.

“Our big thing is to try to jump on these teams early,” said Abington Heights coach Steve Klingman. His team used its usual committee attack to pepper Crestwood’s goal keeper, Alex Sechrist, who had 14 saves.

At 23:11, junior Brian Levy first found the back of the net off an assist from Tommy Steinbach. Six minutes later, Abington Heights scored again. Sophomore Zack Shiposh received an Abington Heights corner kick and lofted it to the head of senior Ryan Kusy, who converted.

Kusy also scored the last goal for Abington Heights in the second half off a corner from Derek Klingman.

Before the end of the first half, John Loboda knocked home the third Abington Heights goal. The Lackawanna League power controlled the ball throughout the contest, allowing just two Crestwood shots, which came in the second half.

On an own goal, which bounced off a couple of Abington Heights players late in the second half, Crestwood (9-5-1) avoided a shutout

With the rainout and a regular-season open date, Abington Heights had 10 days to digest the only blemish on its otherwise perfect record.

Shiposh explained that his team came into the night looking for vengeance.

“It’s been a main focal point all week at practice to be dead tired to make up for the loss,” Shiposh said.

He also pointed out that it is important not to get complacent before Abington Heights’ Tuesday afternoon showdown with Dallas.

At the time of this publication, Tuesday, Nov. 3, Abington Heights was taking on Dallas at Scranton Memorial Stadium in the District semifinals.

For game scores, visit the Abington Journal at www.timesleader.com/AbingtonJournal.