KINGSTON — The foundation on which this Crestwood team is built is a stout defense that has limited opponents scoring opportunities throughout the entire season.
It was enough to carry the Comets to their first Wyoming Valley Conference division championship since 2014 and it allowed them to win their sixth consecutive District 2 title.
Alex Geiger scored off a corner with 4:24 left in the first quarter and that was all the Comets needed in a 2-0 victory over Dallas on Monday night in the District 2 Class 2A championship game at Spartan Stadium.
The Comets (16-2-2) advance to the PIAA playoffs and face the No. 3 seed from District 3. Dallas (16-4) also advances and faces the No. 2 seed from District 3.
Crestwood had allowed five goals all season heading into Monday night’s district final. The Comets made it extremely difficult for the Mountaineers to generate any sort of offense, and their best opportunity to score came late in the fourth quarter. Dallas had one chance early in the game, but the shot was not on the cage.
“Our midfield played a great game,” Crestwood coach Amanda Tredinnick said. “We knew we needed them to show up to get the job done. We kept our offensive momentum when we needed it. Everything went through the midfield defensively and offensively.”
Geiger’s first-quarter goal came on a corner on an insert pass from Kasey Obes. The Comets added their second goal, also on a corner from Ally George, with no time left on the clock.
“I was looking to get the shot off as fast I can and get it on the cage,” Geiger said. “It gets the team excited and we take the momentum the rest of the game.”
Crestwood finished with eight shots on goal and 13 corners. Dallas did not register a shot on goal and had no corners.
The execution of the corners was pivotal for the Comets, especially this time of the year as they prepare to make what they hope is an extended run in the state playoffs.
“That is something we practice about 35 or 45 minutes each practice,” Tredinnick said. “When you execute those things good things happen. We were able to put the ball in the back of the cage and that is all it took.”