Field Hockey Beat Matt Bufano

WB_VOICE/PAGES [B01] | 08/12/19

21:21 | CONNORSSTE

tHE CItIzEns’ VOICE

Sports TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2019

NFL FIELD HOCKEY

BEGINNINGS ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE

Raiders wide receiver Antonio Brown filed a grievance in hopes he can wear his old helmet.

Brown loses helmet dispute

BY JOSH DUBOW ASSOCIATED PRESS

DAVE SCHERBENCO / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Wyoming Seminary field hockey players run drills on Monday, the first official day of fall sports practice.

Teams take field for first day of fall sports practice

BY MATT BUFANO STAFF WRITER

INSIDE

More practice photos from around the WVC. Page B6

It’s that time of year again.

There was a refreshing chill in the air Monday morning around the Wyoming Valley, appropriate for the first day of mandatory practice in most high school sports played in the fall, including field hockey.

“We’re all just excited to get back on the field,” said Rina Tsioles, a senior midfielder and Old Dominion commit who’s helped Valley West win three straight dis-

trict championships. “We’re all excited to see each other and be around each other. We’re ready to start working as a team.”

Valley West’s crosstown rival, Wyoming Seminary, was also in action with its star-studded roster ready to defend the conference, district and state championships Sem won in 2018.

“Honestly, it feels amazing,” said Sem’s Julia Christian, a senior Temple recruit. “I am so excited to be back with my team. I feel lost when I’m not around

them, if it’s been a long time. I think we’re coming back with such a good mentality.”

That enthusiasm apparently carried on to the turf at Klassner Field, as Christian said she’s never seen her team work so hard and have so much fun at the same time.

“We’re really starting it off with a bang,” Christian said.

The regular season starts in the first week of September for most teams.

Please see PRACTICE, Page B6

INDYCAR AT POCONO

Rosenqvist still looking for first win

BY SCOTT WALSH STAFF WRITER

Felix Rosenqvist had a list of several goals he wanted to accomplish during his rookie season in the NTT IndyCar Series.

First pole: check. He did that at the Grand Prix of Indianapolis in May. First podium: check. He did that two weeks ago when he finished second at Mid-Ohio.

Now, the 27-year-old from Malmo, Sweden, is looking to check off the final item on the to-do list

— his first win. He will try to get it this weekend when the series heads to Pocono Raceway for the ABC Supply 500.

“I think definitely winning a race is the next goal,” Rosenqvist said. “It seems realistic after MidOhio. We had great pace all weekend.”

Actually, Rosenqvist’s first win almost happened at Mid-Ohio.

He waged a last-lap battle with Scott Dixon, only to come up short of his Chip Ganassi Racing teammate by 0.0934 seconds. That

is the third-closest margin of victory on a road course in IndyCar history.

“That last lap was very stressful with all the lapped cars and closing into Scott,” Rosenqvist said. “I knew I only had one lap to make a move and I didn’t have any push-to-pass left. I tried in turn 2, but it didn’t really work out. Scott closed the door. Tried to get past him in the last couple corners but it didn’t work out.”

Please see POCONO, Page B6

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE

Felix Rosenqvist has had a successful rookie season, but is still looking for a win.

Luzerne County Council Meeting

from the Back Mountain Regional EMS Building, Lehman Twp. on Tues., August 13th.

View the meeting in its entirety this Sunday, August 18th at 8pm on Channel 2.

ALAMEDA, Calif. — Oakland Raiders receiver Antonio Brown lost his grievance with the NFL on Monday over his use of an old helmet that is no longer certified as safe to use for practice or play.

The arbitrator issued the ruling after holding a hearing last Friday with Brown, representatives from the league and the players’ union.

“While I disagree with the arbitrator’s decision, I’m working on getting back to full health and looking forward to rejoining my teammates on the field,” Brown said in a statement on Twitter. “I’m excited about this season appreciate all the concerns about my feet.”

Brown has not participated in a full practice for the Raiders after starting training camp on the non-football injury list with injuries to his feet that reportedly came from frostbite suffered while getting cryotherapy treatment in France. Brown was cleared to practice on July 28 and participated in part of two sessions but wasn’t around the team last week when he had the grievance hearing with the NFL over his helmet.

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy earlier in the day reiterated the league’s stance that Brown wouldn’t be allowed to practice or play without a certified helmet.

“The player can’t practice or play in games with equipment that’s not approved,” McCarthy wrote. “If he doesn’t play or practice he is in breach of his contract and doesn’t get paid. NFL policy is that helmets have to be certified by NOSCAE. They don’t certify equipment that’s (older) than 10 years.”

The National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment sets performance and test standards for equipment. Brown’s Schutt Air Advantage helmet is no longer allowed because the NFL follows the National Athletic Equipment Reconditioners Association (NAERA) rule that helmets 10 years or older cannot be recertified.

Please see BROWN, Page B4

WB_VOICE/PAGES [B06] | 08/12/19

21:39 | CONNORSSTE

SPORTS

B6 THE CITIZENS' VOICE

TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2019

PRACTICE: Field hockey teams excited for season FROM PAGE B1

Here’s an early look at a few contenders that practiced Monday:

Lehman eager for new season LEHMAN TWP. — Forget that she’s one of the longesttenured coaches in the sport, that she’s won more than 500 games, that her list of accomplishments includes 1996 and 2002 state championships.

Jean Lipski was just as excited for Monday’s first mandatory practice as she was back in 1983, when she took over as Lake-Lehman’s head coach.

“I am so psyched,” Lipski said. “I sent them a reminder last night and I was like, ‘I’m so psyched to see you guys tomorrow. Go LakeLehman field hockey!’”

Before the morning practice was over, Lehman’s nine seniors — Madeline Newman (Bloomsburg commit), Amy Supey (East Stroudsburg), Grace Ciaccia, Sierra Spencer, Alana Antonello, Maclyn Vasey, Jaedyn Kolb, Mackenzie Lasinski and Emma Hoats — assembled for an interview.

W h e n a s ke d i f t h e y shared their coach’s enthusiasm for the dawn of a new season, they responded in unison, “Yes.” “I think we’re going to do really well,” Hoats said.

There’s plenty of reason for optimism.

Expected to be one of the fastest teams in the WVC, Lehman graduated only two starters from last year, when it went 12-7-1. Lehman was eliminated in the District 2 Class A semifinals with a 3-0 loss at Wyoming Area.

Lehman returns with a good balance of underclassmen who will contribute, as well as the nine-member senior class that’s played to gether since seventh grade.

Tsioles, Rusnock lead Spartans KINGSTON — Having been committed since sophomore year to play at Old Dominion, Rina Tsioles hasn’t had to worry much about her college plans.

Valley West teammate Sydney Rusnock, however, left her recruitment open until early this year.

“It’s definitely the thing everyone stresses about the most,” Rusnock said of committing to a college.

Arguably the WVC’s top senior goalkeeper, Rusnock gave her verbal commitment in January to Division I Northeastern, a member of the Colonial Athletic Association that last season went 8-11.

“It’s right in the heart of Boston and I just had a good feel after meeting the coaches and the players there,” Rusnock said. “It felt like it was a really good fit for me.”

Rory Evans (Mansfield) joins Tsioles and Rusnock as Valley West’s three seniors who solidified their college plans.

The defending District 2 Class 2A champion Spartans, who went 16-4-1, had five Citizens’ Voice all-stars last year.

Defender Natalie Zasada will be a freshman at Slippery Rock, forward Karaline Stelma at Lock Haven.

Replacing the graduates will be a challenge, but the damage is minimized thanks to field players like Tsioles, who’s made first-team allstate three straight years.

“I think we have a good balance throughout,” Tsioles said. “We have forwards, mids, we’re starting to get some defense together. I think throughout the field we have a good balance.”

Midfielder Melberger vital for WA EXETER — Center midfield is undoubtedly one of, if not the, most important positions in field hockey.

Wyoming Area’s got a very good one in senior Kari Melberger, a second-team all-state selection last year

who verbally committed in the offseason to Bucknell.

If Wyoming Area has any trouble repeating its eyeopening success of a year ago, it could hinge on the pieces around Melberger.

While the Warriors have about eight starting spots penciled in, two of the jobs without returning starters are at left and right midfield, positions that need to be on the same page as Melberger to correctly execute just about anything in a game.

“You need to talk with them,” Melberger said of the communication necessary between midfielders. “So, having those two positions gone, it’s going to be tough to fill. But I think we’ll be able to do it.”

Wyoming Area far surpassed last year’s expectations, going 18-3-2 and clinching the program’s first-ever appearances in a district title game and the state playoffs.

The Warriors played good defense, but really excelled around the opponent’s cage w i t h r e t u r n e r s To n i Minichello, Lauren Parente and Kayla Kiwak each easily surpassing double-digit goal totals.

“Last year we were a talented team, we did really well. But we didn’t have the depth in the bench,” said head coach Erin McGinley.

“This year we have more depth, which is a huge positive. There are some upperclassmen who are ready to fill into places and ready to step into different roles, just from having a year or two of experience.”

That depth will also come from Wyoming Area’s freshman class.

The Warriors are bringing up six freshmen to play with the varsity, according to Melberger, a higher-than-usual number of ninth-graders who can make an immediate impact.

State champ Sem: Reloaded KINGSTON — One could argue that Wyoming Seminary was the team hit hardest by graduation.

All-American Kelsey Reznick is at Duke. Aubrey Mytych, a multi-year allstate selection, is at Penn State. Kate Barilla is also playing, at Hobart and William Smith College.

It almost defies logic, but, the Blue Knights remain the WVC’s team to beat.

“As the Yankees say, ‘Next man up,’” said head coach Karen Klassner. “Our team last year, we had a number of people that could have started but didn’t; could have played but didn’t. A lot of kids have been waiting their turn. I think we’re going to be fine. We are going to be young ... but we’ve got some good young kids coming in from our lower school.”

Klassner mentioned freshmen Ella Barbacci and Emma Watchilla among the key newcomers, but Sem also has a superb group of upperclassmen.

Seniors Hannah Maxwell ( Wa k e F o r e s t ) , A l e x Wes n e sk i ( I ow a ), B a ri Lefkowitz (Northwestern) and Dani Reiser (University of Rochester) are all verbally committed to play in college.

Julia Christian added her verbal commitment in the offseason, choosing Temple among a crowded field of Philadelphia-area schools where the interest was mutual.

For Sem, the issue this season will not be talent, but perhaps more about leadership in the clutch moments when players like Reznick and Mytych always delivered.

“They’re on to bigger and better things, and we miss them so much,” Christian said. “It’s definitely going to be hard to replace them because they really played significant roles on this team.”

Contact the writer: mbufano@citizensvoice.com; 570-821-2060; @CVBufano on Twitter

Day 1 of fall sports

PHOTOS BY DAVE SCHERBENCO / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Holy Redeemer’s Liv Moore returns the ball during volleyball practice.

Pittston Area soccer player Josh Noone runs a drill.

Pittston Area’s Brynne McGoff takes part in soccer practice.

Valley West soccer players run through drills.

Wyoming Seminary’s Julia Christian waits for the start of a field hockey drill.

Valley West goalie prospect Tyler Marchlenski makes a save.

Valley West’s Scott Nilson, center, works out with teammates.

Pittston Area’s Kendall Tigue moves the ball during soccer practice.

Online Extra

For more photos, visit citizensvoice.com/sports.

Holy Redeemer’s Abby Lapinski gets set to serve.

POCONO: Rosenqvist a strong rookie contender FROM PAGE B1

“If I had the chance again, I probably would have stayed cool and try at the end of the lap. His tires were pretty worn out. Maybe it could have worked out. But it was close. I think not getting around the lapped cars quick enough was probably the bigger reason we didn’t get him.”

Still, the second-place finish gives Rosenqvist confidence coming to Pocono.

This will be his first time racing at the 2.5-mile triangular track in Long Pond.

Oval tracks have been a struggle this season for Rosenqvist. He placed 28th in the Indianapolis 500, was 12th at Texas and 14th at Iowa.

