High School Sports

District 2 class 2a soccer

By Dave Rosengrant drosengrant@timesleader.com
Sports Reporter

LEHMAN TWP. – For Coughlin, Tuesday’s District 2 Class 2A semifinal was not much different than a regular season match.

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Members of the Coughlin soccer team celebrate a goal during a District 2 Class 3A semifinal against Western Wayne.

Aimee Dilger/the times leader

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Coughlin’s Justin Okun moves the ball up the field during Tuesday night’s game.

Aimee Dilger/the times leader

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The Crusaders, who averaged almost five goals a game in 14 matches played in the Wyoming Valley Conference Division I, looked the same way in the playoffs, scoring goals in bunches in a 6-1 win over Western Wayne at Lake-Lehman’s Edward H. Edwards Stadium.

With the win, Coughlin moves on to the district championship to play Abington Heights. The match will be 6 p.m. Thursday at Lake-Lehman. The Comets (15-1) defeated Dallas, 3-0, on Tuesday to advance. Coughlin also advances to the PIAA playoffs because the top two seeds from the district advance.

“One of our goals was to make state playoffs,” Coughlin coach Rob Havard said. “So we were able to do that and we accomplished that. We had six goals and accomplished four so far this season. We have two left. We want a district championship and obviously a state championship.”

Much like during the regular season, Coughlin (15-0-1) got contributions from just about everyone on the field Tuesday as five different players scored and four players had assists. The defenders batted away everything that came their way and only allowed three shots on goal. The Crusaders outshot the Wildcats 28-3.

“We had six goals and five different goal-scorers and that doesn’t happen without the defense playing and distributing the ball,” Havard said. “The midfield is playing and distributing the ball and the forwards are also finishing the ball.”

The first half started a bit sluggish for the Crusaders as they didn’t push a goal across until 17:52 was left on the clock. That’s when Jake Karavitch found the back of the net off a double assist from Jordan Okun and Mike Turner for a 1-0 lead. Almost 12 minutes later, Karavitch fed a pass to Tim Long, who slotted the ball in the net with six minutes left in the first half to give the Crusaders a 2-0 lead. Coughlin had several opportunities in the first half getting seven corner kicks and eight shots on goal, but finished the half with just two goals.

“We had a lot of opportunities in the first half we just didn’t finish,” Havard added. “We didn’t capitalize on it, but once we get the first one, two, three, four, five come after that.”

The Crusaders started to cruise in the second half. With a 2-0 lead, Havard could have taken a more defensive approach to preserve the victory, but he kept with the game plan as the offense continued to pressure the Wildcats’ defense.

That worked to perfection as the team put 20 shots on goal in the final 40 minutes and four goals. The pressure from the offense made the defense thrive as Coughlin controlled the ball for the majority of the second half. Brian Suchoski scored twice for the Crusaders in the second half, while Okun and Turner also found the back of the net.

“I didn’t go defensively because we were getting the opportunities. I just wanted to capitalize on them,” the coach noted.

Had it not been for the play of Western Wayne keeper C.J. Bayly, who made 15 saves and several diving stops, the game may have gotten even more out of hand.

“Their keeper did a heck of a job. He came up with some really big saves,” Havard said.

Coughlin 6, Western Wayne 1

First half: 1. COU, Jake Karavitch (Jordan Okun, Mike Turner) 17:52; 2. COU, Tim Long (Karavitch) 6:00

Second half: 1. COU, Jordan Okun 16:05; 2. COU, Brian Suchoski (Turner) 15:41; 3. COU, Suchoski (Karavitch) 9:35; 4. WW, Andrew Green (Dan Fernandez) 8:27; 5. COU, Turner (Jason John) 8:13. Shots: WW 3, COU 28; Saves: WW 15 (C.J. Bayly), COU 1 (Justin Coskey); Corners: WW 3, COU 9

Finals Set

The District 2 Class 2A and 3A finals will be held Thursday. In Class 2A, Coughlin will face Abington Heights at 6 p.m. at Lake-Lehman High School. In 3A, Wyoming Valley West will travel to Scranton Memorial Stadium to take on Delaware Valley at 7 p.m.