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WVC football: Hunsinger, Hazleton Area holds off Crestwood in Greg Myers’ finale

WVC football: Wyoming Valley West routs Williamsport 46-21

KINGSTON &#8212; The main focus, in Wyoming Valley West&#8217;s eyes, is another shot at a state title.But to get it, the Spartans first have to win a district title.And Karaline Stelma seemed pretty intent on getting that first goal.Stelma scored the first goal of the game Friday, then assisted on three more as the two-time defending district champion Spartans shot back into the District 2 Class 2A title game with a 4-0 victory over Crestwood at Spartan Stadium.&#8220;It feels great,&#8221; Stelma said. &#8220;Our goal is to get back to where we were last year, and that&#8217;s states. And hopefully this time, win it.&#8221;Stelma scored Valley West&#8217;s only goal of last season&#8217;s 2-1 loss to Villa Maria Academy in the PIAA championship game, and picked up in this year&#8217;s postseason right where she left off last year.After earning a first-round bye in the district quarterfinals as the top seed, Valley West and their tall shooter looked playoff-ready in a game that was moved from its original date of Saturday to Friday due to an impending rain storm in the forecast.Valley West fans could have predicted what was coming, as Stelma took a feed from play-making midfielder Rina Tsioles just over nine minutes in and ripped a goal into the cage for Valley West&#8217;s first score of the 2018 postseason.&#8220;It&#8217;s a semifinal,&#8221; said Valley West coach Linda Fithian, whose team improved to 13-3-1 overall. &#8220;I keep trying to tell them, it&#8217;s the playoffs. You don&#8217;t have a good game, you go home.&#8221;That mindset helped drive the heavily-favored Spartans past a Crestwood team that finished 5-14 overall and suffered a 7-0 loss to Valley West during the second game of the season.&#8220;We treat every team fairly,&#8221; Stelma said. &#8220;It&#8217;s always a tough game (with Crestwood). And if we lost, we would have been done.&#8221;Now, the Spartans believe they&#8217;re just getting started, as they head into Monday&#8217;s District 2 championship game against Dallas or Coughlin at 6 p.m. at Wyoming Seminary. Only the district champion will advance to the PIAA playoffs this year, as District 2 lost its second spot in the Class 2A state field, despite Valley West&#8217;s advancement to the 2017 state finals.Valley West played Friday like it wants that berth.Stelma assisted on Cameryn Forgash&#8217;s goal midway through the first half as Valley West took a 2-0 lead into intermission, but Crestwood didn&#8217;t make the ride to the title game easy for Valley West.The Comets were still very much in the game, until Stelma rifled a pass that Avary Heckman turned into a goal for a 3-0 Spartans lead with seven minutes remaining in the game.&#8220;They played a beautiful game,&#8221; Fithian said of the Comets. &#8220;Their passing and execution was very good today. They had some times when they were in control.&#8221;Valley West, though, never relinquished the upper hand on the scoreboard.&#8220;Our passing and knowing where our teammates are is a big thing in contributing to our goals,&#8221; Stelma said.&#8221;Our team passing (on defense), where you just keep it away from their good players helps. We have a very good defensive line this year.&#8221;That&#8217;s defense helped Valley West avoid danger, and Spartans goalie Sydney Rusnock made nine saves to earn the shutout. Then Chloe Pisack polished off the win &#8212; off yet another assist from Stelma &#8212; by hitting the game&#8217;s final goal with 4:24 on the clock to give the Spartans a chance at a district three-peat.&#8220;I&#8217;m speechless,&#8221; Fithian said. &#8220;It&#8217;s exciting for the players, to do what we set out to do this year.&#8221;District 2 Class 2A SemifinalsValley West 4, Crestwood 0Crestwood`0`0 &#8212; 0Valley West`2`2 &#8212; 4First half &#8212; 1. WVW, Karaline Stelma (Rina Tsioles), 21:51; 2. WVW, Cameryn Forgash (Stelma), 16:04. Second half &#8212; 3. WVW, Avary Heckman (Stelma), 7:00; 4. WVW, Chloe Pisack (Stelma), 4:24.Shots &#8212; CRE 9; WVW 19. Saves &#8212; CRE 15 (Olivia Novrock); WVW 9 (Sydney Rusnock). Penalty corners &#8212; CRE 5; WVW 7.<style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By Paul Sokoloskipsokoloski@www.timesleader.com</bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>Reach Paul Sokoloski at 570-991-6392 or on Twitter @TLPaulSokoloski</shirttailMeta></div>

Stelma leads Valley West to 3rd straight district field hockey title game