WRIGHT TWP. — As the Crestwood field hockey team exited Comet Stadium arm in arm following a 1-0 win over Northern in the opening round of the PIAA Class AA tournament on Tuesday night, the players were carrying a boombox that was loudly playing Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline.”
Jesse, the team’s favorite bus driver, started playing the song on the bus ride home after the Comets’ first win of the season two months ago. The players decided to replace the “so good, so good” lyrics with “roll Wood, roll Wood!”
Following their 21st game of the season, the players were still singing those words out loud, though definitely not in sync.
Didn’t matter.
The entire team was in sync where and when where it mattered most: on the field in an hour-long battle with Northern, the No. 11 team in Pennsylvania. The Polar Bears had emerged from the rugged District 3 tournament as that district’s third-place finisher after a 6-2 win over Hershey, another state power, on Saturday.
However, Crestwood (17-2-2) dominated possession during the first quarter of Tuesday’s game, but was unable to score despite two shots on goal from close range.
The Comets finally got on the scoreboard when Ally George found the back of the cage at the 2:48 mark of the second period Erin Cavanaugh was credited with the assist.
“When I saw it go over the end line, I was so excited,” George said. “I saw the goalie coming out at me, but I managed to get to the right and make the shot around her.”
Northern (18-5) turned up the heat late in the third quarter and then continued to press the Comet defense for the remainder of the contest. The Polar Bears mustered major threats with two consecutive penalty corners with a little more than six minutes remaining.
Crestwood’s defense held its ground, though.
Senior goalie Madi Geiger deflected a would-be goal into the air, ruining the Polar Bears’ best opportunity to tie the score.
“I was locked in from start to finish and ready for anything,” Geiger said after recording her 16th shutout this season. “I knew sooner or later a shot would make its way through. I knew I had to do it for my team because I know they always have my back.”
Crestwood head coach Amanda Tredinnick credited her entire team for the hard-earned victory.
“I am overjoyed,” she told the Comets in a postgame huddle. “This is precisely what it is all about — giving it your all on the field to achieve the desired outcome. This win required the collective effort of all of us, so you should be incredibly proud of yourselves. The school and the community are proud of you.”
In the end, the Comets’ play was worthy of the state’s No. 10-ranked team according to MaxPreps.
Next up for Crestwood: a Saturday quarterfinal matinee against District 1 runnerup Mount St. Joseph, an easy 11-1 winner over Cardinal O’Hara in the first round. The time and site for Saturday’s game will be announced Wednesday.
The Comets will eagerly anticipate singing “Sweet Caroline” on their bus ride home.
First things first: Tredinnick is giving them the chance for them to “enjoy a well-deserved day off tomorrow (Wednesday).”
It will be chance to rest their bodies.
And their vocal chords.
As their road to a possible state championship continues.