The Comet sports teams were busy over the last week. The field hockey team won another L-L League crown while both the girls' soccer and volleyball teams advanced in District Three play with opening round tournament victories. And the football team continued its regular slate of games and has just one game remaining.

FIELD HOCKEY

In a rematch of last year's Lancaster-Lebanon League championship game, the Comets defeated the Streaks 2-1 at Conestoga Valley HS Thursday, Oct. 20, collecting its third straight crown and fifth in six years.

"It feels good to bring home the gold again," said head coach Rachel Suter.

Grace Gerner gave the Comets an early cushion, scoring on the Comets first corner of the night with 6:49 left in the first corner. Tristan Groff took the corner insert from Avery Bradburn and fired a shot at the cage which Gerner tipped for the early lead.

"The girls came out with great energy, so it was great to see those efforts rewarded so quickly with that early goal," Suter said.

The second quarter exhibited a lot of midfield play with Township creating three corners to Manor's one. After the break, however, the Streaks intensified their offensive attack, creating five corners while keeping the Comets at bay. One made it to the back of the cage but a referee call prior to the goal ruled a corner.

"After that third quarter, we talked about organized defense for the last quarter," Suter said. "Overall, I think the girls played incredibly. They started fast, strong and loose, which led to a victory for our team."

The Streaks kept at it and eventually Rhylee Givins tied the game during field play with 10 minutes left in the game.

The Comets didn't blink and went back to work. Then, with 1:06 left on the clock, Groff made good on Manor's second corner of the half, awarded when Izzy Thatcher was fouled in the circle. Bradburn set a smooth insert to Groff who collected the pass, and one timed a shot that cracked off the back of the cage for the game-winner.

GIRLS' SOCCER

The girls' soccer team opened District Three action as the fourth seed out of Class 4A. They hosted No. 13 Northeastern Tuesday, Oct. 25 and wasted little time in setting the tone en route to a 3-0 shutout.

"After such a long break, the girls were just dying to play," said head coach Bill Zapata. "I thought we played really well and our passing game was impressive. That's the best we've looked all year with passing."

In the ninth minute and on their first corner of the game, Carly Keene served the ball into the box where Kennedy Dings headed home her third goal of the season.

"We're pretty sure that's just the second time this year we've scored on a corner," Zapata noted. "But it was Carly's 18th assist which is an unofficial assist record, breaking Holly Homsher's record set in 2003. She also has the record for most assists in a game," he added. "Five against Exeter earlier this year."

Eight minutes later Carolyn Hinkle sent a through ball to Keene who made it 2-zip with Northeastern barely possessing past the 50-yard line.

"That goal actually started with Kelly Wall," said Zapata. "They tried to clear the ball and Kelly stepped in front of a Northeastern player and headed the ball to Carolyn who then dished the pass to Carly."

Manor's last goal of the half, and of the game, came with 12 minutes left in the half. Lauren Stoner sent a pass to Hinkle who lofted a shot over Bobcat keeper Riley Keefe.

The Bobcats threatened more early in the second half but Manor regrouped, putting together 12 shots on goal.

"We finished with 19 shots on goal and seven other shots that were just wide or high," said Zapata. "Sometimes we just struggle to finish but we got the result we wanted."

VOLLEYBALL

With a team-high 11 kills and five aces from Cassidy McCollum, the volleyball team posted an upset victory in the opening round of the District Three tournament Tuesday, October 25. Playing at No. 5 Central Dauphin, the Comets, seeded 11th, used a 25-23 first set result to fuel a 3-1 victory.

"This is our first district win in over a decade," head coach Tim Joyce pointed out. "Last year we were 2-12, the worst record we've had since I've been head coach. This season has been our best record and deepest run in ten years. We were the only 4A team to upset a higher seed in the bracket last night."

The Rams battled back after that first set, taking the second set 25-21 but it wasn't enough as Manor pulled away, winning 25-17, 25-15 to advance to the quarterfinals.

"We were a little frustrated in the second set," said Joyce. "We were down 16-6 and 22-12 before Janelle Bowmaster went on a strong serving run to close the gap and force a CD timeout. I told the team that even if we couldn't overcome the lead, we could carry the momentum into the next set and that's exactly what we did. Our captains, Cassidy McCollum and Eliana Knaub, set a positive tone between sets and offered tactical strategy," he continued. "We adjusted our rotation a little and got middle blocker Taylor Long a little more into the match, slowing down some of their hitters. By the fourth set, our hustle and momentum were sustaining us, and we were able to capitalize on a young CD squad's inexperience."

The 10-6 Comets also got 31 digs from Jordan Bailey, 6 blocks from Briana Lee, 34 assists and 9 digs from Knaub, 10 kills from Lezlie Nguyen and 9 digs from Maggie Garvey.

"Eliana also had 18 service points," noted Joyce. "Not aces but serving turns where we earned the point."

Bailey, McCollum and Garvey added 10 service points each.

FOOTBALL

With a slow start, the Comets were handed its second straight loss at the hands of Manheim Township Friday, Oct 28 in Millersville. The Streaks, currently tied for second place in Section One, earned its fourth straight victory (7-2 overall) when they slapped a 35-13 loss on the Comets.

The Streaks set the tone early, scoring two short TD's (15-yard run, 4-yard pass) in the first quarter and tacking on three more in the third for a 35-0 lead at the break.

The Comets got on the board in the third when Clark Wagstaff snagged a 9-yard Eli Warfel TD strike and again in the fourth, this time Warfel hit DeShawn Stanley with a 16-yard scoring toss. Warfel completed 6-of-11 passes for 102 yards and rushed another 65. Noah Bolin was on the receiving end of Warfel's longest pass, a 62-yarder. Adam Ditmer and Dhamir Wesley combined for 15 tackles as the Comets fell to 2-3 in Section One and 4-5 overall.