Fall Sports Notebook

Since its six-year Mountain Valley Conference reign came to an end in 2007, the Pleasant Valley boys' soccer team has been unable to reclaim the throne.

For the last three years the Bears have fallen to the Mounties from Stroudsburg in the conference playoffs - once in the finals and twice in the semi-finals. Fortunately for head coach Chris Pachuta and his senior-laden team, that was then and this is now.

The fact that this year's senior class is the only group to not win a conference title since 2001 serves as motivation every day.

The best thing the Northwestern golf team got out back from a winless season a year ago was every single golfer.

Things definitely got even better as two incoming freshmen - Cole Miller and Nick Vecellio - have more than played a key role in helping the returning golfers forget about a 0-13 season.

While seniors Tyler Kunsman and Michael Hontz and juniors Stephen Reitz and Michael D'Ancona dealt with last year's dilemma, freshmen Cole Miller and Nick Vecellio have helped the Tigers lick those wounds completely clean this season.

To be ranked first in your district or state is a huge accomplishment for any high school team.

But, the Lehighton field hockey squad took those honors to another level this week when the Indians were ranked first in the entire nation according to www.hockeypower.com.

"I am not one for rankings or polls, but it is cool to see that someone has recognized the hardwork and effort that the Lehighton Field Hockey is putting in," said Lehighton head coach Shawn Hindy. "Now, we have to keep working hard and prove this is where we should be!