EMMAUS — Abington Heights knew it couldn’t make it all year without trailing.
It was inevitable. So, when the Lady Comets were staring down a three-goal halftime deficit, they were prepared.
“We’ve said we’re gonna come to a point where we have to have mental toughness to come back,” Abington Heights head coach Becky Davis said. “This is it. Today’s the day.”
Relentless offense and impenetrable defense powered Abington Heights to a 13-7 win over District 1’s Upper Moreland in the PIAA Class 2A girls lacrosse quarterfinals Saturday at Emmaus High School.
In addition to preserving their 22-0 undefeated record, the Lady Comets became the first District 2 girls team to reach the state semifinals.
“It’s huge. It’s history making,” freshman Morgan Davis said. “Our goal going into the season was to win districts, and now we’ve done just that, and won a few more games. It’s been really great.”
It took just 29 seconds for the game to see its first goal. Annalise Messina scored for Upper Moreland, off an assist from Keira Hess, giving Abington Heights its first deficit of the year.
Upper Moreland’s one-goal advantage held for nearly three minutes, until Morgan Davis scored to tie the game.
Senior Sadie Gilbert snatched a lead for Abington Heights, netting a strike assisted by Morgan Davis, with 8:08 remaining in the first quarter. Junior Lauren Bartell padded the lead, assisted by Gilbert, with 7:31 left. The Lady Comets led, 3-1.
Upper Moreland closed the gap with goals from Keiley Hawk and Messina, but junior Allie Rothenberger snuck a goal in with 18 seconds left, stealing a 4-3 Abington Heights lead entering the quarter break.
“We pushed really hard. We knew that we weren’t done,” Rothenberger said. “My team is amazing. I love spending every day with them.”
In the second quarter, Messina took over for the Bears.
The Rutgers commit scored three goals by the quarter’s midway point, pushing Upper Moreland to a 6-4 edge. Hawk continued the Bears’ momentum, adding another goal with 3:08 remaining in the first half.
“(Messina) is a complete, fierce competitor. She is a phenomenal athlete,” coach Davis said. “We came in with a game plan. (When) we needed to tweak, we did. I think our defense just executed it really well.”
Abington Heights created offensive opportunities in the second quarter, but could not convert on any of them. As a result, the Comets entered halftime in a 7-4 hole.
“We have a history of not good third quarters,” Morgan Davis said. “We decided this had to be our game.
“A really strong halftime talk from coach.”
Strong was perhaps an understatement.
After allowing four unanswered goals in the second quarter, Abington Heights responded with four of its own. Gilbert cut the Lady Comets’ deficit to two, scoring with 7:35 left in the third quarter. At 6:17, Morgan Davis scored to bring her team within one, and one minute later, Gilbert found a hat-trick clinching equalizer.
When Rothenberger put Abington Heights ahead, with 3:39 remaining in the quarter, the Lady Comets’ sideline was electric.
“This team really believes. They really do,” coach Davis said. “We needed to decide whether we were gonna go out there frustrated or determined. They took the field very determined.”
Abington Heights led, 8-7, by the end of the third quarter.
The Lady Comets continued to soar through the final 12 minutes, scoring five more times to extend their run to nine goals. Morgan Davis scored three more goals, while Rothenberger netted an additional pair, bringing the final score to 13-7.
“I just think it’s incredible for all these girls that have been playing together since they were little,” coach Davis said. “They have been working hard since the beginning of March. It’s super special, and I’m fortunate to be along for the ride with them.”
Saturday’s win carried extra history for Abington Heights.
Last season, the Lady Comets were eliminated from the PIAA tournament by Upper Moreland in an 11-9 first-round loss. To reach the semifinals against their past rival made the win even sweeter.
“We knew we were becoming a stronger team altogether,” Morgan Davis said. “Last year, we definitely had it in us to win, but we didn’t quite show it. Now, we came out on top.”
Abington Heights will be back in action Tuesday against the winner of Crestwood and District 1 champion Strath Haven’s quarterfinal matchup at a time and location to be announced.
AH 4 0 4 5 — 13
UM 3 3 0 0 — 7
AH — Goals: Davis 5, Rothenberger 4, Gilbert 3, Bartell; Assists: Davis 3, Rothenberger 2, Gilbert, Bartell; UM — Goals: Messina 5, Hawk 2.