Last year's Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference girls soccer championship between McDonogh and St. Vincent Pallotti was filled with suspense to the end when the latter scored the game's only goal in overtime.
When the two teams met again yesterday at McDonogh, there was no such drama. The host and No. 1-ranked Eagles simply weren't having it.
Getting a first-half goal from freshman Ashley Spivey, carrying the play throughout and adding a last-minute tally from Rachel Peltz, McDonogh avenged last year's title-game loss with a 2-0 win over the defending league champion Panthers.
The Eagles remain undefeated on the season, improving to 7-0 and 3-0 in the IAAM. The Panthers (3-2) fell to 1-2 in the league.
"Coming out against Pallotti, we weren't nervous, but excited because we lost to them last year," said senior captain Gigi Mangione, who assisted on Spivey's goal. It was a really tough game and we had a hard loss, so this year we really wanted to get them back because we thought we had the potential to win that game.
"Our main goal this year is to reach our full potential," she said. "If we do, it's going to be hard to stop us because we have such high-quality players."
Those players executed a near-flawless game, with good spacing, quality touches and responsible defense.
The goal the Eagles needed came in the 29th minute with Spivey and Mangione working a quick give-and-go on the left side. Mangione's return pass found Spivey in stride, enabling her to one-time a left-footed shot from 12 yards for the 1-0 lead.
"Ashley is just a high-quality player and such an impact player for a freshman," Mangione said. "We can read off each other, we know where each other is going to be, and it's really easy to just lay it off to each other and have combinations together."
Some sturdy defense and fine play in goal from starter Kristine Mumby (eight saves) and second-half substitute Amber Cope (three saves) kept the Panthers close, but they could muster only two shots on McDonogh goalkeeper Ali Brennan.
Peltz took a ball away from a Pallotti defender near midfield and went in all alone to seal the win.
"With McDonogh, every player on the field is dangerous," Pallotti coach Mike Vawter said, "so that makes it tough."
Field hockey
No. 1 Garrison Forest 2, Severn 0:: Cody Magness scored a goal in each half to power the Grizzlies (6-0) past the Admirals. Emily Cain and Kristen Hessler combined efforts for one save each.
No. 4 South River 3, No. 11 Chesapeake-AA 0: : Kaitlin Maloy had a goal and an assist to lift the Seahawks (4-1) over the visiting Cougars (4-2). Stephanie Peterson and Brooke Griffin each added goals for South River, which led 3-0 at the half.
Boys soccer
No. 7 Calvert Hall 1, No. 2 Mount St. Joseph 0:: Yianni Sarioglou scored in the 66th minute to lift the host Cardinals (2-1-2) over the Gaels (3-2).
