Back On Old Track, Lehman Wins Semis
By DAVE KONOPKI [email protected]
Saturday, October 27, 2001 Page: 5B
LEHMAN TWP. – Most teams might want to forget a loss that suddenly ended a
season, along with a streak of five championships and state playoffs berths.
But the Lake-Lehman field hockey team wanted to remember last year’s loss
to Lackawanna Trail in a District 2 Class 2A semifinal game.
“I think that game made us work harder this year,” said Lehman senior
Joelle Lussi. “We talked a lot about last year’s game because we didn’t want
it to happen to us again.”
It didn’t.
An inspired Black Knight team used a balanced scoring attack and a
suffocating defense to post a 4-0 victory against Lackawanna Trail in a
District 2 Class 2A semifinal game on Friday.
Lake-Lehman (17-1-1 overall) will play Wyoming Seminary (18-0-2), a 1-0
overtime winner against Crestwood in the other Class 2A semifinal, for the
District 2 Class 2A championship at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Lackawanna County
Stadium in Moosic.
The victory also secured Lake-Lehman a berth in the PIAA Class 2A state
playoffs after sitting home for the first time in six years last season.
Trail (15-5), which beat Lehman 2-1 in last year’s semifinal, is
eliminated.
“The last time we played them (in the playoffs), we were on the field
until 7 o’clock at night crying,” said Lehman junior Lisa Wasser, who scored
a goal and added an assist. “This was a very big win for us.”
Lake-Lehman head coach Jean Lipski said last year’s game provided a
valuable lesson for the highly successful Black Knight program.
“You start assuming things are going to happen and, then all of a sudden,
your season is over,” Lipski said. “This year’s team has been really
focused. They knew they were going to have to work hard if they were going to
follow in the tradition of Lake-Lehman field hockey. And they’ve been working
extremely hard.”
Lussi scored the first of her two goals off an assist from Wasser at the
Gina Coombs with less than nine minutes remaining in the first half to make it
Amanda Sagan. And Lussi closed the scoring with 1:20 left, deflecting a hard
shot by Megan Trebendis.
Coughlin 1, Delaware Valley 0
WILKES-BARRE – Angela Bowman’s goal and Lauren Czerniakowski’s key
defensive stop were obvious reasons why Coughlin defeated Delaware Valley,
There was much more to the victory than those two plays and players,
though.
“Everybody pulled together,” said Coughlin coach Colleen Wood.
“Everybody was talking, hustling, moving to the ball. They all stepped up.”
The Crusaders also stepped into the district finals for the first time
since 1997. Coughlin (10-5) will take on the winner of today’s semifinal
between Wyoming Valley West and Shikellamy at 5 p.m. on Wednesday at
Lackawanna County Stadium in Moosic.
“For the work they’ve done, they deserve it,” Wood said of her players.
“They all worked together to get it done.”
Coughlin had a 25-12 edge in shots, but could only get one past Delaware
Valley goalkeeper Andrea Marino.
That came late in the first half after a free hit. Debbie Wychock sent the
ball in front of the goal, and after a scramble, Bowman fired in a shot with
After that, the Crusaders got it done with defense.
“When (Delaware Valley) did get the ball down on us, Krystle made some
incredible saves,” Wood said.
Coughlin goalkeeper Krystle Nagle made 11 saves, and got some great help on
one that did get behind her but was stopped by Czerniakowski. “She stopped
what would have been a sure goal,” Wood said.
