2 days Ago By Ed Morlock
MALVERN — Villa Maria Academy has not been challenged much this season. The Hurricanes won a tough, one-goal game against Academy of Notre Dame in the season opener before winning their next five games by a combined score of 62-1. When they hosted Mount Saint Joseph Academy for first place in the Athletic Association of Catholic Academies Tuesday afternoon, Villa Maria was challenged.
The Hurricanes scored 2:02 into the fourth quarter to take a 3-2 lead, which held up as the final score at Villa Maria Academy High School. “We let them play on our turf and play faster than us and better than us,” VMA’s Naomi Niewinski said. “(Before the fourth quarter) we were talking and we had to come together as one.
We weren’t really playing together and we were playing down to their level. We realized this is us, this is what we’re made for and this is what we need to do. “It’s always good to have a harder opponent that is better and you’ve played before and you know them a little bit more than other teams.
” Niewinski caged the game-winner with 12:58 remaining. Lauren Kurek stole a pass deep in the Mount’s end to create a scoring opportunity. Niewinski was in position and put away a rebound for a 3-2 lead.
The Mount earned a penalty corner with 3:40 left in the game and put a strong shot on goal, but VMA goalie Caitie Connolly was there to make the stop and keep it a one-goal game. The Hurricanes (7-0, 4-0 AACA) scored the first two goals of the game to take a 2-0 lead early in the second quarter. Jack Shaw started the scoring late in the first quarter and Caitlin Connell doubled the advantage in the second.
The Magic (7-1, 3-1 AACA) got on the board right before halftime. Jill Marcolina put back a rebound on a penalty corner to send the rivals to the break with VMA ahead, 2-1. The score stood for almost the entire third quarter.
The Mount earned a penalty corner in the final seconds of the third and Nora Massella scored with 7.1 seconds left to tie things up. “I was really happy with our offensive corners,” Mount coach Kyra Castano said.
“We scored our two goals on offensive corners. I think we’re a threat there. I was happy with that.
” The Magic stayed within striking distance throughout the game thanks to strong penalty corner defense and their goalie, Kathryn Pedicino. They allowed one goal on 14 penalty corners and Pedicino made 15 saves. “I’m really proud of the defensive corner unit,” Castano said.
“What else is instrumental is you have the people coming down from the 50 to help the team, too. The defensive corners are something we were focused on all year, but specifically this week leading up to the game. “Kathryn is doing awesome.
There was one where she had a stick save. She was just absolutely phenomenal. I’m so proud of her.
” The teams will meet again this season at the Mount on Oct. 3..
