DALLAS TWP. — Dallas had been waiting nearly a year for this.
After having its chances at a district title wiped away at Coughlin in a blowout, the Mountaineers returned the favor Friday in a 4-0 victory over the Crusaders in the District 2 Class 3A girls soccer quarterfinal.
Top-seeded Dallas advances to face Crestwood, winners over Wallenpaupack, Tuesday in the district semifinal.
Dallas scored its first three goals in the first 17 minutes. After hitting the post with a header in the third minute, Hollie Holthaus one-timed an Emma Sweitzer cross with her left foot in the 10th minute to give the Mountaineers an early lead.
“I think we came out to play,” Dallas coach Abe Lewis said. “Like I told the girls before the game, we have the most explosive offense in the district when we are clicking with our four attacking players.
“We could have been up by six or seven if we buried all of our chances at half.”
In one of the league’s strongest rivalries, Dallas defeated Coughlin by just one goal (3-2, 2-1) in each of their regular-season meetings. A nailbiter was not in store as Dallas piled on offensively. Samantha Mazula corralled a loose ball at midfield in the 14th minute. Mazula booted a 22-yard shot into the corner of net.
“The seniors wanted to reverse the curse in a sense that we lost to them 4-0 last year when they were the No. 1 seed,” Lewis said. “There was a discussion about how they always play us tough.”
Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 scoring leader Alison Francis finished off the Crusaders with two goals. In the 17th minute, Francis cut left on a defender and unleashed a shot via a Megan Miller pass.
Francis capped the scoring in the 68th minute off of a breakaway goal.
Dallas ends Coughlin’s chances at repeating a district championship. The Mountaineers last won a district title in 2014.
Coughlin turned it up in the second half with seven shots on goal, all stopped by Rachel Nelligan as part of an eight-save effort.
Paige Davis wrapped up her career with seven saves for Coughlin.
Holy Redeemer 3, Nanticoke 0
Kasey Danko scored two of the Royals’ three goals as Holy Redeemer advances to the district semifinals.
Teamamte Annie Bagnal scored a goal, while Autumn Kaminski, Carly Cavanaugh and Morgan Luksic each had an assist in the win. Jocelyn Kosik had four saves in the shutout.
Jess Skladzien made seven saves for the Trojans.
Redeemer will face the winner of Western Wayne/Lake-Lehman on Monday.
DISTRICT 2 GIRLS SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
Class 3A Quarterfinal
Dallas 4, Coughlin 0
Coughlin `0`0` —` 0
Dallas `3`1` — `4
First half — 1. DAL, Hollie Holthaus (Emma Sweitzer), 10th minute; 2. DAL, Samantha Mazula, 14th; 3. DAL, Alison Francis (Megan Miller) 17th; 4. DAL, Francis (unassisted), 68th minute.
Shots — COU 11, DAL 22. Saves — COU 7 (Paige Davis), DAL 8 (Rachel Nelligan). Corner kicks — COU 3, DAL 8.
Class 2A
Holy Redeemer 3, Nanticoke 0
Nanticoke`0`0`—`0
Redeemer`1`2`—`3
First half — 1. HR, Kasey Danko (Autumn Kaminski), 31:57. Second half — 2. HR, Annie Bagnall (Carly Cavanaugh), 27:03; 3. HR, Danko (Morgan Luksic), 3:49.
Shots — NAN 4; HR 12. Saves — NAN 7 (Jess Skladzien); HR 4 (Jocelyn Kosik). Corner kicks — NAN 2; HR 2
Class 4A
Wednesday
Semifinals
No. 4 Hazleton Area at No. 1 Williamsport, 4:30 p.m.
No. 3 Scranton at No. 2 Delaware Valley, 6:30 p.m.
CLASS 3A
First Round
Tuesday
Coughlin 6, Honesdale 1
Crestwood 8, Tunkhannock 0
Wyoming Valley West 4, Valley View 0
Scranton Prep
Quarterfinals
Thursday
No. 8 Coughlin at No. 1 Dallas, 6:30 p.m.
No. 5 Crestwood at No. 4 Wallenpaupack, 6 p.m.
No. 6 Wyoming Valley West at No. 3 North Pocono, 6 p.m.
No. 7 Scranton Prep at No. 2 Abington Heights, 3:30 p.m.
CLASS 2A
First Round
Wyoming Area 2, 1 Meyers 1
Berwick 12, GAR 1
Montrose 13, Mid Valley 0
Nanticoke 5, Hanover 0
No. 10 Carbondale at No. 7 Western Wayne, N/A
Quarterfinals
Thursday
No. 8 Wyoming Area at No. 1 Dunmore, 6 p.m.
No. 5 Berwick at No. 4 Montrose, 5:30 p.m.
No. 6 Nanticoke at No. 3 Holy Redeemer, 4 p.m.
No. 7 Western Wayne/No. 10 Carbondale winner at No. 2 Lake-Lehman
CLASS A
First Round
Tuesday
Holy Cross 2, Wyoming Seminary 0
No. 6 Forest City at No. 3 Mt. View, NA
Semifinals
Thursday
No. 4 Holy Cross at No. 1 Lakeland, 5:30 p.m.
No. 3 Mt. View/No. 6 Forest City winner at No. 2 Elk Lake, 3:30 p.m.
