High School Sports

DISTRICT 2 Class 2ASOCCER

November 6, 2009

Outburst levels Coughlin

Abington Heights scores two quick goals in second half to win District 2 Class 2A title.

By Dave Rosengrant drosengrant@timesleader.com
Sports Reporter

LEHMAN TWP. – During the regular season, Coughlin allowed two goals or less in a game 12 times.

On Thursday, the Crusaders gave up two tallies in less than a minute in the second half and couldn’t rebound in a 5-1 loss to Abington Heights in the District 2 Class 2A championship game at Edward H. Edwards Stadium.

Despite the outcome, both teams move on to the first round of the PIAA Championships. The Comets (16-1) will host the District 3 No. 2 seed, while the Crusaders (15-1-1) will travel to District 3 to face the district champion.

The District 3 title match will be held 1 p.m. Saturday at Hersheypark Stadium with Tulpehocken taking on Fleetwood.

“The cream rises to the top in the playoffs and the better team won,” Coughlin coach Rob Havard said. “If we played 10 times could we beat them five times and they beat us five times? Yeah. But tonight they were the better team.”

It took more than 30 minutes before the first goal of the match was scored. Abington used a thorough passing attack to break through the Coughlin defense and slot a tally off the foot of Tommy Steinbach with 8:37 remaining in the first half to put the Comets up 1-0.

Coughlin rebounded well after that goal to stymie the Abington offense for the remainder of the first half. But when the second half began, the Comets came out pressing and delivered a crushing blow.

Just 1:31 into the second half, Derek Klingman took a pass from Ryan Kusy and found the back of the net for a 2-0 Abington lead. Less than a minute after that, the Comets went up 3-0. Zack Shiposh was awarded a direct kick from about 30 yards out and got the ball over the wall and beat Coughlin keeper Justin Coskey for a commanding lead with 37:26 remaining in the game.

“The two quick goals in the second half flattened us,” Havard added. “The first two of the second half was a knockout punch. From there, we were pretty much on our heels the rest of the game.”

Led by Denis Loboda on defense, Abington held the potent Coughlin offense to just four shots on goal and four corner kicks. The Crusaders only had one shot on the goal the entire second half and that was on an unassisted goal by Brian Suchoski with 17:41 left in the game.

“Our defense is good, Denis Laboda is really a dominant back,” Abington first-year coach Steve Klingman said. “He’s the best back in the league this year there’s no doubt in my mind and obviously with Suchoski with his speed and (Jordan) Okun they got good speed, but Denis is just a dominant back for us.”

The Comets added a goal with 19:23 left in the game to go up 4-0 before Suchoski found the back of the net.

Steinbach added the goal for Abington off a pass from Derek Klingman. Johnny Loboda closed out the scoring with an unassisted tally with 3:15 left in the game.

 

Abington Heights 5, Coughlin 1

Abington Heights			1	4	—	5
Coughlin			0	1	—	1

First half: 1. AH, Tommy Steinbach (Ryan Kusy) 8:37

Second half: 1. AH, Derek Klingman (Ryan Kusy) 38:19; 2. AH, Zack Shiposh (direct kick) 37:26; 3. AH, Tommy Steinbach (Derek Klingman) 19:23; 4. COU, Brian Suchoski 17:41; 5. AH, Johnny Loboda 3:15

Shots: AH 9, COU 4; Saves: AH 1 (Justin Passetti), COU 1 (Justin Coskey); Corners: AH 2, COU 4.

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