Admittedly, Pittston Area was without their some of its best firepower for Monday’s girls lacrosse season opener.

Several seniors missed the game due to school obligations, while senior captain Haley Norwillo is still recovering from a knee injury. All-in-all, the Patriots hung in there with their formiddable opponents — the Delaware Valley Warriors made it to the semifinals of the district tournament three of the past four years.

This was also the first career game coaching lacrosse for PA coaches Nicole Tieso and Sarah Donahue. In the end, Pittston Area fell to Delaware Valley, 14-5. The score, however, doesn’t indicate the strides the team has made in the past several weeks, Tieso said.

“That was our first game and DelVal had already played five,” Tieso said. “As the game went on we did much better. We improved as we got into the second half.”

Related Video

The Patriots had to deal with several cancellations from the week before prior to making their season debut seven days after the originally-scheduled opener. They came out with confidence, Tieso said.

Pittston Area got three goals from sophomore Bailey Jordan, while senior captain Bianca Mattei-Miller and Rachel Ferrance contributed the other goals.

Just two minutes in, Delaware Valley got one past Pittston Area rookie keeper Brooklyn Pedana. A minute later, however, Jordan was able to tie the game. She took the ball near midfield and made her way all the way to the Warrior net before dropping a shot passed the keeper.

“She’s been playing great lacrosse and controlling the ball very well,” Tieso said. “She’s taking good opportunities and not wasting chances.

Pittston Area finished with 15 shots on goal, while Pedana had eight saves for the Patriots.

Against Wyoming Seminary on Thursday, Pittston Area got two more goals from Jordan and fell to the Blue Knights, 14-4. Nina Cirelli and Dana Zaleski also scored for the Patriots.

Kate Romanowski, of West Pittston, and Christina Kilyanek, of Hughestown, scored two goals for Wyoming Seminary. Abby Straub’s four goals and one assist led the way for Sem.

Pedana made another 11 saves for the Patriots.

“She had some nerves the first game (against Delaware Valley),” Tieso admitted. “She came out with some huge saves against Wyoming Seminary. Sem doesn’t mess around, and she really kept it a lot closer than it could have been.”

Scranton Prep 15, Wyoming Area 5

In Wyoming Area’s only game of the week, the Warriors fell to Scranton Prep, 15-5 on Thursday. The loss drops the Warriors to 0-2 on the young season.

Wyoming Area got two goals from senior Jordan Kelly in the loss. Cait Butchko, Bella Waltz and Lila Donnelly also scored for the Warriors.

Up next

Wyoming Area’s game originally scheduled for Monday, April 11 with Coughlin was postponed to Tuesday, April 26.

Pittston Area will be back in action on Monday, April 18 with a home game against Coughlin. The Warriors travel to Delaware Valley on Monday.

Pittston Area’s Bailey Jordan (22) defends against Delaware Valley Monday in Hughestown.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_PAlacrosse1-1.jpg.optimal.jpgPittston Area’s Bailey Jordan (22) defends against Delaware Valley Monday in Hughestown. Nick Wagner | Sunday Dispatch

Pittston Area’s Bianca Mattei-Miller controls the ball against Delaware Valley defenders Monday in Hughestown.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_PAlacrosse2-1.jpg.optimal.jpgPittston Area’s Bianca Mattei-Miller controls the ball against Delaware Valley defenders Monday in Hughestown. Nick Wagner | Sunday Dispatch

Pittston Area’s Nina Cirelli, right, defends against Delaware Valley’s Kayla Newsome Monday in Hughestown.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_PAlacrosse4-1.jpg.optimal.jpgPittston Area’s Nina Cirelli, right, defends against Delaware Valley’s Kayla Newsome Monday in Hughestown. Nick Wagner | Sunday Dispatch

Pittston Area’s Nina Cirelli, left, defends against Delaware Valley’s Kayla Newsome Monday in Hughestown.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_PAlacrosse5-1.jpg.optimal.jpgPittston Area’s Nina Cirelli, left, defends against Delaware Valley’s Kayla Newsome Monday in Hughestown. Nick Wagner | Sunday Dispatch
Jordan shines as Pittston Area drops first two contests

By Nick Wagner

nwagner@timesleader.com

Reach Nick Wagner at 570-991-6406 or on Twitter @Dispatch_Nick