AJ Abington Heights

By Adam Roberts aroberts@theabingtonjournal.com

After winning the District II Class AA Championship 5-1 on Thursday, Nov. 5, over Coughlin High School, the Abington Heights boys soccer team took a page from NHL lore.

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The Abington Heights boys’ soccer team after winning the District 2 Class AA championship.

Abington Journal Photo/ Adam Roberts

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Junior Brian Levy, shown above, during the District II Class AA Championship on Thursday, Nov. 5.

Abington Heights Photo/Stephanie Walkowski

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According to NHL superstition, players should not touch the conference championship trophy en route to the Stanley Cup finals because the NHL championship is the title they desire.

Likewise, the Comets are looking for a state championship trophy and are just using the district title as a stepping stone.

“We respect the district and we respect what we’ve accomplished, but that’s not the one we want,” junior Brian Levy said of the District II plaque.

The players jokingly passed on an opportunity to hold the district plaque, leaving all toting responsibilities to coach Steve Klingman.

The Comets showed a strong defense and relentless scoring attack at Lake-Lehman’s Edward H. Edwards Stadium.

Sophomore Tommy Steinbach was the first of four Comets to score in the contest with 8:37 left in the first half. His second goal came halfway through the second half.

“I guess I was having a goal-less streak, so it feels good to get two in the final,” Steinbach said.

At halftime, Abington Heights lead 1-0, but attacked immediately once the second half began.

Just more than one minute into the half, Ryan Kusy found Derek Klingman for a goal. Less than a minute later, Zack Shiposh took a direct kick from 30 yards away that deflected off the Coughlin wall and into the net.

Adding the second Steinbach goal, the Comets led 4-0.

Coming into the game, the Abington Heights defense needed to key in on Coughlin’s top scorer, Brian Suchoski.

Coach Steve Klingman explained that he didn’t want to cover Suchoski man-to-man, but rather asked the defense to use its speed to neutralize him as they’ve done against other top scorers.

Suchoski did slip one of Coughlin’s four shots past goal keeper Justin Passetti with 17:41 left on the clock.

John Loboda ended scoring for the Comets with three minutes left.

At press time, Abington Heights was preparing to take on District III runners-up Tulpehocken at Dunmore High School.

Following the win over Coughlin, Klingman said his team was looking forward to a state match up, adding the Comets could present more of a challenge than Tulpehocken will expect.

“District III looks at us as marginal, but we won’t give them an easy game,” Klingman said.