“I’m very much aware I’m not a pro at the ovals yet,” Rosenqvist said. “I think,

though, we’ve made really good progress. I tested at Gateway and I have to say I feel more and more confident every lap I turn on an oval. Still much more to learn, but I’m sure my first good result on an oval is just around the corner.”

To prepare for Pocono, Rosenqvist has utilized Honda’s racing simulator. He’s looked at data and video from past races there and leaned on the wisdom of his team.

Having Dixon as a teammate also helps. He is a fivetime IndyCar Series champion who has won 46 career races, including one at Pocono in 2013.

“He has a great way of seeing the strategy and how the race unfolds,” Rosenqvist said. “That’s something I never really thought about before. So, yeah, he’s

been great. Just observing him has been very helpful.”

Dario Franchitti has been just as helpful. The four-time IndyCar Series champion and three-time Indianapolis 500 winner is a driving coach for Ganassi Racing.

Rosenqvist said Franchitti has followed 95% of the laps he has done in IndyCar, including testing.

“He’s been a huge part of my development, especially on ovals,” Rosenqvist said. “It’s been really cool. He’s a good partner and a good friend. It’s awesome to have him there and you can tell he enjoys it.

It’s been really helpful.”

The results are showing on the track.

Mid-Ohio marked the third time in the last four races that Rosenqvist finished in the top six.

Overall, he has four topfive and eight top-10 finishes

in 13 races. He ranks ninth in the standings with 296 points and leads the Rookie of the Year race.

“The team has really given me all the tools to get up to speed. It’s been a perfect package all the way,” Rosenqvist said. “You honestly couldn’t have a better way of integrating to the series. I still feel I’ve had some tough moments being a rookie in this championship. But I really feel like it’s given fruit the second half of the season. Scott and Dario are big keys to that, for sure.”

Practice and qualifying for the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway are scheduled for Saturday. The race gets the green flag Sunday at 2:45 p.m.

Contact the writer: swalsh@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100, ext. 5109 @swalshTT on Twitter

WB_VOICE/PAGES [B01] | 09/19/19

22:45 | CONNORSSTE

tHE CItIzEns’ VOICE

Sports FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2019

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

WVC FIELD HOCKEY

PILLAR OF STRENGTH G

SEAn MCKEAG / STAff PHOTOGRAPHER

Comets’ Ellie Glowacki reacts after a point against MMI Prep.

Comets sweep MMI

Team support has helped lift Abie Sorokas after loss of her father

BY TOM FOX CORRESPOnDEnT

Robert Sorokas remembered as one of the Wolfpack’s No. 1 fans WILKES-BARRE — Robert Sorokas will be remembered for many different things.

His nickname: Coach Bob. His unofficial job title: Team photographer.

His attendance at his children’s sporting events: Perfect.

His legacy: All that and more.

A family man and sports fan who loved taking pictures of his family playing sports — the ultimate trifecta — Sorokas died Monday. He was 55.

“When I see the girls out there, I just think of all the ways that he helped them grow,” said friend Dave Washinski, whose daughter plays with Robert’s daughter, Abie, on the Wilkes-Barre Area field hockey team. “That’s what I always think about.”

Beyond simply showing up to field hockey games and practices, Robert went the extra mile and coached the sport.

He also coached his three children in baseball and softball, as well as soccer, according to Abie’s teammate, Ali Tedik, who recalls first playing for Coach Bob’s Plains Power soccer team at 6 years old.

“It’s been sad. There’s a lot of support here, though,” Tedik said. “When (Abie) comes here, we don’t think sad. We think positive and we think support. We feel love, we don’t feel sad.”

Please see SOROKAS, Page B3

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Time for Notre Dame to make new memories

T

he echoes have been slumbering at Notre Dame for more than two decades.

The Fighting Irish really need to make some new memories.

Well, here’s their chance.

Again.

No. 7 Notre Dame can prove it’s no longer living in the past with a victory Saturday night at third-ranked Georgia, a game that could have ramifications all the way to the College Football Playoff.

“Obviously when you have a top 10 match-up like we have, it’s just a great opportunity,” Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book said.

PAUL NEWBERRY Commentary

“You can tell from the energy of the team and the coaches, it’s great. It’s not really getting anxious about anything. It’s about being grateful we have this opportunity to go down there and play a great football team.”

Of course, the Fighting Irish have been through this before.

Please see NEWBERRY, Page B7

fRAnK C. LAURI / COnTRIBUTInG PHOTOGRAPHER

BY MATT BUFANO STAff WRITER

TOP: Wilkes-Barre Area’s Abie Sorokas plays during Thursday’s game against Wyoming Seminary. BOTTOM: The Sorokas family, from left, Laura Sorokas, Abie, Samantha Sorokas, Bobby Sorokas and Robert Sorokas. Robert died Monday at age 55.

WRIGHT TWP. — Last season, this is a game Crestwood would have lost.

The Comets committed nearly 22 attack errors and a dozen service miscues. But it’s a different mantra in the gymnasium. An attitude of finding a way to win no matter the situation.

Carly Bono took several big swings as the Comets rallied in the third set, and a one-over by setter Melanie Golden ended the match as Crestwood swept past MMI Prep, 3-0, in Wyoming Valley Conference girls volleyball play. Set scores were 25-17, 25-20 and 25-23.

The victory improves Crestwood to 4-2 and matches the team’s win total last season.

“Last year, we lost to them, and you can see that it was a 100% turnaround this year,” Crestwood head coach Mike Williams said. “It took us 17 games to get four wins last year. By playing these girls, they got that experience. And they are still learning how to win.”

Really, the difference is confidence and belief.

Gaining that experience in tough matches one season ago gave the Comets a taste of what could be for the future.

And with just one senior on the roster, it’s a preview of things to come.

“We kind of knew that last year was a preview of what this year would look like,” said Bono, who finished with seven service points. “We knew that we were gaining that experience, and we were excited to see what the newer girls could add to our team. It was tough losing last year because Crestwood has a strong tradition, but we looked forward to what the future held.”

That grit came through in the second set.

Please see VOLLEYBALL, Page B4

MLB

Yankees clinch AL East title

BY RONALD BLUM ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK — The resilient New York Yankees powered their way to the club’s first AL East title since 2012, routing the Los Angeles Angels 9-1 Thursday night behind three RBIs each from old mainstay Brett Gardner and newcomer DJ LeMahieu.

A day after wasting a chance to clinch first place, the homer-happy Yankees went ahead when LeMahieu hit a three-run drive in the MARY ALTAffER / ASSOCIATED PRESS second inning and breezed to Yankees’ DJ LeMahieu celebrates with Luke Voit their 100th win.

Gardner, among just two after hitting a three run home run on Thursday.

INSIDE: League places pitcher German on leave.

Page B5 holdovers from their last World Series championship team in 2009, added a solo shot in the fourth and then hit a two-run double in the sixth. Cameron Maybin and Clint Frazier homered for good measure in the eighth, a n d A ro l d i s C h ap m a n struck out Albert Pujols to end it as fans’ cellphones flashed to record to moment.

Please see YANKEES, Page B5

WB_VOICE/PAGES [B03] | 09/19/19

23:16 | CONNORSSTE

SPORTS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2019

THE CITIZENS' VOICE B3

Minichello powers Warriors to victory WVC FIELD HOCKEY

STAFF REPORT

After falling behind early, FIRST HALF: Emily Davidson (CRE) Wyo m i n g A r e a ’s To n i unassisted, 20:58; Emma Guydish (CRE) Minichello scored the equal- from Sarah Richards, 12:37; Richards izer and then the go-ahead (CRE) unassisted, 7:41; Richards (CRE) unassisted, 1:44. goal in the Warriors’ 3-1 win SECOND HALF: Richards (CRE) unasat Hazleton Area in WVC sisted, 15:52; Shaelyn Kobrynich (AH) unassisted, 7:20. field hockey Thursday.

SHOTS: AH 9, CRE 17. SAVES: Lauren Parente topped off MaKenna Thorpe (AH) 14, Isabella Capruscio (CRE) 8. CORNERS: AH 3, CRE 7. the Warriors’ scoring with the third goal. Kari Melberg- Holy Redeemer 2, Honesdale 0 er, Bianca Pizano and Kayla Kayla Serafin and Lauren Kiwak had assists.

Hazleton Area’s Haylee Kane scored the only goals of Petroski scored fewer than 3 the game as the Royals (5-4) minutes into the game for a won on the road.

1-0 lead.

Addy Bielski assisted SerFIRST HALF: Haylee Petroski (Haz) fain’s goal to help send from Jill Buchman, 27:42; Toni Minichel- Redeemer into halftime with lo (WA) from Kari Melberger, 2:45; Minichello (WA) from Bianca Pizano, the lead.

1:21. SECOND HALF: Lauren Parente Meredythe Baird recorded (WA) from Kayla Kiwak, 3:39. six saves, and Lizzie MenShots: WA 16, Haz 8. Corners: WA 10, Haz 5. Saves: WA (Ellie Glatz) 7, Haz drzycki also made two defen(Elaina Ashman) 12. sive saves as part of the Royals’ third consecutive shutCrestwood 5, out.

Abington Heights 1 Nicole Miszler stopped sevSarah Richards assisted a en shots for Honesdale (4-4).

Comets goal and then scored FIRST HALF: Kayla Serafin (HR) from three in a row herself, giving Addy Bielski, 15:56.

SECOND HALF: Lauren Kane (HR) Crestwood (3-6) plenty of unassisted, 2:02.

SHOTS: HR 12, HON 6. SAVES: Merecushion as it cruised to a win dythe Baird (HR) 6; Nicole Miszler (HON) at home.

7. CORNERS: HR 7, HON 10.

Emily Davidson got the Berwick 1, Nanticoke Area 0 Comets on the board, and Alexis Nevel scored on an Emma Guydish put away a feed from Richards to give assist from Abbie Nevel for the only goal the Bulldogs them a 2-0 lead at first.

Abington Heights (2-6) (3-4) needed to win Wednesavoided a shutout with Shae- day night at home. lyn Kobrynich late goal.

Jackie Nevel made 24 saves to preserve the shutout,

which was earned despite a 24-8 shot advantage for Nanticoke Area (3-3).

FIRST HALF: Alexis Nevel (BER) from Abbie Nevel, 26:34.

SHOTS: NA 24, BER 8. SAVES: Alexus Nichols (NA) 7; Jackie Nevel (BER) 24.

CORNERS: NA 17, BER 5.

Delaware Valley 3, Pittston Area 2 Tori Para and Morgan Hilbert each scored for the visiting Patriots, who were edged out by a goal.

Gabbi Courtright led Delaware Valley, scoring a goal and recording an assist. Kristen Henry and Sk yler Padgett also scored.

FIRST HALF: Tori Para (PA) from Kaitlyn Bucci. SECOND HALF: Gabbi Courtright (DV) unassisted; Kristen Henry (DV) from Courtright; Skyler Padgett (DV) unassisted; Morgan Hilbert (PA) unassisted.

Shots: DV 15, PA 13. Corners: DV 5, PA 4. Saves: DV 10, PA (Ava Serino) 9.

Dallas 1, Wallenpaupack 0 The Mountaineers went on the road and snapped their four-game losing streak with Shannon Barrett scoring a goal assisted by Hanna Oldt in the second half.

Dallas goalkeeper Olivia Podskoch had a two-save shutout.

SECOND HALF: Shannon Barrett (Dal) from Hanna Oldt.

Shots: Dal 3, Wal 5. Corners: Dal 5, Wal 10. Saves: Dal (Olivia Podskoch) 3, Wal 2.

Royals sweeps Patriots STAFF REPORT

Tia Amerise, Cassie Benderavich and Sonal Gard all won their singles matches to help Holy Redeemer sweep Pittston Area on Thursday and finish the regular season with an 11-1 record.

Carissa Benderavich and Jordan Stochla partnered to win at No. 1 doubles, while Sarah Stettler and Vanessa Pinto won at No. 2 for the Royals.

SINGLES: 1. Tia Amerise (HR) def.

Sarah Armitage (PA) 3-0, default; 2.

Cassie Benderavich (HR) def. Krishna Patel (PA) 6-1, 6-0; 3. Sonal Garg (HR) def. Isabelle Lewis (PA) 6-1, 6-1.

