‘Some Like It Hot’ sizzles with laughter

How ‘bout those playoffs?

First Posted: 10/11/2013 BERWICK &#8212; It was a unifying day of field hockey at Crispin Field.Both teams were adorned in pink, playing a benefit game for breast cancer awareness.Both teams belted out the notes of the national anthem before play when a recorded version did not churn through the stadium&#8217;s sound system.And both teams left the field without losing, as Berwick and Northwest played to a scoreless draw in a Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 matchup Friday afternoon.&#8220;Our overtime crew just went out and proved how much our kids wanted to win this one today,&#8221; Berwick coach Brandi Bertollo said. &#8220;Unfortunately, we just couldn&#8217;t capitalize.&#8221;Coming into the game, it looked like only the winner would exit with playoff hopes. Instead, the tie created some bad math for both teams.The Bulldogs (5-4-3) are now eliminated from District 2 playoff contention. The Rangers (5-4-2) must win out and get significant help just to forge a tie for the division title and the only playoff spot awarded to the loop.The Pittston Area (9-1) at Meyers (8-2) game Saturday morning could end Northwest&#8217;s hopes before it gets a chance to play its next game, Saturday night.&#8220;It all depends on what happens,&#8221; Northwest coach Ashley Lawson said. &#8220;We were out there doing everything we needed to do. We executed our corners, passed, rebounded. We just didn&#8217;t score. We know Lizzie (Dyer). We know she&#8217;s a fantastic goalie.&#8221;For all of the quality play in the field, this one was all about the goaltenders &#8212; Dyer of Berwick and Olivia Piestrak of Northwest.Piestrak had seven saves, but four came in the extra 15 minutes. With six minutes left in overtime, she faced Berwick&#8217;s Alexis Steeber on a long rush with the Rangers&#8217; defense in pursuit. Steeber laced a shot toward Piestrak&#8217;s feet, but the goalie clamped them together, catching the ball between her goalie boots.A minute later, the Rangers faced a shorthanded penalty corner after a violation, but defenders Maggie Murphy and Bailey Evans kept the Bulldogs from getting a shot off, helping preserve Piestrak&#8217;s fourth shutout of the season.&#8220;We trust Olivia back there,&#8221; Lawson said. &#8220;Having her in goal, we can tell our players to just trust your goalie. And Maggie gives us so much coming up from her defensive position. Liz Gurzynski is always stepping up. She was up in the overtime again &#8212; she&#8217;d had two overtime winners already. All four of our backs have been key for us.&#8221;Meanwhile, Dyer was just as grand in goal, making 16 saves for her fifth shutout of the year. She saved her best for last, making seven saves in the overtime.With two minutes remaining, Northwest&#8217;s Brooke Mendegro stole the ball from a Berwick player and charged 30 yards on a breakaway. Dyer charged out and made a diving stop before Mendegro could elevate a shot, then the goalie sprung across the goal to make another diving save as Evans pounced on the rebound.&#8220;Our forward line, our mids &#8230; all the way back to the defense just played a great game,&#8221; Bertollo said. &#8220;Our goalie, Lizzie Dyer, made some amazing saves. There were many obstacles today. Facing all that, I&#8217;m happy with how such a young team reacted.&#8221;Northwest 0, Berwick 0, OTNorthwest`0`0`0`&#8212;`0
Berwick`0`0`0`&#8212;`0
No scoring
Shots &#8212; NW 16; BER 9. Saves &#8212; NW 7 (Olivia Piestrak). Penalty corners &#8212; GAR 6; MEY 6.
***Meyers 5, GAR 3Judith Springer and Bri DiMaggio scored two goals each to lead the Mohawks (8-2) to the win.The Grenadiers (1-9-2) were led by two goals from Brea Seabrook.Tunkhannock 3, Hanover Area 1A hat trick by Kailey Reposa helped the Tigers (6-3-1) earn the victory and keep their playoff hopes alive.Marissa Keegan led the Hawkeyes (3-7-1) with one goal.***Meyers 5, GAR 3GAR`1`2`&#8212;`3
Meyers`2`3`&#8212;`5
First half &#8212; 1. MEY, Judith Springer, 27:10; 2. MEY, Springer (Allison Berman), 4:09; 3. GAR, Brea Seabrook, :01; Second half &#8212; 4. MEY, Berman, 24:43; 5. MEY, Bri DiMaggio, 24:42; 6. GAR, Lindsey Quinn, 18:05; 7. MEY, DiMaggio, 17:11; 8. GAR, Seabrook (Catherine Luckey), 8:30.
Shots &#8212; GAR 5; MEY 6. Saves &#8212; GAR 5 (Samara McDaniel); MEY 3 (Sabrina Robertson). Penalty corners &#8212; GAR 6; MEY 6.
Tunkhannock 3, Hanover Area 1Hanover Area`0`1`&#8212;`1
Tunkhannock`2`1`&#8212;`3
First half &#8212; 1. TUNK, Kailey Reposa, 20:24; 2. TUNK, Reposa (Marley Mason), 16:19; 3. HAN, Marissa Keegan, 12:32; Second half &#8212; 4. TUNK, Reposa, 23:14.
Shots &#8212; HAN 7; TUNK 10. Saves &#8212; HAN 7 (Haylee Bobos); TUNK 4 (Mary Sickler, Dana Kuffa). Penalty corners &#8212; HAN 3; TUNK 4.

Neighbors bond on field, socreboard