Honesdale’s girls varsity soccer team edged past Wallenpaupack Area 2-0 on Tuesday, Oct. 6, in a Lackawanna League match that could impact both divisional standings and district tournament seeding. Arianna Valerio and Olivia Reed each scored, while goalkeeper Autumn Razny kept a clean sheet in a tightly contested game that stretched to the final whistle.
The Hornets and the Buckhorns were locked in a scoreless battle for most of the first half, with strong defensive work on both sides limiting clear chances. That deadlock broke with under a minute remaining before halftime. Siena Davis, positioned deep in Paupack’s end, delivered a precise cross that Valerio met with a first-time strike, beating goalie Reagan Anderson. The goal, scored with 52 seconds left in the first half, gave Honesdale a 1-0 lead.
Valerio, noted by coach Becky Kretschmer for her speed and ball control, now has 11 goals and four assists on the season. “She’s worked very hard on her game and it shows,” Kretschmer said. “I’m excited to see what Arianna can do the rest of the way.”
The second goal came late in the match, with 7 minutes 36 seconds remaining. Reed powered through Paupack’s defense to score unassisted, extending the Hornets’ lead to 2-0. Reed has also scored 11 goals this season and added one assist. Kretschmer highlighted Reed’s resilience after missing much of last season with an ankle injury. “She’s really stepping up her game lately and she scored a huge goal out there tonight,” the coach said.
Defensively, Razny delivered another strong performance in goal. The senior stopped every shot she faced and disrupted Wallenpaupack’s attempts on two corner kicks. Razny has made 58 saves this season and 150 over her varsity career. “Autumn knows when to come out and when to stay back,” Kretschmer said. “She really communicates well with her defense, and they respond so well to her.”
The match was physical and intense throughout, reflecting the tight competition in Division II of the Lackawanna League. Western Wayne remains unbeaten in league play at 7-0-1, clearly ahead in first place. Honesdale, Wallenpaupack, and Montrose are battling closely behind for second.
Honesdale’s overall record stands at 6-4-2, while Wallenpaupack sits at 4-6-2. Both teams are still seeking favorable positions for the District 2 tournament, which begins on Oct. 28. Finals are scheduled for Nov. 7, though time and venue have yet to be announced.
Kretschmer, who recorded her 50th career coaching win with this game, said the team learned a lot from a recent loss at Western Wayne and showed improvement Tuesday. “We had a tough loss at Western Wayne the other day, but tonight was definitely a step in the right direction,” she said. “We learned a few things about ourselves and I think we’re getting better every day.”
Honesdale is scheduled to play at Old Forge on Oct. 8, weather permitting, before returning home to face Montrose on Oct. 13.
According to Yahoo Sports.