DOUBLES: 1. Carissa Benderavich/ Jordan Stochla (HR) def. Dana Zuba/ Rachel Senese (PA) 3-0, default; 2. Sarah Stettler/Vanessa Pinto (HR) def. Hannah Farber/Kylie Herbert (PA) 6-2, 6-2.

Tunkhannock 4, Crestwood 1 Jillian Landon, Meghan Keiser and Ashley Kenia

WVC TENNIS swept singles play for the Tigers (9-4), who have won six of their last seven matchups.

Emily Martin and Ava Kidd also gave Tunkhannock a victory at No. 2 doubles.

Crestwood (4-7) won at No. 1 doubles with Megan McLaughlin and Shannon Grif fiths, who dropped their first set and rallied.

SINGLES: 1. Jillian Landon (TUN) def.

Gabby Gardner, 6-1, 6-2. 2. Meghan Keiser (TUN) def. Hannah Sobolewski 6-2, 7-5. 3. Ashley Kenia (TUN) def.

Breena Kravchick 6-0, 6-0.

DOUBLES: 1. Megan McLaughlin/ Shannon Griffiths (CRE) def. Jenna Laughinghouse/Alexis Brown 2-6, 6-2, 7-5. 2. Emily Martin/Ava Kidd (TUN) def.

Olivia Richards/Natalie Klimek 6-2, 6-4.

Berwick 3, Hazleton Area 2 Berwick swept doubles

play with Sydney Lloyd and Isa Segura at the No. 1 spot and Gabby Segura and Piper Mensinger at No. 2, and Gianna Miller’s win at No. 3 singles put the Bulldogs (6-6) over the top in a home victory.

Each Berwick win included one 6-0 set as the team snapped a three-game losing streak.

Hazleton Area’s (3-12) Alyssa Mazurek and Maddie Ter raccino ear ned wins at Nos. 1 and 2 singles, respectively.

SINGLES: 1. Alyssa Mazurek (HAZ) def. Genevieve Johnson 6-1, 6-0. 2.

Maddie Terraccino (HAZ) def. Ellie Kozak 6-3, 6-4. 3. Gianna Miller def. Sydney Shoemaker 6-0, 6-4.

DOUBLES: 1. Sydney Lloyd/Isa Segura (BER) def. Alondra Segura/ Jasmine VanCamp 6-0, 6-3. 2. Gabby Segura/Piper Mensinger (BER) def.

Anjolina Hsiao/Kysbell Gonzalez 6-1, 6-0.

Paczewski, Ostroski lift Dallas past Hazleton Area STAFF REPORT

Logan Paczewski and Brett Ostroski’s low scores of 37 made a big difference for Dallas, which got by Hazleton Area, 161-168, in Wyoming Valley Conference golf Thursday at Valley Country Club.

Jo e y Re b a rch i ck l e d Hazleton Area with a 40 on the par-35 course. Collin Kulsa shot a 42.

DALLAS: Logan Paczewski 37, Brett Ostroski 37, Cooper Kelley 43, Matt Dolan 44.

HAZLETON AREA: Joey Rebarchick 40, Collin Kulsa 42, Jonathan Joseph 43, Brian Bartal 43

Lake-Lehman 171, Hanover Area 199

WVC GOLF Hayden Brunn finished at even par with a 35 as part of a strong effort by the Hawkeyes at Wyoming Valley Country Club. Gavin Brunn and Auggie George finished at 40 to keep the Bulldogs in the distance.

Wes Arndt’s 47 led Berwick.

Bobby Lugiano’s 2-over 38 earned medalist honors and led the Black Knights past the Hawkeyes on Wednesday at Huntsville Golf Club.

Bryce Burgit and Mike Sholtis also shot a 40 and 42, respectively, in the Black Knights’ victory.

Kyleen McCance led the Hawkeyes with a 41. Matt Barber shot a 50.

HANOVER AREA: Hayden Brunn 35, Gavin Brunn 40, Auggie George 40, Kyleen McCance 43.

BERWICK: Wes Arndt 47, Claudia Geiser 49, Blaze Croop 50, Sam Kaleta 51.

HANOVER AREA: Kyleen McCance 41, Matt Barber 50, Mollie Corbett 53, Hayden Brunn 55.

LAKE-LEHMAN: Bobby Lugiano 38, Bryce Burgit 40, Mike Sholtis 42, Ethan Leone 51.

Hanover Area 158, Berwick 197

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That support system has helped Abie Sorokas play some of her all-time best field hockey in the days since losing her father.

Abie scored hat tricks in back-to-back games Monday and Tuesday in wins against Abington Heights and Pittston Area, bringing her to 10 goals in the first five games of the season.

Wolfpack players wore red ribbons in their hair Thursday as a sign of support for the heart troubles that Robert had.

“I love having so much support from everyone,” Abie said. “Honestly, it kind of helps me get it off my mind a little bit. It’s hard during games and practices; sometimes, I just get overwhelmed.”

The overwhelming rush of emotions hit Abie at the end of Thursday’s 3-2 loss ag ainst Wyoming Seminary, when she added to her scoring total with her 11th goal.

“She was very upset at the end, but there is nothing to hold her head about,” said Wolfpack head coach Colleen Wood.

“Her dad would be so proud of her.”

Wo o d a l s o c o a c h e d Abie’s older sister, Samantha, but didn’t coach Abie until her sophomore year.

Abie played soccer her freshman year at Coughlin and then dropped it for field hockey — not an easy decision, but a good one, considering Abie has turned into an elite scorer

who’s verbally committed to play next season at East Stroudsburg.

“He wanted me to play what I wanted,” Abie said.

“I knew he loved (field hockey) and I just wanted to play for him.”

One scroll through the Wolfpack Field Hockey Team group on Facebook reveals the level of Robert’s fandom.

He posted every tweet, every article, every mention of the Wolfpack in the news, as well as the hundreds of photographs he took at every game.

“He was proud — not just of his kids, but all of them,” said Jocelyn Chocallo, who has two daughters playing field hockey for Wilkes-Barre Area.

“You could tell by the fact he took at least 150 pictures at every game and it was never just his daughter. All of them became part of his family, his extended family.”

Robert would have had many more highlights to photograph during Thursday’s game at Guthrie Field, where Jolene Ulichney and Abie scored goals in the first 14 minutes that gave the Wolfpack a 2-0 lead on the reigning Class A state champion Blue Knights.

But Sem countered with goals by Hannah Maxwell and Emma Watchilla, sending the game into halftime in a 2-2 tie.

Even though Sem won the game with Alex Wesneski’s score with 10:24 to play, the Wolfpack had a positive attitude afterward.

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FRANK C. LAURI / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Wilkes-Barre Area’s Abie Sorokas (11) battles Wyoming Seminary’s Ella Barbacci (22) in Thursday’s game. Sorokas’ father, a big supporter of the Wolfpack, died Monday.

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“We’re as strong as our weakest player, and our weakest player is strong,” said Tedik, a defensive midfielder. “So we just really went in there and wanted to give them a run for their money.”

While Sem improved to 7-0 (6-0 WVC), it was the Wolfpack’s first loss.

The Wolfpack’s schedule remains challenging with upcoming games against Valley West, Holy Redeemer and Lake-Lehman, as well as a long drive to Wallenpaupack, the type of game that Robert Sorokas would never miss. “ H e l i t e r a l l y n eve r missed a game,” Chocallo said. “There’s a few of us who are die-hards and go to Del Val and all the games, and he was absolutely one of them.”

Having made a good impression on seemingly everyone who knew him, memories of Robert are sure to carry on.

It helps, too, that he photographed a lifetime’s worth of memories for all to cherish.

“Every single day, I look through pictures,” Abie said. “It’s hard not seeing him on the sideline taking them, but I know he’s still up there watching.”

FIRST HALF: Jolene Ulichney (WBA) from Abie Sorokas, 24:20; Sorokas (WBA) from Ali Tedik, 17:28; Hannah Maxwell (Sem) from Emma Watchilla, 10:54; Watchilla (Sem) from Bari Lefkowitz, 0:50. SECOND HALF: Alex Wesneski (Sem) from Anna Mozeleski, 10:24.

Shots: Sem 10, WBA 12. Corners: Sem 4, WBA 11. Saves: Sem (Mia Magnotta) 7, WBA (Briannah Lee) 7.

Contact the writer: mbufano@citizensvoice.com; 570-821-2060; @CVBufano on Twitter

WB_VOICE/PAGES [B01] | 10/24/19

23:20 | MALUSOANTH

tHE CItIzEns’ VOICE

Sports FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2019

DISTRICT 2 VOLLEYBALL

PSU FOOTBALL

DISTRICT 2 FIELD HOCKEY

A new world

FRANK C. LAURI / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Nanticoke Area’s Rielly Miller digs the ball during Thursday’s Subregional quarterfinal against Dallas on Thursday.

GENE J. PUSKAR / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Penn State wide receiver KJ Hamler scores during the second half of the team’s game against Michigan on Saturday.

Nanticoke Area rolls past Dallas

Lions control their destiny

BY TOM FOX CORRESPONDENT

NANTICOKE — Myla Vnuk played a big role as a freshman in Nanticoke Area’s district championship one year ago.

Vnuk, now a sophomore. showed on Thursday that big-game experience pays off.

Vnuk had 16 kills and two aces, while senior libero Mandy Biehl led two key runs as the second-seeded Trojans eliminated Dallas, 3-0, in the Districts 2-4 Class 3A quarterfinals. Set scores were 25-19, 25-18 and 25-21.

Nanticoke Area advances into Monday’s semifinals to face off with Lackawanna League champ Wester n Wayne, which eliminated Crestwood, 3-0.

“We knew that we had to have a lot of energy coming into this match,” Vnuk said.

“I am just so grateful to be a member of great teams, both this year and last year. Experiencing the district playoffs and the district championship last year gave me a lot of knowledge. Energy and a positive attitude is really what wins games.”

Dallas did its best to push the defending champs.

After dropping the first set, the Mountaineers trailed by one, 10-9, early in the second set and took a five-point lead (17-12) late in the third.

Each time, it was Vnuk and Biehl that had the response.

Nanticoke Area ripped off seven straight points on the libero’s serve in the second set to grab a 17-9 lead. And when the Trojanettes needed someone to step up in the third, it was a 10-1 run that stretched through the serves of Vnuk and Biehl that rallied Nanticoke Area to a 21-18 lead.

“We knew that it was going to be a big game,” Biehl said. “I just wanted to get the ball over the net and put it in play. The aces really got me on a roll, and my teammates did a great job of keeping me calm all the time.”

BY DONNIE COLLINS STAFF WRITER

SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Valley West’s Ariane Rupnik eyes up the ball during Thursday’s District 2 Class 2A semifinal field hockey game against Dallas.

Exchange student Rupnik leads Valley West past Dallas, into district finals

BY MATT BUFANO STAFF WRITER

KINGSTON — It’s a whole new world for Ariane Rupnik.

The 16-year-old at Valley West is not only playing field hockey for a new team, at an unfamiliar position, on a different playing surface.

Rupnik is literally in a foreign country.

Having arrived in August as a foreign exchange student from Hamburg, Germany, Rupnik played one of her best games yet Thursday in top-seeded Valley West’s 4-0 win against No. 4 Dallas in the District 2 Class 2A semifinals.

Rupnik had a hand in every Spartans goal. After scoring two goals in the first half, Rupnik had two assists in the second half.

“In her other country, she is a defender and she’s amazing,” Valley West head coach Linda Fithian said

District Roundup For a full roundup from all of Thursday’s district playoff action in field hockey, boys soccer and volleyball, see Page B6 of Rupnik. “The first day we saw her play, her vision — her passing vision — is incredible. We asked her, though, if she wouldn’t mind playing up for us this year. She, at first, was a little hesitant. But the other day, she’s like, ‘I’m a forward now!’

She’s been a real blessing to us.”

Valley West’s (12-3-1) incredible defense — led by goalkeeper Sydney Rusnock and backs Brooke Pileggi, Olivia Gayoski and Chloe Pisack — has now shut out six opponents in a row.

