First Posted: 5/4/2015
It’s a showdown in the making.
Pittston Area and Wyoming Area have collectively played in four lacrosse seasons — this year is Wyoming Area’s first. Their paths will cross for the second time this season in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association District 2 Girls Lacrosse Championships.
The Patriots will host the Warriors at 4:15 p.m. on Monday, May 11 in the first round. The winner will get a crack at top-seed Wyoming Seminary on Thursday, May 14.
The two teams met for the first time in school history on April 20. In that game, the Patriots edged Wyoming Area, 18-12. Pittston Area sharpshooter Haley Norwillo scored seven goals, while Bianca Mattei Miller added five goals.
The Patriots will head to the postseason for the second straight season. In last year’s first round, Pittston Area fell to Delaware Valley.
“We’re on the upswing and we’re scoring a lot more against some of the tougher teams in the league,” Pittston Area coach Leigha Dolcemascolo said. “There’s been a lot of growth this season.”
Pittston Area had trouble stopping Wyoming Area’s Jordan Kelly and Claudia Waltz in the first meeting of the season. Those two combined for the majority of Wyoming Area’s goals.
“We’re focusing on defending in the midfield and stopping their transition,” Dolcemascolo said. “If we can stop Jordan and Claudia we have a great chance to get the win.”
Getting into the playoffs was a goal the team set at the beginning of the season, but now they are focusing on that possible game against Wyoming Seminary on Thursday.
“They’re extremely excited to get into the playoffs,” Dolcemascolo said. “To have a chance to win a game is huge. It will be awesome to come out on top.”
Coughlin 24, Pittston Area 7
Pittston Area’s Haley Norwillo scored four goals in a losing effort against Coughlin on Thursday.
In the second half, Norwillo scored her 100th career goal for the Patriots.
“I think it’s just her drive to get to the goal,” Dolcemascolo said. “She’s able to hold the ball and carry it down the field. She has a very good view of the field.”
Bianca Mattei-Miller added two goals, while Rachel Ferrance had one. Nicole Walters made 21 saves for the Patriots.
Wyoming Area 9, Tunkhannock 3
Wyoming Area won its second game of the season thanks to a team effort from five different scorers on Monday.
Claudia Waltz finished with three goals, while Jordan Kelly and Erica Gallagher had two goals. Madison Johnson and Catlin Butchko had one goal.
Goalie Marcyssa Brown made eight saves in the win.
Dallas 17, Pittston Area 9
Pittston Area’s Haley Norwillo scored a game-high six goals as the Patriots fell to Dallas on Monday.
Rachel Ferrance added two goals, while Anna McDermott finished with one goal. Dallas outshot Pittston Area 46-22, while Patriot goalie Nicole Walters made 24 saves.
Lake-Lehman 17, Wyoming Area 1
Wyoming Area’s Lila Danelly scored the team’s lone goal in a loss to Lake-Lehman on Thursday.
Marcyssa Brown made 19 saves in the loss.
BOYS LACROSSE
Wyoming Area picks up first win
It took more than a month to happen, but Wyoming Area coach Shaun Rohland was almost certain his Warriors would come out on top.
Playing in its first season in school history, Wyoming Area knocked off Lake-Lehman, 8-7, Thursday to garner the team’s first win.
“They guys were really excited, especially with the way we won,” Wyoming Area coach Shaun Rohland said.
Wyoming Area found itself down 5-2 at halftime, before staging a comeback and forcing overtime.
“The defense really stepped up,” Rohland said. “It was very hot and I had a constant rotation going to keep their legs fresh. They really rose to the occasion.”
At the start of the second overtime, Justin Joseph won the face-off and the Warriors never gave the ball back. Sam Greenfield scored the game-winner, with Alex Hawk assisting. Andrew Bartoli turned in an impressive performance in the net, Rohland said.
Wyoming Area will now carry the all-important momentum into Wednesday’s PIAA District 2 tournament. Tentatively, the Warriors will face top-seed Delaware Valley, but that can change.
“It was extremely important to get this win out of the way,” Rohland said. “We got that monkey off our backs. We’re going to need that momentum.”
