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Boys Soccer: Scranton Prep too much for Wyoming Seminary once again

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Senate hearing focuses on concern for lead exposure

<p>LA PLUME TWP. &#8212; Dallas head coach Chris Scharff felt if his team could establish an early lead, the defense would make it stand.</p><p>The third-seeded Mountaineers followed that plan and will play No. 1 seed Crestwood for a chance at a second consecutive District 2 Class 3A title Wednesday after defeating No. 2 seed Abington Heights, 2-1, in a semifinal game Monday afternoon at Keystone College.</p><p>Dallas struck first when Zach Holthaus scored off a cross from Alex Solano in the 14th minute.</p><p>&#8220;I was waiting for the ball on the top of the 18-yard box and there was no one on me,&#8221; Holthaus said. &#8220;I decided to turn and shoot, and was just trying to get it on goal.&#8221;</p><p>Dallas took a 2-0 lead when Ricky Wooditch scored on a penalty kick in the 32nd minute after an Abington Heights defender was whistled for a handball inside the box. Comets goalkeeper Jackson Danzig got a piece of the shot, but it deflected into the top of the net.</p><p>&#8220;That (goal) was very important because then we had a lot of confidence building up,&#8221; Holthaus said.</p><p>The Mountaineers held Abington Heights without a shot on goal in the first half.</p><p>&#8220;We pressured them on defense,&#8221; Scharff said. &#8220;We knew they were going to pass a lot and our (plan) was to let them pass 40 yards from the goal because they can&#8217;t score from there. We knew they would have a hard time getting behind our defense and we limited them to very little chances to score.</p><p>&#8220;We got the two (goals) we needed, then we settled back.&#8221;</p><p>Luke Abdalla registered Abington Heights&#8217; first shot on goal in the 65th minute, but Mountaineers goalkeeper Kyle Greenwood made the stop.</p><p>Abington Heights had another quality scoring opportunity in the 67th minute when a rolling shot from Antonio Maletta slid past the goal.</p><p>&#8220;I thought we were a different team in the second half,&#8221; Abington Heights head coach Frank Dyska said. &#8220;We really gave ourselves a chance to get back in the game. We created some opportunities, unfortunately we just couldn&#8217;t capitalize.&#8221;</p><p>Abington Heights broke through for a goal in the 79th minute when Evan Florey scored off an assist from Harry Johnson.</p><p><strong>Crestwood 9, Valley View 0</strong></p><p>The Comets punched their tickets back to the District 2 Class 3A finals, thanks to a three-goal effort from a pair of two-goal efforts from Max Gariano and Sean Murphy. The duo also each had an assist.</p><p>Thomas Roberts, Nick Ruggeri, Dylan Gesford, Matthew Shipton and Zach Kline also scored for Crestwood. Comets goalie Anthony Kovalchik made a game-high nine saves.</p><p>Crestwood will host Dallas for the Class 3A final on Wednesday. The Comets lead the season series 2-1.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>DISTRICT 2 CLASS 3A SEMIFINALS</strong></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Dallas 2, Abington Heights 1</strong></p><p><strong>Dallas`2`0`&#8212;`2</strong></p><p><strong>Abington Heights`0`1`&#8212;`1</strong></p><p><strong>First half &#8212;</strong> 1. DAL, Zach Holthaus (Alex Solano), 26:18; 2. DAL, Ricky Wooditch (penalty kick), 8:37. <strong>Second half &#8212; </strong>3. AH, Evan Florey (Harry Johnson), 1:57.</p><p><strong>Shots &#8212;</strong> DAL 7; AH 3. <strong>Saves &#8212;</strong> DAL 2 (Kyle Greenwood); AH 5 (Jackson Danzig). <strong>Corner kicks &#8212;</strong> DAL 6; AH 1.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Dallas&#8217; Zach Holthaus, left, and Abington Heights&#8217; Evan Florey work for possession of the ball during a District 2 Class 3A boys soccer semifinal game Monday afternoon at Keystone College. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_TTL-DAL-SOC-2.jpg</photo0><caption0>Dallas&#8217; Zach Holthaus, left, and Abington Heights&#8217; Evan Florey work for possession of the ball during a District 2 Class 3A boys soccer semifinal game Monday afternoon at Keystone College. </caption0><photoCredit0>Robert Tomkavage | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_TTL-DAL-SOC-3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Dallas&#8217; Joey Nardone plays the ball into the offensive zone during a District 2 Class 3A boys soccer semifinal game against Abington Heights Monday afternoon at Keystone College. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_TTL-DAL-SOC-3.jpg</photo1><caption1>Dallas&#8217; Joey Nardone plays the ball into the offensive zone during a District 2 Class 3A boys soccer semifinal game against Abington Heights Monday afternoon at Keystone College. </caption1><photoCredit1>Robert Tomkavage | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_TTL-DAL-SOC-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Dallas&#8217; David Chopyak plays the ball during a District 2 Class 3A boys soccer semifinal game against Abington Heights Monday afternoon at Keystone College. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_TTL-DAL-SOC-1.jpg</photo2><caption2>Dallas&#8217; David Chopyak plays the ball during a District 2 Class 3A boys soccer semifinal game against Abington Heights Monday afternoon at Keystone College. </caption2><photoCredit2>Robert Tomkavage | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Robert Tomkavage</p><p>rtomkavage@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Robert Tomkavage at 570-704-3941 or on Twitter @rtomkavage.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Dallas holds off Abington Heights in D2-3A boys soccer semifinal