Having that unit already in place allowed the Spartans to experiment with Rupnik’s positions.

Please see NANTICOKE, Page B4

“The first practices, they asked me if I want to play forward or defense. I said defense,” Rupnik recalled. “And then they tried to convince me to be a forward. I don’t know; I think practice helps. Just practice and be crazy in the circle.”

Rupnik capitalized inside the circle with her two goals. She was even outstanding when she failed to score.

Leading 2-0 with about 8 minutes left, Rupnik ran downfield on a breakaway for more than 50 yards.

She dribbled to the 6-yard line before taking a hard shot, which was blocked by the goalkeeper, denying Rupnik of a hat trick.

Luckily, the ball bounced back to Rupnik and she quickly gathered it before passing to an open Paige Williams, who knocked in the goal from the left post.

Please see SPARTANS, Page B6

Penn State isn’t where the majority of the experts thought it would be heading into the final weekend of October.

The Nittany Lions are, instead, where they hoped they’d be. Where they wanted to be. Where 120 other teams that compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision would choose to be, if they could.

Unbeaten. Ranked in the top 10. A contender for a conference championship. And at least on paper, firmly in the College Football Playoff mix.

There’s work to do before that becomes a major talking point, though, including an always-difficult road matchup with a Michigan State program Saturday that has been a thorn in the Lions’ paws over the last nine years. But Sparty is slumping, and Penn State is about a touchdown favorite on a roll when it comes to overcoming past bugaboos.

It all adds up to this fact: Penn State is a team with a shot. It may even control its own CFP destiny.

But, this is also a team with some questions. Here’s what it will have to do to stay on its pace.  Keep the quarterback healthy Sean Clifford hasn’t been particularly consistent, but he has shown flashes of brilliance.

He also takes some hits, particularly in the running game.

Not viewed entering the season as a particularly fleet-afoot quarterback, the sophomore piled up 70 carries in his first 10 games, and he has doubledigit carries in each of his last three games, including a 16-carry effort against a tough Iowa defense.

Please see PSU, Page B5

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

Phillies hire Girardi

Joe Girardi managed the Yankees for 10 seasons, winning one World Series, against the Phillies in 2009.

BY ROB MAADDI ASSOCIATED PRESS

PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies got their man.

Philadelphia hired former Yankees manager Joe Girardi to replace Gabe Kapler on Thursday. Girardi will be introduced at a news conference Monday.

“I’m excited for this next chapter of my career,” Girardi said in a statement.

“The Phillies have a strong commitment to winning from the owners to the front office to the players to the fans. It’s something that I’ve seen up close for the last 30 years of my baseball career. I played against the great Phillies players of the e a rl y ‘ 9 0s from Dutch Daulton to John Kruk to Dave Hollins, and I managed against their teams during the incredible run they had

from 2008 to 2011. To have my name now associated with this great franchise is something that I couldn’t be happier about.”

It was a busy day around the league for managerial hirings. The Chicago Cubs tabbed former catcher David Ross to replace Joe Maddon, and the San Diego Padres turned to rookie manager Jayce Tingler. The Los Angeles Angels introduced Joe Maddon.

Please see GIRARDI, Page B3

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE

The Phillies have hired former Yankees manager Joe Girardi as their new manager.

Girardi will officially be introduced on Monday.

WB_VOICE/PAGES [B06] | 10/24/19

SPORTS

B6 THE CITIZENS' VOICE

THE CITIZENS’ VOICE WVC FANTASY FOOTBALL LEAGUE We will have a new champion this year, as Eric Shultz was defeated in the semifinals by a Steve Bennett team led by Jack Chilson and Darren Rodney.

Chilson, the Tunkhannock quarterback, scored Bennett 29 points and Rodney, Wyoming Area’s running back, backed him with 20.

But for Bennett to claim the championship belt, he’ll have to do what no one else has been able to this season: Beat Matt Bufano.

Bufano’s 1-2 punch of Lenny Kelley and Ethan Adams again proved too much. Even though Crestwood running back Ryan Miller scored 31 points for Tony Maluso, it wasn’t enough.

Lake-Lehman quarterback Adams had the week-high with 32 points. Kelley tied for third this week with 29.

WEEK 9’s TOP PERFORMERS 1. ethan adams, LakeLehman QB (Bufano), 32 2. Ryan Miller, Crestwood RB (Maluso), 31 t-3. Jack Chilson, tunkhannock QB (Bennett), 29 t-3. Lenny Kelley, Dallas RB (Bufano), 29 5. Jake frisco, tunkhannock WR (Shultz), 28 STANDINGS Bufano 9-0 (1,044 pf) Bennett 3-5-1 (831 pf) ---Shultz 3-5-1 (904 pf) Maluso 2-7 (705 pf) WEEK 10 (FINAL ROUND) Championship No. 3 Bennett vs. No. 1 Bufano Consolation Game No. 4 Maluso vs. No. 2 Shultz WEEK 9 SCORES (SEMIFINALS) No. 1 Bufano 110, No. 4 Maluso 75 Bufano QB: ethan adams (L-L), 32 RB: Lenny Kelley (DaL), 29 RB. George May (NoR), 7 WR: Luke DelGaudio (DaL), 17 WR: Brian Williams (Wa), 14 fLeX: Brandon Niemenski (CRe), 0 D/St: Lake-Lehman, 9 K: Ryan fisher (DaL), 2 Maluso QB: Michael Starbuck (DaL), 9 RB: Corey Brown (WBa), 8 RB: aiden Mason (BeR), 0 WR: Casey Kaminski (L-L), 10 WR: Nah-Syr Garner (VW), 0 fLeX: Ryan Miller (CRe), 31 D/St: Dallas, 13 K: Luke Russo (HaZ), 4 No. 3 Bennett 104, No. 2 Shultz 98 Bennett QB: Jack Chilson (tUN), 29 RB: Darren Rodney (Wa), 20 RB: Keith freeman (WIL), 0 WR: teagan Wilk (BeR), 6 WR: Rafael McCoy (WBa), 18 fLeX: Ryan eiden (L-L), 9 D/St: Wyoming area, 13 K: Jaxson Montross (tUN), 9 Shultz QB: Dominic DeLuca (Wa), 11 RB: Zack Kojadinovich (L-L), 15 RB: Gavin D’amato (tUN), 18 WR: andrew Krawczyk (pa), 10 WR: Luke Spencer (L-L), 0 fLeX: Jake frisco (tUN), 28 D/St: Berwick, 16 K: Brendan Hinkle (BeR), 0

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23:20 | MALUSOANTH

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2019

Wolfpack outkick Millionaires Staff RepoRtS

DISTRICT PLAYOFF ROUNDUP

Postseason debuts can’t get much more thrilling than the first district playoff game in Wilkes-Barre Area boys soccer history.

The Wolfpack went ahead early on an own goal, fell behind in the second half and forced overtime with Tanner Nilon’s goal in the final five minutes of regulation.

Nothing was decided after two extra periods, so Thursday night’s game at No. 2 Williamsport went to penalty kicks. That’s where Joel Vazquez, Logan Davison, David Sikora and Chad Re gan converted their attempts to lift No. 3 WilkesBarre Area to a 3-2 (4-3 PKs) victory in the District 2/4 Class 4A subregional semifinals.

Wilkes-Barre Area will try to pull off a bigger upset in Wednesday’s championship game, when it plays No. 1 Delaware Valley for the title and a spot in the PIAA tournament. The Warriors shut out No. 4 Scranton on Wednesday night, 4-0.

Hazleton Area’s first goal, which produced a 1-1 halftime tie. Emily Ledger and Gabby Cavenas scored the go-ahead and insurance goals in the second half.

Hazleton Area’s Elaina Ashman made five saves.

Kiersten Johannes scored for Honesdale.

Hazleton Area will play top-seeded Wilkes-Barre Area 8 p.m. Monday at Wyoming Seminary for the district title. Only the winner advances to the PIAA state tournament.

FIRST HALF: Kiersten Johannes (Hon) from Mandy Gunuskey, 27:43; Jill Buchman (Haz) unassisted, 13:06. SECOND HALF: Emily Ledger (Haz) from Buchman, 25:25; Gabby Cavenas (Haz) unassisted, 23:47.

Shots: Haz 14, Hon 6. Corners: Haz 4, Hon 6. Saves: Haz (Elaina Ashman) 5, Hon (Nicole Miszler) 10.

FIRST HALF: Williamsport own goal, 12:16; Jimmy Pombor (WIL) from Isaac Niemczyk, 17:18.

SECOND HALF: Pombor (WIL) from Owen Kaar, 46:43; Tanner Nilon (WBA) from David Sikora, 75:24.

PENALTY KICK GOALS: WBA — Joel Vazquez, Logan Davison, Sikora, Chad Regan. WIL — Niemczyk, Caleb Hill, Hemberth Pena-Vazquez.

SHOTS: WBA 22, WIL 12. SAVES: WBA 10 (Vazquez), WIL 20 (Elliott Wannop). CORNERS: WBA 6, WIL 5.

Crestwood 2, Abington Heights 1 The two-time defending Class 3A champions survived a rare eight-seed upset scare by Abington Heights, which had previously tied Crestwood in early September.

Sean Wilkerson’s goal just six minutes into the night put Abington Heights in the lead. But top-seeded Crestwood had a quick response, getting goals by Nick Ruggeri and Justin Sterling in the next eight minutes and locking down on defense the rest of the way.

Crestwood will play No. 4 Dallas in Monday’s semifinals. It’s a rematch of the last three seasons’ district championship games.

FIRST HALF: Sean Wilkerson (AH) from Russell Booth, 6th minute; Nick Ruggeri (CRE) from Payton Glynn, 10th minute; Justin Sterling (CRE) from Ben Rossi, 14th minute.

BoB GaetaNo / CoNtRIBUtING pHotoGRapHeR

Hazleton Area goalkeeper Elaina Ashman, left, and teammate Riley Hudock celebrate at midfield after beating Honesdale in Thursday’s district playoff semifinal.

Field Hockey

ton Area at 8 p.m. Monday at Jolene Ulichney and Can- Wyoming Seminary. dladia Washinski assisted FIRST HALF: Jolene Ulichney (WBA) each other’s goals as No. 1 from Candladia Washinski, 27:37; Abie Sorokas (WBA) from Raven Bozek, Wilkes-Barre Area won its 15:14.

SECOND HALF: Washinski (WBA) District 2 Class 3A field from Ulichney, 14:38; Julianna Crandle hockey semifinal, 3-1, over (AH) from Claudia Kozar, 10:41.

SHOTS: AH 2, WBA 18. SAVES: AH No. 4 Abington Heights.

(McKenna Thorpe), WBA 4 (BrianAbie Sorokas also scored 10 nah Lee). CORNERS: AH 6, WBA 11. for the Wolfpack in their first district playoff game as Hazleton Area 3, Honesdale 1 a merged program. BrianAfter allowing the first nah Lee made four saves. goal and falling into an early Julianna Crandle’s goal in deficit, No. 2 Hazleton Area the second half put the Com- roared back with three ets on the board. unanswered goals in the Wilkes-Barre Area will Cougars’ win against No. 3 play for a district champion- Honesdale in the District 2 ship and PIAA tournament Class 3A semifinals. qualification against HazleJill Buchman scored

Crestwood 5, Wallenpaupack 0 Tori Harper scored a goal in each half, leading Crestwood through the semifinals and into the District 2 Class 2A championship game.

Emma George, Sarah Richards and Aubrey Colo added one goal each for the Comets, who received a stellar performance from goalkeeper Isabella Caporuscio.

She made seven saves for a shutout.

No. 2 Crestwood will play No. 1 Valley West 6 p.m.

Monday at Wyoming Seminary. The winner advances to the PIAA state tournament.

FIRST HALF: Emma George (Cre) unassisted, 28:06; Tori Harper (Cre) from Sarah Richards, 18:08. SECOND HALF: Richards (Cre) from Emily Davidson, 28:05; Harper (Cre) from Taylor Yeager, 21:06; Aubrey Colo (Cre) from Mallory Moratori, 12:04.

