KINGSTON – Wyoming Area’s Aleah Kranson had a hat trick Monday, reconnecting with youth and club soccer teammate Grace Mimnaugh from Pittston Area in the process, accounting for all the Blue team’s scoring in a 4-3 loss to the Black in the Wyoming Valley Coaches Senior Girls Soccer Classic.
The game, at Wyoming Seminary’s Nesbitt Stadium, opened the doubleheader that included the boys senior game.
Kranson’s hat trick was in part the result of precise, through-ball passes from Mimnaugh, who earned one of the Blue’s assists.
Mimnaugh’s pass to Kranson, breaking in from the left wing, set up the goal that allowed the Blue to force a 1-1 tie at halftime.
“I feel so lucky to have been able to play with the girls that I have been playing with for so long in the last soccer game of my high school career,” Mimnaugh told the Times Leader. “Aleah and I have been playing together since we were very young and, even with not playing together for a little while, we still clicked.”
Kranson also scored to create second-half ties at 2-2 and 3-3 before an own goal with less than three minutes remaining decided the outcome.
Pittston Area’s Caroline Wesp and Wyoming Area’s Lauren Kelly split the goalkeeping for the Blue, combining for 10 saves.
Nicole Mayers, Jenna Smith and Kayleigh Walker also represented Pittston Area in the game. Sydni Johnson was Wyoming Area’s other player.
The Greater Pittston players joined seniors from Nanticoke, Holy Redeemer, Lake-Lehman and Hazleton Area on the Blue team.
BOYS CLASSIC
The Blue fired off 31 shots in the boys game, but Wyoming Area’s Brett Kostik had the only one that resulted in a goal in the 3-1 loss to the Black.
Kostik tapped in a cross from Crestwood’s Hubert Herrera to cut the Black lead to 2-1 early in the second half.
Pittston Area’s Kyle Mlodzienski and Wyoming Valley West’s Chris Stoodley combined for 14 saves to help the Black offset Blue advantages of 31-15 in shots and 5-1 in corner kicks.
Mlodzienski made a couple of late, tough saves on Herrera to help protect the win.
Jacob Noone and Brandon Overman also represented Pittston Area on the winning team that included players from Berwick, Holy Redeemer, Lake-Lehman, Nanticoke, Tunkhannock, Wyoming Seminary and Wyoming Valley West.
Mike Remley, Damien Bronsburg and Eddie Golushka were the other Wyoming Area players on the Blue team along with players from Coughlin, Crestwood, Dallas, GAR, Hanover Area and Meyers.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Wyoming Area senior middle hitter Brandi Sorokin was a second-team selection on the Wyoming Valley Conference coaches all-star team.
Pittston Area’s Emily O’Brien and Wyoming Area’s Hunter Chervenitski received honorable mention.
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Pittston Area senior Dominic Angradi and Wyoming Area sophomore Michael Branley were each part of the 20-runner squad selected by the Wyoming Valley Conference coaches in their 34th annual all-star team, sponsored by Wyoming Valley Striders.
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
Pittston Area junior Nicole Zambetti and Wyoming Area sophomore Aubriana Marranca were part of the WVC coaches team, sponsored by the Wyoming Valley Striders.
