Don’t count out Mount St. Mary’s just yet. The Mountaineers’ 9-8 decision against Sacred Heart on Saturday moved them into a tie with Wagner for fourth place in the Northeast Conference.
The victory not only snapped a three-game losing skid, but it also kept Mount St. Mary’s (4-7 overall and 1-3 in the Northeast) in the hunt for the fourth and final seed in the league tournament.
“That kept our playoff hopes alive,” a relieved coach Tom Gravante said Monday morning. “So I’m very proud of the young men to have the will. That was the theme for the week. They knew what they were playing for and how important that game was.”
The Mountaineers, the reigning conference tournament champions, only need to defeat Wagner (1-12, 1-3) in the regular-season finale for both teams on Saturday to cement its spot in the tournament. The chance to control the school’s postseason destination is a priority for the Mountaineers.
“It’s still in their hands,” Gravante said. “Their fate is going to be determined by how well they perform, and I love that. I loved being in that position as a player. We’re behind them as a staff, and we want them to get behind each other and maintain their focus on the field this week.”
