KINGSTON For Crestwood, nothing is more important than that first goal.

The Comets thrive off it and until they get it, their opponents face unrelenting offensive pressure until that ball finds the back of the cage.

It took a little longer than usual on Tuesday night, but with 17 seconds left in the first half, Crestwood got that goal en route to a 3-1 win over Boiling Springs in the opening round of the PIAA Class 3A Field Hockey Championship at Nesbitt Stadium.

It was so important, said sophomore Jordan Olenginski about scoring first. The last 30 seconds were so exciting. Just going into the second half knowing we had a one-oh lead. Just a little reassurance goal knowing we had to play more defense in the second half.

Crestwood will face Selinsgrove, 3-2 OT winners over Twin Valley, in the quarterfinals on Saturday at a site and time to be determined.

From the very start of the game, Crestwood took control of the game. They dominated ball possession and gave Boiling Springs players little relief in those rare moments when they actually won the ball. But the feisty Bubblers clogged passing lanes and prevented Crestwood from cashing in.

That was until Olenginski took advantage of an assist from Madisyn Granoski and put the Comets on the board 1-0 heading into halftime.

I think they know that they can score and if they keep knocking it will happen, Crestwood head coach Pat Moratori said. So they tend not to get frustrated. I think that will help us in the long run. They know they have to work and its not going to come easy and its not going to be simple.

From there, it was business as usual for the Comets. Hannah Ackers knocked in a rocket of a shot (assisted by Casey Cole) which echoed throughout the stadium when it hit the back of the cage to put Crestwood up 2-0.

Olenginskis second goal of the night, assisted by Cole, put the game out of reach at 3-0. Boiling Springs eventually got on the board on a goal by Elyse Brockman, assisted by Emma Spisak, with 16:20 to go.

Read more from the original source:

Comets strike first, advance to state quarters