Shots: Cre 16, Wal 10. Corners: Cre 5, Wal 8. Saves: Cre (Isabella Caporuscio) 7, Wal (Zoey Hall 1, Madison Kier 6) 7.

Wyoming Seminary 7, Lackawanna Trail 1 Top-seeded Wyoming Seminary is headed back to the District 2 Class A championship game, where it will defend its championship against No. 2 Wyoming Area.

The Blue Knights first had to take care of business with their semifinal win against No. 5 Lackawanna Trail.

Iowa commit Alex Wesneski scored two goals, including the 100th of her

career, joining Wake Forest commit Hannah Maxwell who scored No. 100 earlier this season.

Ella Barbacci netted a hat trick for Sem, while Emma Watchilla and Anna Mozeleski added one goal each.

Paige Hyde broke the shutout with a goal for Trail.

The Sem-WA championship will be 6 p.m. Tuesday at Valley West.

FIRST HALF: Alex Wesneski (Sem) from Hannah Maxwell, 11:10; Emma Watchilla (Sem) from Bari Lefkowitz, 12:26; Ella Barbacci (Sem) unassisted, 12:50; Wesneski (Sem) from Barbacci, 22:00; Anna Mozeleski (Sem) unassisted, 24:00; Barbacci (Sem) from Wesneski, 27:56. SECOND HALF: Barbacci (Sem) from Wesneski, 10:48; Paige Hyde (LT) from Jordan Spencer, 18:22.

Shots: Sem 28, LT 7. Corners: Sem 10, LT 0. Saves: Sem (Mia Magnotta 0, Megan Cotrone 5) 5, LT (Lilly Rejrat) 13.

Volleyball Top-seeded Berwick survived a scare from No. 8 Tunkhannock, rallying from dropping the first two sets to win 3-2 in their District 2/4 Class 3A girls volleyball quarterfinal Thursday at Berwick.

Alexis Hunsinger led the Bulldogs with 13 kills and 23 digs. Cecilia Isenberg was right behind her with 12 kills. Morgan Nevel tossed up 48 assists to go with 17 digs and three aces.

Also, Glorimar Guzman had 16 digs.

Berwick will host Monday’s semifinal doubleheader. The Bulldogs play No. 4 Pittston Area. The night’s other match is No. 2 Nanticoke Area vs. No. 3 Western Wayne.

TUNKHANNOCK 25 27 21 24 9 — 2 BERWICK 19 25 25 26 15 — 3

Pittston Area 3, Shamokin 0 Michalie Mazurkivich had 11 service points, 10 blocks and four kills, helping pave the way for No. 4 Pittston Area in a sweep of No. 5 Shamokin Emilee Shaw contributed with six kills and seven digs.

Tiara George added 14 assists and 10 service points for the Patriots, who won the second set 25-23 and took the other two by double digits.

The Patriots play top-seeded Berwick on Monday.

SHAMOKIN PITTSTON AREA

13 23 15 — 0 25 25 25 — 3

SPARTANS: Rupnik enjoys many aspects of America fRoM paGe B1

“It was frustrating at first because I sprinted the whole way from the halfline to the goal,” Rupnik said. “Sometimes, I have the problem that I get nervous in front of the goalkeeper if it’s 1-on-1. So at first I passed the ball to the goalie. Then I saw Paige in the (corner) of my eyes. I just passed it and it was a nice feeling that it became a goal.”

Some of the reasons why Rupnik came to America, she said, include wanting to improve her handle of the English language, as well as experiencing everything that goes along with school pride.

In Germany, she said, athletes play for club teams rather than high schools.

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When asked what she’ll tell her family and friends about Thursday’s game, Rupnik said, “That it was an exciting game and it was pressure, but it’s also nice to play with pressure on your back.”

The pressure will be turned up even more 6 p.m.

Monday at Wyoming Seminary, where the three-timedefending champion Spartans will play No. 2 Crestwood for the district title with only the winner advancing to the PIAA state playoffs.

Rupnik, who’s played field hockey for eight years (albeit mostly on AstroTurf), will likely make her friends back home envious when she tells them about that experience, too.

“I also told them about homecoming and senior

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night,” Rupnik said. “They were like, ‘Oh my God, that’s so cool. I want to go to America!’”

Rupnik described the Wyoming Valley as being “completely dif ferent” from Hamburg, a city with 1.8 million residents.

“I like the forests here.

The trees, the fall, how the trees turn orange,” Rupnik said. “We learn English in fifth or fourth grade in Germany. So I already knew how to speak English. But in the last couple of months, I improved my English.”

The classes Rupnik takes include chemistry, biology, classic literature, gym, American law and French.

She is living with teammate Rory Evans, who, along with everyone else at Valley West, has helped Rupnik’s American experience live up to her expectations.

“In Europe, if you go to America, it’s so cool,” said Rupnik, whose parents are father Mojmir and mother Sonja.

Jillian Bonczewski and Cameryn Forgash assisted Rupnik’s goals Thursday.

Rupnik now has 18 goals and 18 assists.

Coach Fithian touted Rusnock’s perfor mance —

SeaN MCKeaG/ Staff pHotoGRapHeR

Dallas’ Erin Oldt, left, and Valley West’s Rina Tsioles battle for control during Thursday’s game at Spartan Stadium in Kingston. which included a blocked penalty stroke — as well as the rest of the defense in recording another shutout.

“Everyone’s playing real-

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ly nice defense; not only our defenders themselves, but our middies and our forwards also get back and help out,” Fithian said. “It’s a total team effort in that respect and we’re really proud of that.”

FIRST HALF: Ariane Rupnik (VW) from Jillian Bonczewski, 13:41; Rupnik (VW) from Cameryn Forgash, 9:34. SECOND HALF: Paige Williams (VW) from Rupnik, 8:01; Williams (VW) from Rupnik, 7:06.

Shots: VW 12, Dal 3. Corners: VW 11, Dal 1. Saves: VW (Sydney Rusnock) 2, Dal (Amanda Puza) 7.

Contact the writer: mbufano@citizensvoice.com; 570-821-2060; @CVBufano on twitter

WB_VOICE/PAGES [B01] | 11/02/19

22:01 | CONNORSSTE

tHE CItIzEns’ VOICE

Sports SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2019

FIELD HOCKEY

Warriors’ Parente one of the best despite constant pain The Wyoming Area senior has bilateral hip dysplasia, scoliosis and IT band syndrome.

BY MATT BUFANO STAFF WRITER

Lauren Parente could play the “What if ?” game just as easily as she could feel sorry for herself.

But she tries not doing much of either.

Parente was born with bilateral hip dysplasia, a painful and sometimes debilitating disease that’s caused her hips to dislocate out of their sockets.

The Wyoming Area field hockey senior also has scolio-

sis in her spine, as well as IT band syndrome, which causes throbbing pain when a long connective tissue between her hip and shin bones tightens and rubs against her thighs.

When her mind wanders, though, Parente doesn’t think about what life would be like if she didn’t have any of these challenges.

Parente said she thinks about everything she would have missed if she allowed the hurdles to stop her.

TOP TIER

“I’m definitely really h a p p y, ” P a r e n t e s a i d , “because I would have never guessed it would end this way.”

It is a sweet ending for the 100-goal-scorer who’s played for Wyoming Area’s most successful field hockey teams to date.

However, the key word there is “ending.”

While most field hockey standouts of Parente’s caliber continue playing in college — on scholarship, in many instances — Parente is calling it a career after high school.

It’s amazing she even made it this far.

“What was once my dream, it became a huge mental hurdle,” Parente said of playing in college. “I doubted myself. I just didn’t think I’d be able to play in college or in club, so my skills wouldn’t be up to par with everyone else.”

Given everything she’s faced, Parente’s self-doubt is not without merit.

Parente began playing field hockey at a “kiddie camp” in second grade and loved it right from the start.

Please see PARENTE, Page B3

DAVE SCHERBENCO / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Wyoming Area’s Lauren Parente, right, was one of the top players in the WVC this season.

PIAA CROSS COUNTRY

DeMarzo, Paczewski lead WVC runners with top-25 finishes

BY ERIC SHULTZ STAFF WRITER

HERSHEY — There was no slowing down for Abby Paczewski this weekend.

The Lake-Lehman senior was on the soccer field Friday evening, playing a key role in her team’s six-goal victory for the District 2 title. After receiving her medal, she went home to eat, relax a little and head to bed with a big morning ahead.

It’s safe to say Paczewski wasn’t the most rested runner Saturday, but that didn’t stop her from getting out in front to start her next competition, the PIAA Cross Country Championships.

Crestwood’s Molly DeMarzo had the same idea and made sure she didn’t get lost in the crowd when their Class 2A girls race began.

Those fast starts carried both runners to top-25 finishes and the PIAA medal stand.

Paczewski closed her career in 19th place for her second postseason medal in a 24-hour span. DeMarzo, meanwhile, finished 10th as she collected another PIAA medal and posted the Wyoming Valley Conference’s top finish in Hershey for the second year in a row.

Please see GIRLS, Page B4

CHRISTOPHER DOLAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Crestwood’s Molly DeMarzo approaches the finish line for 10th place in the Class 2A race on Saturday.

Royals’ Hine pushes to make medal stand

BY ERIC SHULTZ STAFF WRITER

CHRISTOPHER DOLAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Holy Redeemer’s Chris Hine runs in the Class 2A race during the PIAA Cross Country Championships.

HERSHEY — Though other runners crossed the timing mats and stumbled to the ground around him, Chris Hine wasn’t feeling much better.

Hine threw everything he could behind his race at Saturday’s PIAA Cross Country Championships. It showed by the time it was all over and he staggered out of the finishers’ area.

“I was not with it when I finished,” he said. “When I crossed that finish line, I just saw everything brighten up. I

thought I was going to pass out, which I almost did.

“But I have to say, this had to be the best race I ever ran.”

The Holy Redeemer junior made sure all that physical and mental exhaustion was worth it. Determined to pass everyone he needed to, Hine earned a state medal with his 16:50.3 run, good for 23rd among all Class 2A boys.

Hine gave Redeemer a medalist in back-to-back seas o n s, fo l l ow i n g B r yc e Zapusek’s 24th-place finish to his Royals career in 2018.

Please see BOYS, Page B4

GIRLS SOCCER

Dallas wins 3rd straight district title

BY MATT BUFANO STAFF WRITER

DALLAS TWP. — As they wore gold medals and huddled around their championship plaque, at least one Dallas Mountaineer offered a suggestion.

“Hold up three fingers,” they said.

Good idea.

The Mountaineers’ postgame photo session wouldn’t be complete without remindSEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER ing everyone that Saturday’s Dallas’ Ali Francis, right, keeps the ball from Berwick’s epic 1-0 overtime win against Abbie Seely during Saturday’s district final.

Berwick earned Dallas its

third consecutive District 2 Class 3A girls soccer championship.

“This feels amazing,” said senior center-back Sarah Krokos. “You know, senior year, three-peat — it’s like the best feeling in the world.”

While Krokos, Kanisha Cheshire, Kristen O’Malley, Morgan MacNeely and goalkeeper Jensen Meade highlighted Dallas’ defensive shutout, senior Ali Francis ended the game when she scored with fewer than 3 minutes left in sudden-death overtime.

“Coming in freshman year, I had no idea that my team and I would be so successful,” said Francis, who broke the program record for career goals earlier this week in the semifinals. “It’s just an amazing feeling that we’ve all come this far, that we were able to get our third win in a row. ... I was happy to get the school record, obviously, but I knew that I wanted to get this third championship. It’s an amazing feeling to be able to celebrate with my team and not

just an individual success.”

After beating Abington Heights 3-0 in 2017 and Scranton Prep 4-1 in 2018, Dallas’ third championship was by far its closest.

Each team advances to the PIAA state playoffs with No. 2 Dallas (15-2) scheduled to play District 3 runner-up Mechanicsburg in the first round Tuesday. It’s the same firstround matchup as last year, when Mechanicsburg eliminated Dallas, 4-0.

