2012 SEASON: MY SITE NEWS: SENIOR DAY--INDEED

Abington Heights apparently took the concept of a "senior day" quite literally, as the Lady Comets' goals were scored by twelfth-grade players (with a little help from one junior). Seniors Paige Eisenlohr and Melanie Coles provided the scoring in Abington's 2-0 victory over Scranton.

If one's focus had been confined to the scoreboard, one might have thought that this game was somewhat competitive. Yet nothing could have been further from the truth. From the perspective offered by every statistical category, from time of possession to field position, from shot differential to cumulative advantage of corner kicks, this game was the most one-sided game that the Lady Comets have played all season long. If not for the 21 saves--that is right, twenty one saves--produced by Scranton's goalkeeper Molly Comstock, the scoreboard would have been lit up more brightly than Times Square on a busy newsday.

The scrambling Scranton defense surrendered 12 first-half corner kicks, many of which nearly led to disastrous results, and one of which was converted into the Lady Comets' first goal. At the 29 minute mark, Abbey Burke sent a corner kick into the six yard box where Paige Eisenlohr redirected the ball into the back of the net. 

Although Abington dominated the first half--indeed, they moved the ball through the midfield as if they were skating around stationary pylons--they did continue to struggle a bit in the attacking third. Part of this struggle was due to some excpetional stops by Comstock, and part perhaps due to the Lady Comets' inability to complete the final pass.  The team seems to take the ball to the endline and, instead of hitting angled back passes to emerging strikers, the Lady Comets often play the ball square across the face of the goal, making it easier for the keeper to claim the ball and more difficult for oncoming attackers to get a foot on the cross. This has been a bit of an issue all year long, but it seemed particularly evident today.

Otherwise, the Lady Comets completely destroyed the Scranton defense. In the second half, goalkeeper Melanie Coles would get a turn in the field and was able to put home a goal off of a penalty kick effort in the last three minutes of the match. After this, the teams started to pack up their gear.

There was not one viable attack executed by the Knights. Scranton now drops to 1-10-1 in the conference. Scranton's only victory this year has come against winless West Scranton, who the Lady Comets face at CSE Field next Wednesday.  Indeed, when the Knights and the Invaders hook up, they play a competitive game, but neither have been able to defeat a single Division 1 or Division 2 opponent this year. Thank goodness they have each other.

BOX SCORE AVAILABLE BY CLIKCING BELOW

CONGRATUALTIONS SENIORS AND THANK YOU: The following seniors were honored before the game--Natalie Belknap, Melanie Coles, Alexandria Chapman, Heidi Frantz, Sarah Sopinski, Katrina Helcoski, and Paige Eisenlohr. 

NEXT GAME: Tomorrow (Saturday Oct 13) the Williamsport Millioniares come to CSE Field for a non-conference game. Kickoff is 11:00 a.m.