The Comets opened their 2022 season with a home game against South Western on Saturday, March 26 but did not have an answer for Katie Yocum who scored seven goals and sparked a 16-8 Mustang victory.

"We lost six senior defenders, one midfielder and one attacker from last year," said head coach Anneli Starry, "so our defensive squad has been working hard."

The visitors jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the first half. The Comets regrouped at the break and scored the first three goals of the second half. They played even with the Mustangs as both squads tallied six goals.

"The second half was a much better representation of Penn Manor lacrosse," said Starry.

Senior co-captain Keegan Dings, who paced the Comet attack with 29 goals last year, led the charge with a hat trick. Mia Jones and Jarliah Ferko each scored twice, and Erin Shipley added one.

Last Tuesday, in a 19-2 loss to visiting Hempfield, the Comets fell to 0-2. The Knights led 13-1 at the break and outscored their hosts 6-1 down the stretch. Dings and Jones each scored once.

Keepers Mackenzie Nafziger and Brooklyn Ayala combined for nine saves in the two games.

"Our goalies will compete every day for varsity time," said Starry. "We are lucky to have these two, working hard and making each other stronger players."

TENNIS

Looking for a second straight win, the Comets faced CV on Friday, March 25 but came away with a 6-1 defeat. PJ Fahey and Suren Clark secured the lone point of the match, defeating Wenger and McQuate 8-5 at No. 1 doubles.

The going was tougher Tuesday as the Comets fell 7-0 to an undefeated Hempfield squad. William Steltz put up the biggest numbers for the Comets, battling Eric Jordan to a 6-3, 6-4 No. 2 loss.

"The matches were more competitive than the scores looked," said head coach Amanda Pryzbylkowski, "many of them went to deuce regularly. They made Hempfield earn the win."

Their tough luck continued with Wednesday's 7-0 loss to Cedar Crest.

BOYS' LACROSSE

The boys' lacrosse team opened its season with a victory, even if it did take a couple extra minutes. Down three goals with under seven minutes left the Comets rallied, eventually knotting the score when Isaic Nafziger set up Adam Hollinger (3 goals) for the tying goal with 41 seconds left.

Erik Hinkle, after winning the first faceoff in overtime, scored the game-winner.

"He is the ultimate competitor," said first year head coach Connor Rowe, a Comet assistant since 2016. "Overall, the guys never gave up."

The Eagles led 8-6 heading into the fourth quarter.

"Nick Hollinger really stepped up and made some great saves," noted Rowe. "He kept encouraging his teammates and is becoming a leader on our team.

"We have a few starters back that are eager to make another run (the Comets lost a one-goal game to Cumberland Valley in the District 3 quarterfinals) but we have a lot to work on if we want to be playing into May again. We also have the most competitive group of freshmen I've seen in my time in the program. The future looks bright."

Adam Hollinger's three goals fueled the win. Eli Warfel added two while Dylan Keene (3a), Isiac Nafziger (2a), Benedict Flinchbaugh and Colin Eby each scored once.

Some of that work may have been evident in Tuesday's 18-6 loss to Hempfield. The Knights outscored the Comets in each quarter, including 6-2 in the second.

Nafziger led with three goals. A. Hollinger, Keene, Hinkle (1a) and Flinchbaugh (1a) also scored.

SOFTBALL

It was a chilly start to 2022 but the Comets prevailed, topping Lancaster Catholic 14-2 in four innings last Tuesday. Clinging to a 6-2 lead after two innings, Manor exploded for eight runs in the fourth to seal the Crusaders fate.

Bri Booth's 3 RBI homer in that fourth inning boosted Manor's score. Audrey Patterson also connected for a homer; a two-run shot in the second inning. She finished with three RBI's while Emily Riggs led that category with four, pushing in one run with a first inning base hit, plating two with a second inning triple and scoring one on a fourth inning double. The Comets finished with 14 total hits.

Julie Bowmaster struck out six, scattered five hits and gave up one walk. Riggs pitched one inning in relief and struck out two.

One day later Manor hung a 6-1 loss on Hempfield. Bowmaster pitched into the sixth and struck out three. Riggs struck out the side in the sixth and seventh and added a two-run homer. Patterson connected for a two-run double, and Bowmaster added a two-run single as Manor scored two runs in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings.

BASEBALL

On a chilly Tuesday afternoon, Hunter Sipel cracked a seventh inning, two out, two strike grand slam to propel the Comets to a 12-9 come-from-behind win over defending 6A district champs Wilson. Manor fell behind 9-6 going into that seventh inning.

"What high drama," said first year coach Tom Fish, a Penn Manor grad who previously coached at Solanco. "Hunter hit for the cycle and went 4-for-5 on the day. He tripled in the first, had a two out RBI single in the second and his two out, two run double in the sixth gave us a 6-5 lead before the seventh inning grand slam iced it. Seven RBIs in all, all with two outs."

Sophomore Bryce Avery went 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs and a triple in his varsity debut. He also pitched in the seventh to earn the save.

Junior catcher Isaac Braegelmann went 2-for-5 with a triple and three RBI.

Noah Beach pitched 4.2 innings, striking out eight, and walking two. Grant Fry earned his first varsity win in relief, pitching 1.1 innings.

The seventh inning rally included a one out single by Avery before Cameron Harnish reached on an error. Gavin Switzer's single loaded the bags. With two outs, Peter Skiadas and Braegelmann singled in runs, closing the gap to 9-8 and setting the stage for Sipel's crushing hit over the fence.

On Wednesday, Sipel scattered three hits, and struck out nine as the Comets blanked Hempfield 5-0.

Bryce Avery and Pater Skiadas each had two hits to pace Manor's ten hit attack.

TRACK

The track teams traveled to Hempfield last Tuesday, March 29, but couldn't keep up with the Knights.

In a 102-47 loss, the boys found the most success in the field, where Jaryd Kleinhaus (shot put) and Lebo (pole vault) captured firsts. They also picked up seconds in the shot (Jael Cruz), discus (Wyatt Kauffman), triple jump (Lebo), high jump (Trevor Schneider) and pole vault (Aaron Harnish).

On the track, Leonid Medvedkin won the 100 and Kaleb Kabakjian was tops in the 3200.

The girls' squad also fell short, 91-59, and also found their strength in the field, capturing five of their seven wins. Kelsey Buswell (discus), GG Moenga (shot), Cassidy McCollum (javelin), Maddie Whited (triple), and Kate Harnish (long) led the scoring with Annie Bibus adding a victories in the mile and 3200. VOLLEYBALL

The volleyball team opened league play with a tightly contested 3-0 (25-17, 25-22, 25-21) loss to CV last Tuesday. Derek Warfel was tough at the net with 11 kills and Wyatt Rohrer served up a pair of aces while Max Bushong hustled for 12 digs.