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<p>KINGSTON &#8212; Wyoming Valley West got one reward from the PIAA for winning the District 2 title last week when it got to return to the same Nesbitt Stadium field within the boundaries of its own school district.</p><p>The other potential prize &#8211; a better draw to start the state Class 2A field hockey tournament &#8211; went away when the District 1 bracket got turned upside down.</p><p>Nationally ranked Villa Maria made the trip north from Malvern after being upset for its only loss of the season and knocked the Spartans out with a 3-2 victory Tuesday night.</p><p>&#8220;After they were upset down in their (district), we happened to be the lucky ones to get them,&#8221; Wyoming Valley West coach Linda Fithian said. &#8220;We played to the game plan.</p><p>&#8220;Our girls did exactly what we asked of them. It could have been anybody&#8217;s game. We just ran out of time.&#8221;</p><p>The Spartans cut two-goal, second-half deficits to one twice, but did not get off another shot after Natalie Zasada&#8217;s goal with 3:24 left made it 3-2.</p><p>&#8220;We never give up,&#8221; Fithian said. &#8220;We couldn&#8217;t be prouder of them.&#8221;</p><p>Villa Maria played in the last two Class 2A state finals, including a 2014 championship game victory over Crestwood.</p><p>PIAA brackets are predetermined, according to place finish within the district. When it came up short of a third straight District 1 championship, Villa Maria had to travel for the first round.</p><p>Hurricanes coach Daan Ponders tried to make the most of hitting the road early in the tournament.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s sometimes a good thing,&#8221; Ponders said of the long bus ride. &#8220;It brings the girls together.</p><p>&#8220;It was a good experience.&#8221;</p><p>After losing 3-2 to Merion Mercy in the district semifinals, Villa Maria&#8217;s defense came out strong. The Hurricanes held the Spartans to just one shot and one penalty corner in the first half and took a 1-0 lead when Emily Doyle took off on a breakaway and scored on her own rebound with 9:02 left.</p><p>Wyoming Valley West started fast with two shots in the first 20 seconds of the second half, but just 2:59 in, Mary Harkins gave Villa Maria a 2-0 lead.</p><p>Long lead passes by Madison Woods led to both Spartans goals.</p><p>Foto Tsioles made it a 2-1 game with 17:56 left, but Villa Maria answered in less then five minutes when Hannah Miller came out of a spin move with a shot for a goal.</p><p>The transition game produced Zasada&#8217;s late goal, but Villa Maria controlled possession enough the rest of the way to keep Valley West from coming up with a serious threat at the tying goal.</p><p>&#8220;I told them, &#8216;unless you win the state title, you have to lose your last game.&#8217;&#8221; Fithian said. &#8220;&#8217;When you look back, you&#8217;re district champions of 2016 and you&#8217;ll always have that.&#8217;</p><p>&#8220;There&#8217;s no regrets tonight because the girls played a great game.&#8221;</p><p><strong>Villa Maria`1`2`&#8212;`3</strong></p><p><strong>Wyoming Valley West`0`2`&#8212;`2</strong></p><p><strong>First half</strong> &#8212; 1. VM, Emily Doyle 9:02. <strong>Second half</strong> &#8212; 2. VM, Mary Harkins (Lindsay Dickinson) 27:01; 3. WVW, Foto Tsioles (Madison Woods) 17:56; 4. VM, Hannah Miller (Annina Iacobucci) 12:57; 5. WVW, Natalie Zasada (Woods). 3:24. <strong>Shots</strong> &#8212; VM 12, WVW 6. Saves &#8212; VM 4 (Danielle Acuna), WVW 7 (Nikki Hartzel 4, Sydney Rusnock 3). <strong>Penalty corners</strong> &#8212; VM 7, WVW 1.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Tom Robinson</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>

Wyoming Valley West comes up short in first round of PIAA Field Hockey Tournament