Crestwood’s Ally George scores the only goal in the Comets’ 1-0 win over Northern in the first round of the PIAA Class AA field hockey tournament, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, in Wright Twp. (BOB GAETANO/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER)
Crestwood goalie Madi Geiger makes a pad save on a shot by Northern’s Sara Gunning in the final minute to prserve the Comets’ 1-0 victory in the opening round of the PIAA Class AA field hockey tournament, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, in Wright Twp. (BOB GAETANO/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER)
Crestwood’s Kasey Orbes, left, stops Northern’s Tori Snyder from advancing the ball up the field during their PIAA Class AA field hockey first-round game, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, in Wright Twp. (BOB GAETANO/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER)
Crestwood’s Lexi Zabroski, left, and Northern’s Keairah Dykes battle for possession during their PIAA Class AA first-round field hockey game, Tuesaday, Nov. 4, 2025 in Wright Twp. The Comets won 1-0. (BOB GAETANO/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER)
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Crestwood’s Ally George scores the only goal in the Comets’ 1-0 win over Northern in the first round of the PIAA Class AA field hockey tournament, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, in Wright Twp. (BOB GAETANO/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER)
WRIGHT TWP. — As the Crestwood field hockey team exited Comet Stadium arm-in-arm following a 1-0 win over Northern in the opening round of the PIAA Class 2A tournament Tuesday night, the players carried a boombox that loudly played Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline.”
Jesse, the team’s favorite bus driver, started playing the song on the bus ride home after the Comets’ first win of the season two months ago. The players decided to replace the “so good, so good” lyrics with “roll Wood, roll Wood!”
Following their 21st game of the season, the players were still singing those words out loud, though definitely not in sync.
Didn’t matter.
The entire team was in sync where and when where it mattered most: on the field in a battle with Northern, the No. 11 team in Pennsylvania. The Polar Bears emerged from the rugged District 3 tournament as that district’s third-place finisher after a 6-2 win over Hershey, another state power, on Saturday.
However, Crestwood (17-2-2) dominated possession during the first quarter of Tuesday’s game, but didn’t score, despite two shots on goal from close range.
The Comets finally got on the scoreboard when Ally George found the back of the cage at the 2:48 mark of the second period off an assist from Erin Cavanaugh.
“When I saw it go over the end line, I was so excited,” George said. “I saw the goalie coming out at me, but I managed to get to the right and make the shot around her.”
Northern (18-5) turned up the heat late in the third quarter and then continued to press the Comets defense. The Polar Bears mustered major threats with two consecutive penalty corners with a little more than six minutes remaining.
Crestwood’s defense held its ground, though.
Senior goalie Madi Geiger deflected a would-be goal into the air, ruining the Polar Bears’ best opportunity to tie the score.
“I was locked in from start to finish and ready for anything,” Geiger said after recording her 16th shutout this season. “I knew sooner or later a shot would make its way through. I knew I had to do it for my team because I know they always have my back.”
Crestwood coach Amanda Tredinnick credited her entire team for the hard-earned victory.
“I am overjoyed,” she told the Comets in a postgame huddle. “This is precisely what it is all about — giving it your all on the field to achieve the desired outcome. This win required the collective effort of all of us, so you should be incredibly proud of yourselves. The school and the community are proud of you.”
In the end, the Comets’ play was worthy of the state’s No. 10-ranked team according to MaxPreps.
Next up for Crestwood: a Saturday quarterfinal matinee against District 1 runner-up Mount St. Joseph, an easy 11-1 winner over Cardinal O’Hara in the first round. The time and site for Saturday’s game will be announced Wednesday.
The Comets will eagerly anticipate singing “Sweet Caroline” on their bus ride home.
First things first: Tredinnick gave them the chance for them to “enjoy a well-deserved day off tomorrow (Wednesday).”
It will be a chance to rest their bodies.
And their vocal chords.
As their road to a possible state championship continues.