Please see D2, Page B5

WB_VOICE/PAGES [B03] | 11/02/19

SPORTS

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2019

AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE

Pens fall in shootout

BY TYLER PICCOTTI STAFF WRITER

The takeaway

First, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins’ perfect conversion rate in shootouts came to an end.

Then, their perfect record came to an end.

Owen Tippett scored the winner in the sixth round for the Springifeld Thunderbirds, who posted a 4-3 victory on Saturday at MassMutual Center.

Springfield has won six games in a row, while Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton moved to 5-4-1-1 overall and 2-1 in shootouts.

Sometimes, the other goaltender has one of those nights, and Desrosiers kept Springfield ahead or within striking distance as the game wore on. Although the Penguins let another lead slip away, they did get three out of four points in a weekend that included a long bus ride to Massachusetts. That could prove pivotal later in the season.

The turning point The Penguins dominated possession the final two periods and peppered Philippe Desrosiers with 30 shots in that span, but the goaltender stymied them repeatedly.

Luckily, the Penguins scored on a power-play with a Sam Miletic redirection at 2:53 of the third to tie the game. Only 20 seconds later, Joseph Blandisi scored his second goal of the game to put the Penguins in the lead.

Although Tippett later tied the game, that two-goal spurt proved crucial with the way Desrosiers played all night.

Lineup notes ■ Defenseman Jon Lizotte was slated to be in the lineup, but was a late scratch for Michael Kim instead. He blocked a shot in Friday’s win over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and also fell awkwardly into the boards at one point, but it was unclear if the scratch was health-related.

■ Ryan Haggerty and Andreas Martinsen were healthy scratches, with Joseph Cramarossa checking back into the lineup.

■ A notable absence for Springfield was former Penguins defenseman Ethan Prow, who missed the game because of injury.

Up next

Wilkes-Bar re/Scranton makes an immediate return to Allentown, taking on the Phan■ Blandisi also scored in the toms at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday. first period, redirecting David Penguins 10200—3 11101—4 Warsofsky’s shot on the power Springfield First period: Scoring - 1, Spr, Audette (Roy), 1:52; 2, WBS, Blandisi (Warsofsky, Agozzino), play. He was star No. 3.

10:19 (PP). Penalties - WBS, BLandisi, roughing ■ Tippett beat Penguins goal- 6:34; Spr, Massie, roughing 6:34; Spr, Roy, highsticking WBS, Noesen, hooking 9:42; Spr, tender Dustin Tokarski, making Toninato,9:05; high-sticking 10:06. his first start of the season, after Second period: Scoring - 3, Spr, Saarela Keeper), 19:38 (PP). Penalties four of his teammates failed to (Heponiemi, WBS, Miletic, holding the stick 0:25; WBS, BLanscore in the shooutout. That, disi, delay of game 1:00; Spr, Mangene, tripping 7:20; WBS, Erkamps, interference 17:43. combined with his regulation Third period: Scoring - 4, WBS, Miletic (Warsofsky, Palve), 2:53 (PP); 5, WBS, Blandisi (Johngoal, gave him No. 2 honors. son, Trotman), 3:13; 6, Spr, Tippett (Heponiemi, ■ Desrosiers made 41 saves in Ang), 13:28. Penalties - Spr, Ang, tripping 1:58; Cramarossa, embellishment 3:24; Spr, regulation and overtime, WBS, Heponiemi, hooking 3:24; WBS, Blandisi, hooking 6:56; Spr, Lowry, interference 7:27. including on a scramble in Overtime: Scoring - None. Penalties - Spr, front of the net in the extra Keeper, tripping 4:54.

WBS, Noesen goal; Blandisi no period when it appeared Blan- goal;Shootout: Cramarossa no goal; Lafferty no goal; disi might complete a hat trick. Palve no goal; Angello no goal. Spr, Borgstrom goal; Audette no goal; Saarela no goal; Roy no He was an easy choice for first goal; Greco no goal; Tippett goal.

Shots on goal: WBS 11 14 16 3 - 44; Spr 11 3 7 star.

2 - 23.

Three stars

Stat to know

22:56 | MALUSOANTH

Goaltenders: WBS, Tokarski (19 saves on 22 shots); Spr, Desrosiers (41 saves on 44 shots).

Power-play opportunities: WBS 2 for 6; Spr 1 for 4.

Referees: Furman South and Jason Williams.

Linesmen: Frank Murphy and Mike Baker.

The Penguins’ power-play units continued to produce and moved to sixth-best in the AHL Contact the writer: at 23.4%. tpiccotti@citizensvoice.com

THE CITIZENS' VOICE B3

PARENTE: Obstacles nothing new for senior FROM PAGE B1

While on vacation a few years later, Parente and her family played a game where everyone was asked the same question, they wrote their responses on a piece of paper, and then they all had to guess whose answers belonged to whom.

The question: What are you most excited for in the future? Parente’s answer: finding out who her college coach would be.

“Everybody knew the paper was Lauren’s,” said her father, Frank Parente.

“That’s the stuff you never forget. I’m disappointed that I feel she lost the love for the game; and so proud that she stuck it out.”

Parente’s hip pain became nonstop in eighth grade, leading to a series of injections, MRIs, X-rays and CT scans.

Parente was diagnosed with bilateral hip dysplasia.

She’d had it since she was born, but had never been diagnosed until then.

“When I was 14 and beyond, the pain was excruciating and I just had to play through it,” Parente said. “I had pain walking; really, any physical activity. I had to sit out of gym class. I remember long car rides were horrible for me. I couldn’t sit in my chairs in class comfortably, either.”

Parente and her parents, Frank and Christine, saw multiple doctors and considered having periacetabular osteotomy, a cutting-edge hip surgery.

There were drawbacks, though, including an estimated two-year recovery, one year for each hip, which would derail her high school career.

“Both my parents agreed that I was too young, maybe something would change,” Parente said. “There was no promise with this surgery that it would work for me. So it was kind of like, ‘I don’t

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Wyoming Area senior Lauren Parente celebrated her 100th goal earlier this season. think we’re going to do this.’”

When she was a freshman, Parente found a role model in senior teammate Grace Angelella.

Angelella also suffered from hip dysplasia, albeit only on the left side. Angelella had surgery during high school to correct her issue.

She now plays at Division I Lafayette.

“I remember her telling me at practice to not be afraid to sit out if I was in too much pain,” Parente recalled. “She was a true leader.”

According to the International Hip Dysplasia Institute, 10% of infants are born with hip instability. Only 1 in 500 show symptoms of hip dysplasia.

While everyone else suffered from the typical soreness of early-season practices, Parente described her pain as being so excruciating she could hardly get out of bed.

“She’s just constantly trying to stretch it, trying to loosen it, trying to create some relief for herself,” said Warriors head coach Erin McGinley.

Parente also had longer offseasons than everyone else, choosing not to play on

the club circuit because of her hips.

“I almost quit every year because I just didn’t think I’d be able to keep up with everyone,” she said.

Frank Parente did what he could to keep his daughter’s skills sharp, setting up a practice area in the basement.

“We would always practice in the basement from second grade through eighth,” he said. “I have holes in my walls, I have ceiling blocks tied together.”

His daughter’s practice time dwindled as the years went on, though, because she was discouraged by her hip condition and the ailments it entailed.

Had it not been for her hip issues, which decreased her speed, among other things, Parente could have turned into arguably the best player in the Wyoming Valley Conference.

While she may not be the best, through it all, she’s still one of the best and most dynamic scorers Wyoming Area’s ever had, a two-time Citizens’ Voice all-star.

“Lauren is very, very talented. She has an amazing

knack for the goal to get flicks and deflections,” said McGinley, who’s been head coach since 2017. “She just seems to have a very good nose for (the goal) and always has, ever since I took the program over.”

The hip pain subsides as the season progresses, said Parente, who reports feeling pretty good now as the Warriors begin the state playoffs Tuesday.

If it weren’t for her supportive teammates and love for the game, she said she’d reconsider if all her troubles and hard work were actually worth the reward.

Oh, but it’s been plenty rewarding thanks to the fun she’s had with her friends on the field.

The near-undefeated regular seasons, back-to-back district silver medals and 110 goals are just the icing on the cake.

“I loved it so much since the time I started. I can’t imagine not playing,” said Parente, who will concentrate only on academics at Bloomsburg University. “If I didn’t play field hockey, I wouldn’t play any sports.

Being a student-athlete is really fun.”

Contact the writer: mbufano@citizensvoice.com; 570-821-2060; @CVBufano on Twitter

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WB_VOICE/PAGES [B01] | 11/13/19

23:16 | MALUSOANTH

tHE CItIzEns’ VOICE

Sports THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2019

FIELD HOCKEY

Sem’s Christian leading from the sideline The Blue Knight co-captain suffered a torn ACL in the second game of the season.

BY MATT BUFANO STAFF WRITER

KINGSTON — Julia Christian has experienced far more highs than lows in her high school field hockey career.

But what happens when one low is such a setback that it takes you off the field and onto the bench, erasing your hopes of a storybook ending?

“I just accepted it and said that now I have to find ways to lead,” Christian SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER said.

Aiming to fulfill her captain duties Wyoming Seminary’s Julia Christian signed a national letter of intent on Wednesday to play college field no matter the circumstances, Christian, hockey at Temple. Christian has missed most of this a senior at Wyoming Seminary, has season after tearing an ACL. done just that for the Class A state final-

PENN STATE

THE CITIZENS’ VOICE FILE

Julia Christian is presented a gold medal by coach Karen Klassner after Wyoming Seminary’s District 2 championship. ists even after missing nearly the entire season with a torn ACL. Christian still attends every practice and game, giving her teammates encour-

agement, advice, moral support — whatever they need — all tinged with a sincere message to not take moments like Saturday’s state championship for granted.

“You can’t describe what a teenager goes through when they lose their senior year,” said Julia’s father, Scott Christian. “An ACL is one thing. I think the broken heart is probably the more devastating part of it.

“But you get through it and I think it would be more devastating if she was at a point in her athletic career where that could have been her last game ever playing field hockey. Knowing that she’s got four years left and the motivation behind wanting to go back out there on that field again, I think, got her to the point where she is now.”

Please see CHRISTIAN, Page B5

DISTRICT 2 FOOTBALL

Dotson’s slip up costly for PSU

BY DONNIE COLLINS STAFF WRITER

He broke off the line of scrimmage, sprinted 10 yards, cut in toward the hashmarks, then saw the pass heading his way.

He reached his hands up to catch the ball. Behind him, the cornerback assigned to cover him, Minnesota sophomore Benjamin St-Juste, slipped to the ground.

For Jahan Dotson, that was the moment. That was the time.

He was on the move, heading toward the end zone, looking to give Penn State something it never had last Saturday against the Golden Gophers, but something there wasn’t a better time to have.

The lead. A chance to snatch victory from a situation that seemed hopeless just minutes earlier.

“Those are the types of plays,” Dotson said, “you dream about having.”

The fact Penn State isn’t unbeaten today, that it’s preparing for a game against Indiana at Beaver Stadium on Saturday hoping it will get its season back on track, tells the end of the story. Dotson didn’t find the end zone on that long pass play. He sprinted upfield with safeties Jordan Howden and Antoine Winfield Jr. in pursuit, but hardly a guarantee to run him down.

Sensing he was a move away from assuring a Nittany Lions lead with just under two minutes to play, Dotson tried to plant, then cut to his left and upfield, ditching Howden — the safety with the best angle on him — in the process. But at the 15, his feet slipped out from under him on the slick TCF Bank Stadium turf. He stumbled and fell at the 11.

Please see DOTSON, Page B3

THE CITIZENS’ VOICE FILE

Dallas’ Dan Meuser (4) tries to break away from Valley View’s T.J. Noto during the team’s Week 8 meeting.

HIS DAY HAS COME

Dallas’ Meuser fueled by sitting out freshman year

BY STEVE BENNETT STAFF WRITER

From a football perspective, Dan Meuser had a pretty miserable freshman year. It had nothing to do with anything on the field, only because Meuser never had the chance to get there.

Dallas coach Rich Mannello took a chance four years ago and had as many as nine freshmen out on the field on Friday nights receiving what proved to be a rather rude introduction as to

what varsity high school football is all about.

