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Local roundup: Wolfpack advances in D2/4 Class 4A soccer playoffs

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Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre presents ‘Rocky Horror Show’

KINGSTON &#8212; Back in her hometown of Hamburg, Germany, Ari Rupnik never got to experience winning a championship.Before she came to America as an exchange student this year, Wyoming Valley West won three.Now, they&#8217;ll get the opportunity to accomplish a first together.Rupnik scored the first two goals Thursday, then assisted on the next two as Valley West marched into its fourth consecutive District 2 Class 2A field hockey championship game by dominating Dallas, 4-0 in a district semifinal at Spartan Stadium.&#8220;I felt a little pressure,&#8221; Rupnik said. &#8220;If you lose this game, the season is over for you.&#8221;As far as Valley West is concerned, it may be just getting started.The Spartans, who reached the state quarterfinals during the past two seasons, will shoot for their fourth consecutive Class 2A district title when they play Crestwood at 8 p.m. Monday at Wyoming Seminary&#8217;s Nesbitt Stadium for the gold medal.&#8220;First time ever,&#8221; Valley West coach Linda Fithian said. &#8220;We done it twice three times. For that fourth time, our girls are up for the challenge.&#8221;Rupnik would just like a first time, after getting within two wins of a title on a club team in Germany.&#8220;In Germany, we don&#8217;t play for schools, we play for clubs,&#8221; Rupnik, the daughter of Mojmir and Sonja Rupnik, said. &#8220;The clubs play for the championship of the whole country. One year, we finished third. It will be time to win it. That&#8217;s why I want to win and go to states.&#8221;A natural defender, Rupnik won over Valley West with her ability to score. She was switched to forward with the Spartans, and wasted little time in Valley West&#8217;s playoff opener showing why the position change was a good move.Rupnik had two goals little more than four minutes apart in the first half, scoring off assists from Jillian Bonczewski and Cameryn Forgash as Valley West carved out a 2-0 lead at the break.In the second half, Rupnik fed Paige Williams for two more goals, sending the Spartans shooting for their fourth consecutive district title and giving Rupnik her first crack at a crown in a championship game.&#8220;It&#8217;s a big part for me,&#8221; Rupnik said. &#8220;I feel blessed.&#8221;Crestwood 5, Wallenpaupack 0 Tori Harper scored two goals, Sarah Richards had a goal and an assist and the Comets whisked past Wallenpaupack and into the District 2 Class 2A championship game.Emma George and Aubrey Colo also scored for Crestwood, while Emily Davidson, Taylor Yeager and Mallory Moratori came through with assists.Isabella Caparusio made seven saves in goal to protect the shutout.Madison Kier made six saves for Wallenpaupack.District 2 Class 3A SemifinalsHazleton Area 3, Honesdale 1The Cougars scored two goals just two minutes apart in the second half to rally back and defeat Honesdale.Jill Buchman had the game-tying goal for Hazleton Area in the first half as the Cougars evened the game at 1-1, then had an assist on the second goal. Emily Ledger&#8217;s go-ahead goal early in the second half. Gabby Cavenas hit the third goal to give Hazleton Area breathing room with more than 23 minutes to play.The Cougars will meet the new sports jointure Wilkes-Barre Area at 8 p.m. Monday at Nesbitt Stadium as both teams search for their first-ever district title in a rematch of a game the Wolfpack won during the regular season.Kiersten Johannes scored the only goal for Honesdale.District 2 Class 2A SemifinalsValley West 4, Dallas 0Dallas`0`0 &#8212; 0Valley West`2`2 &#8212; 4First half &#8212; 1. WVW, Ari Rupnik (Jillian Bonczewski), 13:41; 2. WVW, Rupnik (Cameryn Forgash), 9:34. Second half &#8212; 3. WVW, Paige Williams (Rupnik), 8:01; 4. WVW, Williams (Rupnik), 7:06.Shots &#8212;DAL 1; WVW 11. Saves &#8212; DAL 7 (Amanda Puza); WVW 1 (Sydney Rusnock). Penalty Corners &#8212; DAL 1; WVW 11.Crestwood 5, Wallenpaupack 0 Wallenpaupack`0`0 &#8212; 0 Crestwood`2`3 &#8212; 5First half &#8212; 1. CRE, Emma George, 28:06; 2. CRE, Tori Harper (Sarah Richards), 18:08. Second half &#8212; 3. CRE, Richards (Emily Davidson), 28:05; 4. CRE, Tori Harper (Taylor Yeager), 21:06; 5. CRE, Aubrey Colo (Mallory Moratori), 12:04.Shots &#8212; CRE 16; WA Wal 10; CRE 16. Saves &#8212; WAL 7 (Madison Kier 6, Zoey Hall 1); CRE 7 (Isabella Caparusio). Penalty Corner &#8212; WAL 8; CRE 5.District 2 Class 3A SemifinalsHazleton Area 3, Honesdale 1Honesdale`1`0 &#8212; 1Hazleton Area`1`2 &#8212; 3First Half &#8212; 1. HON, Kiersten Johannes (Mandy Guniskey), 27:43; 2. HAZ, Jill Buchman, 25:26. Second Half &#8212; 3. HAZ, Emily Ledger (Buchman), 25:26; 4. HAZ, Gabby Cavenas, 23:47.Shots &#8212; HON 6; HAZ 13. Saves &#8212; HON 10 (Nicole Miszler); HAZ 5 (Elaina Ashman). Corners &#8212; HON 6; HAZ 4.<style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By Paul Sokoloskipsokoloski@www.timesleader.com</bylineMeta></div>

Field Hockey: Rupnik and Valley West roll into Class 2A title game