HUGHESTOWN – Wyoming Area took control of the first 20 minutes of the second half Friday afternoon and used that advantage to escape Pittston Area with a 3-2 Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 field hockey victory.
After coming out of a first half, in which the chances were limited for both teams, in a 1-1 tie, the Lady Warriors dominated much of the second half.
Wyoming Area took the first seven shots and the first five penalty corners of the half, using them to produce the goals that allowed the Lady Warriors to withstand a late score by the Lady Patriots.
“We adjusted things,” first-year Wyoming Area coach Erin McGinley said after her team improved to 5-1, good for a third-place tie in the 15-team division. “We adjusted some positions as well and it worked to our success.”
Lauren Parente finished with a goal and an assist to help Wyoming Area recover from an early deficit.
“We fought,” McGinley said. “That was a good positive.
“We went down early. We came back and tied it, went into the half tied and then we set a goal for the second half of what we needed to work on.”
The Lady Warriors began producing chances right from the start, then converted penalty corners into goals by Abby Gober and Cassidy Orzel.
Orzel was originally credited with the goal that broke a 1-1 tie with 21:43, but it could not be determined if she touched Gober’s shot before it crossed the line.
Back at the same spot at the right post, Orzel was on the end of a penalty corner in which five Wyoming Area players touched the ball in rapid succession. Kari Melberger sent a pass to Parente in front of the goal and Parente found Orzel alone at the post.
“There was a lot of help from other girls,” said Orzel, a sophomore who also plays midfield, but was at right forward with Jalen Rhodes out because of an injury. “It’s their job to send it in and my job being there for them.
“With them sending it in and being in the right position, it’s always good to get a goal in by getting around the goalie.”
Orzel’s ability to play more than one position is an example of one of the strengths the team has shown early this season.
“I think they bought into our system really well and we work them very hard,” McGinley said. “ … We adjust to each game. Every game plan is a little bit different in what we’re looking to do and positions change. The kids know that and they’re flexible.
“That’s been the key. We are not an individualized team. We are a team. Everybody on the team is important and they know that.”
Down two goals, Pittston Area began to get more possession time and advance the ball up field more as the game progressed.
The Lady Patriots converted a penalty corner with 22 seconds remaining on a Bailey Jordan tip in. Alena Carabetta had the assist.
“I’m proud of the way we played,” Pittston Area coach Shelby Madden said. “We showed a lot of effort through the entire game, not giving up.
“I’m not disappointed in the way we played, but we can definitely improve.”
Pittston Area (2-3) struck first when Nina Cirelli scored on an assist from Gabby Para 9:16 in.
The lead lasted a little more than three minutes before Parente scored on an assist from Kayla Kiwak.