Meuser wasn’t among them, not because Mannello didn’t feel Meuser was worthy of the opportunity, but because Meuser wasn’t physically able to.

Meuser broke his collarbone approximately two weeks before the season was scheduled to begin. That left him as a spectator, standing on the sidelines and watching his classmates gain valuable experience that they

hopedonedaywouldpaydividends.

That one day is this season, and the Mountaineers are 12-0 heading into Friday night’s District 2 Class 4A championship game at home against Valley View. The math is pretty simple on this one.

If Dallas wins, it advances to the state playoffs. A loss, and the magical run comes to an abrupt and bitter end.

“That changed me as a person,” Meuser said of his freshman season. “I don’t look back on those

times with a smiling face. I took it as a learning experience. We all thought back then that someday it will pay off. At the same time, in the back of our heads, we were just freshmen and we had four more years to fly around and have fun. That is what this (senior) class has been doing for four years. It is exciting that we all have the same mentality as one another.”

Please see MEUSER, Page B3

Warriors, Cavaliers have changed since Week 2

BY STEVE BENNETT STAFF WRITER

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE

Wide receiver Jahan Dotson is trying to become a playmaker for Penn State.

At the time, it was the perfect win.

Some may even go as far as saying it was a statement win back in Week 2 when Wyoming Area played on the road against Scranton Prep and won, 34-0.

It was a victory that helped set the tone for the remainder of the season — a season that now sees the Warriors getting the chance to host Scranton Prep7p.m.onFridaynightfor theDistrict2Class3Achampionship.

This is a little bit of new territory for the Warriors, not having won, or for that matter played in a district championship game since 2012.

Scranton Prep, on the other hand, is no stranger to playing for a dis-

trict championship and winning it, taking the last four Class 3A championships.

“Once you get about five or six weeks into the season, that is where you have developed and gone through the maturation process and growing pains,” Wyoming Area coach Randy Spencer said. “I think the positive from the first game against Scranton Prep is that we were able to be successful in that game. We can draw confidence from that. At the same time, that was almost a season ago. This is the second season, really. It is important that we come out and play the best we can.”

Please see WARRIORS, Page B3

THE CITIZENS’ VOICE FILE

Wyoming Area’s Dominic DeLuca, right, hits Scranton Prep’s Carter Odell during their Week 2 game in Scranton.

WB_VOICE/PAGES [B05] | 11/13/19

21:30 | MALUSOANTH

SPORTS

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2019

THE CITIZENS' VOICE B5

Steelers, Browns renew rivalry, plenty on line

BY TOM WITHERS ASSOCIATED PRESS

CLEVELAND — Separated by roughly 130 miles and six Super Bowl titles, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns have a hostile, historic rivalry resuscitated from being heavily one-sided to much more competitive the past few years.

The hatred has never waned.

“It’s a big game. It’s Browns vs. Steelers,” said Cleveland running back and native Kareem Hunt, who is about to get his first on-field taste of the long-running football feud. “I’ve been watching this my whole life.”

The Steelers and Browns are getting together again tonight for the 135th time, renewing their deep disdain for each other in front of a national TV audience in what have been unexpected seasons for both teams.

The Steelers have salvaged theirs.

Cleveland has work to do.

“Everything’s at stake, man,” said Browns cornerback T.J. Carrie. “We have no more time to waste.”

Their margin for error expunged by a flurry of penalties, turnovers, questionable plays calls by rookie coach Freddie Kitchens in several disappointing early season losses, the Browns (3-6) will try

NFL

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE

Baker Mayfield and the Browns host the Steelers tonight. to keep their faint playoff hopes flickering against the Steelers (5-4).

Pittsburgh, meanwhile, leaned on its championship pedigree to regroup after moving on from Le’Veon Bell and

Antonio Brown and then losing quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in Week 2 to injury. Led by a ball-hawking defense, the Steelers have wiped out a 1-4 start.

“We are still scratching and clawing to make this thing happen and to keep winning games and keep stacking victories and let the chips fall where they may,” said secondyear quarterback Mason Rudolph, who has settled in after replacing Big Ben. “We are not in the position where we can take anyone lightly.”

Talent and commercial endorsements haven’t been nearly enough in Cleveland.

The NFL’s most publicized team in the preseason has failed to live up to expectations.

However, the Browns, who stopped a four-game skid with their first home win of the season Sunday over Buffalo, have a soft schedule ahead and haven’t given up on ending the league’s longest playoff drought going back to 2002.

Another loss would all but end their chances.

The key for Cleveland will be ball security. The Steelers are second in the league with 26 takeaways, the most for a Pittsburgh team through nine games since 1987.

“They are making a lot of plays right now,” said Browns

quarterback Baker Mayfield, who hasn’t thrown a pick in two games after having a league-high 12 through seven.

During their winning streak, the Steelers have forced 14 turnovers, with safety Minkah Fitzpatrick returning two for touchdowns. Fitzpatrick came over in a trade from Miami and already has five interceptions and a fumble recovery in seven games.

Browns guard Joel Bitonio isn’t surprised by the Steelers’ surge. It’s who they are.

“I know a lot of people probably tried to write ‘em off at the beginning of the year when they lost all those guys and had the injury to Ben,” he said. “But they fight.”

CHRISTIAN: A huge support system has kept new Temple signee going FROM PAGE B1

Showing a positive attitude and with rehab going along as planned, Christian’s dream came true Wednesday when she signed her national letter of intent to play Division I field hockey.

Christian signed with Temple. Fellow senior co-captains Bari Lefkowitz (Northwestern), Hannah Maxwell (Wake Forest) and Alex Wesneski (Iowa) signed, as well.

“Temple has always been my No. 1, no matter what, since eighth grade,” Christian said.

Immediately after Susan Ciufo was named Temple head coach in January, Christian found Ciufo’s email address from her prior job as Stonehill head coach and expressed her interest in playing for Ciufo’s Owls.

“I told her that I wasn’t chasing a scholarship,” Christian said. “I was chasing a dream.”

Ciufo saw Christian play a few times, according to Christian, and within a few months offered her a spot on the team.

Christian was primed to

fered ACL tears. She also Nikki and Jessie Walsh, praised her entire family and Christian does have a wealth Sem family, as well as the of experience to offer.

Christian scored 40 goals staff at Temple.

“Obviously all the captains in 71 games, according to and the coaches have just Sem’s MAX Preps page, been amazing,” Julia said. including the PIAA state “If I’m ever upset, they championship she helped the always just encourage me Blue Knights win a year ago.

“I don’t know if I could do and they give me all the positive thoughts. The team and what she’s done, knowing the coaches are really what is that I can’t play and she keeping me going right now.” comes to practice every day.

That support system is a Even if she has rehab, she two-way street, as Sem head comes,” Klassner said. “She coach Karen Klassner is great in the huddle. She’s praised Christian’s attitude been like having another SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER and the role she’s played for coach on the staff. She’s been From left, Wyoming Seminary’s Hannah Maxwell (Wake Forest), Bari Lefkowitz the Blue Knights. super.”

(Northwestern), Alex Wesneski (Iowa) and Julia Christian (Temple) signed national Having played and won a Contact the writer: letter of intents on Wednesday to play Division I college field hockey. lot of field hockey games mbufano@citizensvoice.com; since she learned the sport in 570-821-2060; make her senior season her down and I knew what it was Christian had numerous grade school from cousins @CVBufano on Twitter best one yet at Sem, breaking as soon as it happened.” visitors in the days after her out with a hat trick in a seaIt didn’t take long for injury, including teammates son-opening 5-2 win at Abing- Julia’s parents to assume the who showed up with a wheelton Heights. worst, too. chair and drove her to the Just 10 minutes into Sem’s “First reaction was I’ve Luzerne County Fair to hang coldcasebeverage.com second game at home against seen her fall hundreds of out.

Dallas, though, she suffered a times, so I just assumed she “That kind of chokes you BUSCH OR BUSCH LIGHT torn ACL and sprained MCL was going to bounce back up up to see what the girls did 30pk CANS YOU in her right knee. and go,” Scott Christian said. for her,” Scott said. $ SAVE PER 2.25 O “I had the ball and I was “When she wasn’t getting up, UR CASE O Christian has especially LOWEVERYD FF PRIC AY E getting double-teamed, so I I walked across ... and I heard leaned on Sem freshman + T AX went to pull left,” Christian the agony. So I knew it was Maddie Olshemski and THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY recalled. “As soon as I pulled more than just a typical fall. Of Crestwood senior Sarah left, I heard a pop. I went course,yourheartsinks.”

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WB_VOICE/PAGES [B01] | 11/16/19

20:54 | CONNORSSTE

tHE CItIzEns’ VOICE

Sports SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2019

FIELD HOCKEY

TWICE AS NICE

Valley West, Wyoming Seminary both bring home state titles

DAVE SCHERBENCO / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Spartans claim first title since 2003

BY MATT BUFANO STAFF WRITER

WHITEHALL — There’s something special about this Valley West team.

Head coach Linda Fithian used that word — “special” — frequently in her postgame interview Saturday but never when talking specifically about field hockey. She preferred to use it when talking about the Spartans’ character.

It may defy logic, but she may

also be on to something.

Because this team, for whatever reason, is the one that finally closed the gap between the Spartans and a state championship.

Valley West persevered through a sluggish first half offensively, fought back from a one-goal deficit, and then claimed a 2-1 victory against Palmyra for the PIAA Class 2A title at Whitehall High School.

Please see SPARTANS, Page B4

PIAA Field Hockey Championships Saturday at Whitehall

CLASS 2A

Valley West 2, Palmyra 1

CLASS A

Wyoming Seminary 1, Oley Valley 0 (2OT)

DAVE SCHERBENCO / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Parsons lifts Knights in double overtime

BY MATT BUFANO STAFF WRITER

WHITEHALL — A spectacular game deserved an equally outstanding finish.

That’s what Saturday’s PIAA Class A championship delivered at wind-whipped Whitehall High School.

After 80-plus minutes of scoreless field hockey, Wyoming Seminary’s Grace Parsons was the beneficiary of perfect teamwork that led to her scoring the

walk-off goal in Sem’s 1-0 win against Oley Valley in double overtime.

“We had run out of things to do,” said Sem head coach Karen Klassner, whose Blue Knights failed to score on their first 15 penalty corners. “We were telling the kids to call their own corners. So basically they knew better than us ... and we were comfortable with that.”

Please see SEM, Page B6

Online Extra: For video and more photos from the state championships, view the stories on www.citizensvoice.com/sports

WB_VOICE/PAGES [B04] | 11/16/19

21:52 | MALUSOANTH

VALLEY WEST FIELD HOCKEY

B4 THE CITIZENS' VOICE

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2019

DAVE SCHERBENCO / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

The Valley West field hockey team poses with its state championship trophy and medals after beating Palmyra on Saturday for the PIAA Class 2A championship.

SpArTAnS: Shots hard to come by FROM PAGE B1

“They’re kind, uplifting, positive humans,” Fithian said. “All of them. There’s not one person out there that isn’t like that. I love them.

And they love each other, so that’s another important factor.”

Winners of four straight district championships and eight state playoff games entering Saturday, the Spartans’ senior class was already one of the greatest in program history.

But winning Saturday’s game puts them in a truly special group, joining only the 2003 Valley West team as a state champion.

“It feels great, amazing, unlike any other feeling honestly. This is the greatest feeling I’ve ever had,” said senior Rina Tsioles. “Obviously district championships is amazing. But this is next-level amazing.”

Tsioles and the Spartans have rarely been more motivated than when Northwestern commit Lauren Wadas broke the scoreless tie, giving Palmyra a 1-0 lead with 25 minutes, 30 seconds left in regulation.

“There’s still (25) minutes.

The game isn’t over,” Tsioles told her teammates. “So we need to go down there and score right away.”

Within 4 minutes, that order was fulfilled when Ariane Rupnik dribbled in from the right side and took a shot on goal that found the open space and tied the game at 1.

Anyone who was surprised that the District 2 champion Spartans (17-3-1) came back, even against a team as good as nationally-

ranked Palmyra (22-4), must not know them too well.

