WVC Girls Soccer Capsules

Times Leader District 2 Top 15

<p>It took three years for the Wyoming Valley Conference to stop playing second fiddle to its northern sisters.</p><p>In 2014, the Lackawanna League hegemony on District 2 girls soccer came to a close. The WVC&#8217;s coup d&#8217;&#233;tat of soccer supremacy resulted in not one but two district crowns. Dallas and Pittston Area were able to shake things up in Class 2A and 3A, respectively, to give the Wyoming Valley its first soccer titles since the 2012 spring-to-fall season merger.</p><p>It&#8217;s zero hour for the Mountaineers, Patriots and the rest of the league in their quest to regain control. Both Dallas and Pittston Area lose their top scorers for the past three years to graduation. Dallas&#8217; Talia Szatkowski is now suiting up for Bucknell, leaving behind her astronomical offensive production of 139 points. Similarly, Allie Barber and her school-record 159 career goals departed Pittston Area for Division II Bloomsburg.</p><p>The chances of the Mountaineers or Patriots slipping are improbable, to say the least. Waiting to take the reins at Pittston Area is Times Leader First Team All-Star Maddie Mimnaugh. The Patriot senior makes up in her lack of size with a high Soccer IQ, lightning speed, and cognitive ability to know whether to take the shot or make a sharp pass. Dallas is a strong bet to make its third-straight PIAA quarterfinals, thanks to the reigning Player of the Year Ruby Mattson. The effervescent senior led the WVC with 23 assists in 2014, seven more than any other player in the league. Mattson was keystone in the Mountaineers&#8217; whopping 109 goal differential. Look for her to feed Tiffany Zukosky and Katie Snedeker regularly.</p><p>The landscape around the rest of the league is favorable for an upset to the seemingly predictable table. Berwick routinely enters the fray; however, graduation wasn&#8217;t kind to the Bulldogs for the second time in three years. Nine members of Berwick&#8217;s XI &#8211; including its entire offense &#8211; is gone. The same happened to the Bulldogs following their 2012 state playoff run, so expect coach Paul DiPippa to have something under his sleeve with a group of 10 freshmen. In juxtaposition, Coughlin returns nine starters from its two-loss campaign from a year ago. The Crusaders&#8217; senior class is strong with Bre Georgette, Mary Tona, Hailee Dumont and Emma Sukowaski leading with loads of experience. Opposing forwards won&#8217;t be very fond of keeper Paige Davis.</p><p>The middle of the table shows promise. Holy Redeemer&#8217;s Lydia Lawson made all-state last year. Arguably the top forward coming in, the Royal senior began the year 21 goals shy of the 100 Club for her career. Lake-Lehman boasted the most productive freshman class in 2014, and Julia Hutsko looks to carry that team with her leadership. Crestwood&#8217;s Sam Brumagin is on the cusp of being a scoring threat for years to come. Wyoming Valley West gave Pittston Area a difficult time in the district semi but were wrecked by graduation.</p><p>Some teams can make the jump this season. Nanticoke went from minnow to a .500 record off the leg of Riley Klepadlo. Lauded by opposing coaches, First Team all-star Alee Petit spearheads a tough Wyoming Area&#8217;s defense.</p><p>Brynn Nargoski took over as head coach of Meyers.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_TTL-102814-Dallas-Coughlin-soccer-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Emily Glyvenfer (20) of Coughlin and Dallas&#8217; Ruby Mattson battle for control of the ball during a District 2 semifinal match last season. Mattston is the reigning Player of the Year, while the Crusaders return nine starters from last year&#8217;s two-loss team in what should be another interesting season of girls soccer. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_TTL-102814-Dallas-Coughlin-soccer-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Emily Glyvenfer (20) of Coughlin and Dallas&#8217; Ruby Mattson battle for control of the ball during a District 2 semifinal match last season. Mattston is the reigning Player of the Year, while the Crusaders return nine starters from last year&#8217;s two-loss team in what should be another interesting season of girls soccer. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jay Monahan</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Times Leader sports at 570-829-7143 or on Twitter @TLsports</p></shirttailMeta></div>

WVC girls look to maintain control of D2 soccer scene