2012 SEASON: MY SITE NEWS: LADY COMETS HOLD OFF FEISTY WILLIAMSPORT ASSAULT TO POST 1-0 VICTORY

Williamsport came to town riding in a nice-looking Susquehanna coach--they also came to town on a mission.

The Lady Comets, who beat Williamsport 4-0 earlier this year, posted a goal thirteen minutes into tonight's game and then were forced to fight off an all-out Williamsport attack in a nervous second half. During the final 40 minutes, the Millionaires generally dominated play, winning the majority of 50/50 balls and posting a 9-3 advantage in shots. Nevertheless, some nice defensive play, some opportune saves by Melanie Coles, and a little bit of luck all worked together to give the Lady Comets (13-1-2) a 1-0 victory and earn for them their 7th straight trip to the PIAA District 2 AAA Championship game.

Although Williamsport was impressive in the second half, it all started out differently--very differently. In the first half, the Lady Comets were in charge, controlling field position and moving the ball with purpose and accuracy. In fact, Abington nearly got on the board very early when Williamsport committed a foul deep in its own territory, setting up a quality free kick opportunity for the Lady Comets. Izzy Clauss hit the ball well but it flew just high, and the Lady Comets had to go back to work empty-handed.

Not long after this, however, Clauss got the team going once again when, at the 13:05 mark, she got the ball forward to Abbey Burke, who attacked the box off of the dribble; the ball, then, found the feet of Michaelina Holmes who tapped a sweet lead pass out in front of an on-rushing Ally Christman, who powered the ball past the Millionaires' goalkeeper, Reilly Gossner, for the score. It was Christman's fifth goal on the season, but it would be the last goal of this game.

Abington would continue to control play during much of the rest of the half, but Williamsport would not surrender. 

Then, there was a palpable change on the pitch. The visitors from Lycoming County may have laced their halftime Gatorade with bottles of Five Hour Energy. In the second half, the Millionaires' breezed onto the pitch and started to play some especially active soccer. Indeed, it was evident that, for many stretches, the Lady Comets had to work very hard to match their opponent's intensity. Abington's passing was not as crisp in the second half as it was in the first, and the Williamsport girls were busting their fannies to put pressure on the ball.

At times, Abington struggled to get its midfielders forward. Yet, at the same time, Williamsport suddenly found a way to start attacking the flanks and created some quality shot opportunities. Melanie Coles played steady in front of the goal; her work--along with one quality"team" save--helped keep Williamsport off the scoreboard. Much credit goes out to the Millionaires; they played with a passion. 

The Lady Comets now take on a talented Wallenpaupack team on Saturday--this could be very interesting, check out the story just below.