“The whole season, our motto has been, ‘Never give up,’” said junior Cameryn Forgash. “It’s a team. It’s a family. Even when things are hard, we put each other up and go through it together.”

The Ohio State commit Forgash and Old Dominion commit Tsioles teamed up for the winning play with 8:55 left, certainly the most awe-inspiring moment on offense in a game where Valley West and Palmyra combined for just eight shots on goal.

Tsioles showed off the twoway ability that’s turned her into a three-time all-state selection, stealing the ball around midfield and putting the Spartans’ offense in motion going the other way.

“I saw two defenders, and the right wide-open,” Tsioles said. “So I just took it right and Cameryn was running right in front of the goalie. So I had a nice open pass to her to hit it right in.”

The speedy duo applied heavy pressure on Palmyra’s goalkeeper mere feet from the goal line.

“I knew Rina was going to shoot it,” Forgash said.

“We’ve always been working and practicing on being on top of the goal.”

Then, Forgash said, it comes down to having the “grit” to muscle the ball into the cage.

That practice apparently paid off when Forgash poked the ball into the net for a 2-1 lead. “(Rina) just hit it and it bounced off the goalie and I hit it in,” Forgash said.

The 2-1 lead held up and winning goalkeeper Sydney Rusnock finished with two saves, setting off a Spartan celebration that likely surprised outsiders.

Palmyra was the higherranked team according to both MAX Field Hockey and Top of the Circle, the latter of which listed Palmyra as being the No. 7 team in the country.

Palmyra had won its seven playoff games this posts e a s o n by a c o m b i n e d score of 28-1.

Again, Fithian credits her team’s character.

“From our pep rally yesterday, every teacher came up to me and said what a special group of girls this is,” Fithian said. “They’re very humble, nobody knows how great of kids they are, both in the classroom and off. Everybody kept telling us they had this feeling that we were going to win — everybody — my texts this morning, everybody that knows this t e a m j u s t ke p t s ay i n g there’s something special about this group.”

With players like Forgash and Tsioles, who in addition to being extremely talented can practically read one another’s minds in setting up the winning play, perhaps Fithian is right in talking up the role team chemistry played in this magical season.

“To win with a special team like this is a coaches’ dream,” Fithian said.

Contact the writer: mbufano@citizensvoice.com; 570-821-2060; @CVBufano on Twitter

CHAMPIONSHIP SIGHTS

From left, Valley West’s Cameryn Forgash, Sydney Runsock and Rina Tsioles hold up their championship medals.

Valley West’s Rina Tsioles hugs Coach Linda Fithian.

GAME rEpOrT: Valley West 2, palmyra 1 Palmyra Valley West

0 1 — 1 a shot/pass. The ball wound 0 2 — 2 up in front of Cameryn Forgash, who back-handed it into Second Half the net for the game-winner.

Lauren Wadas (Palm) unasQuotable sisted, 25:30 “We didn’t even compare Ariane Rupnik (VW) unasthat to last year, because, sisted, 21:49 we’ve been saying all year Cameryn Forgash (VW) that this is a different team. from Rina Tsioles, 8:55 Even though we have some Shots players back, the team chemistry is so different from last Palmyra 3; Valley West 5 year. Last season, we had Corners a rough start ... so it was a Palmyra 6; Valley West 5 whole different game today. I think it wasn’t about who we Saves played; it was about playing Palmyra (Katie Knol) 3; our game.”

Valley West (Sydney Rusnock) 2 Valley West head coach Linda Fithian on playing Palmyra, play of the game the team that scored three As she’s done so often goals in the first half and elimin the past four years, Valinated Valley West, 3-1, from ley West senior Rina Tsioles last year’s state semifinals found herself making things Three stars happen on both sides of the ball. Tied at 1 in the final 10 ■ Cameryn Forgash, Valminutes, Tsioles stole the ball ley West junior: Ohio State and dribbled from midfield all recruit struggled during a the way inside the circle befour-game scoring drought that ended in the semifinals fore flicking what doubled as

against Villa Maria. She’s completely back on track after scoring the winner on an assist from Tsioles.

■ Lauren Wadas, Palmyra senior: A player with deep local roots, whose mother, the former Daniele Pawlush, made all-conference field hockey for Nanticoke Area in the 1980s, scored a goal that gave the Cougars a lead.

■ Ariane Rupnik, Valley West junior: Foreign exchange student from Hamburg, Germany, tied the game with her team-leading 22nd goal.

Valley West’s Brooke Pileggi celebrates.

replay PCN will air the PIAA Class 2A championship at 10 a.m. today.

See the action A video package, including highlights and player comments, is available at www. citizensvoice.com/sports, or on The Citizens’ Voice on YouTube.

Valley West’s Cameryn Forgash battles Palmyra’s Maddie Hudson.

Valley West celebrates a goal.

— Photos by Dave scherbenco / staff PhotograPher

WB_VOICE/PAGES [B06] | 11/16/19

B6 THE CITIZENS' VOICE

22:24 | MALUSOANTH

WyOMinG SEMinARy fiEld hOCkEy

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2019

DAVE SCHERBENCO / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

The Wyoming Seminary field hockey team celebrates with its state championship trophy and medals after beating Oley Valley in the PIAA Class A championship game.

SEM: Gladieux held in check FROM PAGE B1

Senior Hannah Maxwell rushed downfield and collided with Oley Valley goalkeeper Cassidy Drobek, setting up Sem’s 16th corner.

Maxwell took matters into her own hands.

“Hannah Maxwell called our corner.

She said, ‘Alex Wesneski, you take this ball. Shoot it if it’s open. We need a girl on post and a girl on pads,’” Parsons recalled.

“There was a girl on pads, but no one on post. So I volunteered and I got up there. I was ready.”

Wesneski ripped a shot. Parsons tipped it. The goalkeeper blocked it.

The rebound went back to Parsons at the right post. She found an opening around the defender that stood in front of her, flicking the ball into the cage and delivering Sem its second straight state championship.

“You really did not know who was going to win,” said Klassner, whose teams have won more than 700 games and eight state titles. “It really just came down to who would get a corner and who would make the corner.”

While District 2 champion Sem ended its season at 23-2, District 3’s Oley Valley dropped to 25-2 with losses in the district and state championship games.

Having scored 206 career goals before she heads to Penn State next season, Oley Valley senior Sophia Gladieux played as good as advertised and frequently tested Sem’s defense.

“She’s a great player and she’s so strong,” said Sem junior goalkeeper Mia Magnotta.

“It was definitely a little bit scary, but again, I had to trust that my teammates were going to be there to help me.”

Magnotta finished with 10 saves. When her blocks dropped the ball near the goal line, Sem’s defense usually cleared it out quickly.

Oley Valley goalkeeper Drobek played excellent, as well, making seven saves.

Oley Valley’s offense had a penalty corner at the end of the first half, Sem had one at the second-half buzzer, but neither went in thanks to the play of Magnotta and Drobek.

“Mia was amazing,” Klassner said. “I told her it’s the best game I’ve seen by a keeperinsometimeatthehighschoollevel.”

Similarly, Klassner hailed Gladieux as one of the best high school players she’s seen in recent years.

The key to keeping Gladieux from scoring careergoalNo.207,Klassnersaid,wasrespectingherabilities,butnotmarkingher.

“We didn’t do anything special on Sophia, which a lot of people said, ‘Oh my God, you’re not going to put someone on her?’” Klassner said. “We kind of thought that they were too good to just go with her.”

The first 15-minute period of 7-on-7 overtime was exciting, but scoreless.

That changed a little more than 5 minutes into the second go-around when Maxwell found herself breaking away for a 1-on-1 against Drobek.

“She went for the ball,” Maxwell said, “but I was running so fast that she actually came at my legs.”

The broken play resulted in Sem’s corner. Maxwell dialed up the play call that started with Anna Mozeleski’s insert pass and ended on Parsons’ goal.

It was the first goal of the season for Parsons, a junior who recently gave her verbal commitment to Virginia.

“Every time she’s tried to score this year, it’s either been called back or hit off the post,” Maxwell said. “And she scores the game winner. We were like, ‘Grace, are you kidding me?’ We were really happy for her.”

All the Blue Knights had a smile on their face by Saturday’s end, including Maxwell, who will play at Wake Forest next season after playing a key role in Sem’s back-to-back state titles.

“It’s so surreal,” Maxwell said. “Last year, we kind of said the same thing. It doesn’t really feel real until you’re not going to practice every day with your best friends. Right now, it’s an amazing feeling and it’s still sinking in a little bit. It’s definitely one of the best feelings I’ve ever felt in my high school career.”

WVC leads the pack

By MATT BufAnO STAFF WRITER

Congratulations, Wyoming Valley Conference and District 2. You’re back on top of the field hockey world.

Saturday brought a day of monumental success, which saw both Wyoming Seminary (Class A) and Valley West (2A) win PIAA state championships at Whitehall High School. Wilson closed out the tripleheader with a win against Lower Dauphin in the all-District 3 Class 3A final.

It is the first time since 2003 — when Crestwood was the Class 2A champion, Valley West 3A — that the WVC has produced multiple state champions.

Crestwood (2004, 2A), Wyoming Seminary (2006, 2A), Sem (2008, 2A), Sem (2010, 2A), Sem (2011, 2A), Crestwood (2012, 2A), Sem (2013, 2A) and Sem (2018, 2A) have each won state titles in the years since.

The PIAA reclassified its field hockey system in 2016,

introducing a third classification — Class A — to go along with the two classes already in place.

District 11 won two of the three state championships in 2016.

District 3 went 2 for 3 in back-to-back years in 2017-18 before Sem and Valley West planted the WVC on top by winning two titles Saturday.

Contact the writer: mbufano@citizensvoice.com; 570-821-2060; @CVBufano on Twitter

CHAMPIONSHIP SIGHTS

Wyoming Seminary’s Mia Magnotta (61) makes a save.

Contact the writer: mbufano@citizensvoice.com; 570-821-2060; @CVBufano on Twitter

GAME REPORT: Wyoming Seminary 1, Oley Valley 0 (2OT) Oley Valley Wyoming Seminary

0 0 0 0 — 0 important obviously we went into double 0 0 0 1 — 1 overtime and we were pushing through.

We all had each others’ backs. Our bench Second Overtime was cheering for all of us. The support reGrace Parsons (Sem) unassisted, 9:37 ally helps us to push through all of those obstacles and tough situations.”

Shots — Wyoming Seminary junior Grace ParOley Valley 10 sons on the source of the Blue Knights’ Wyoming Seminary 8 ability to persevere through a scoreless game Corners

Oley Valley 12 Wyoming Seminary 16

Three stars

■ Grace Parsons, Sem junior: Right place, right time. The Virginia commit Saves hadn’t scored all season, but picked the Oley Valley (Cassidy Drobek) 7 perfect time and scored the Blue Knights’ Wyoming Seminary (Mia Magnotta) 10 final and most important goal of 2019.

Play of the game ■ Hannah Maxwell, Sem senior: It Obviously, it was the goal. A determined takes courage to do what Maxwell did at the end of the game, diverting from what Grace Parsons followed through with the coaching staff wanted to call and three touches on the ball. First a deflectrusting herself — and her team — on an tion, then a blocked shot, and finally the shot that crossed the goal line and ended audible that set up the winning play.

■ Mia Magnotta, Sem junior: Iowa the game in double overtime. commit has been known as one of the Quotable WVC’s best goalkeepers for three years now. Her performance Saturday further “I’d say definitely our coaching staff solidified her reputation. and our captains, just our leadership on our team. They push us to be the best.

Replay It’s not easy at times, but throughout PCN will air the PIAA Class A championthe season, we’ve overcome a lot of obship at 8 a.m. today. stacles and I think that it was just really

Wyoming Seminary’s Emma Watchilla Wyoming Seminary players celebrate their victory. winds up for a shot.

Wyoming Seminary’s Alex Wesneski, left, tries to chip the ball in the goal.

Wyoming Seminary celebrates the game-winning goal in double overtime.

— PHOTOS BY DAVE SCHERBENCO / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER