FLOURTOWN >> Mount Saint Joseph Academy’s two-goal lead over Gwynedd Mercy Academy was gone in less than six-and-a-half minutes and the odds of ending a four-year losing streak against its biggest rival were near a toss up entering the fourth quarter.
Magic freshman Caitlin Paul already made her mark on the game in the first three quarters, but she wasn’t finished yet. She broke the tie with a goal on a penalty corner with 10:40 remaining and the Mount held on for a 3-2 win, their first over Gwynedd Mercy since 2019, Thursday afternoon at Mount Saint Joseph Academy.
“This team has a lot of heart and we wanted this win so badly,” Paul, who finished the game with two goals and an assist, said.
“They’re our rivals. I don’t think we’ve beaten them in four years. Our seniors have never beat them before. It felt really good to get the win.”
Paul’s game-winner was a result of a couple crisp passes on a penalty corner. Caitlyn Keough inserted the corner to Julia McGlynn, who relayed the ball to Paul for the deciding shot.
The Magic (7-1, 3-1 Athletic Association of Catholic Academies) only earned six penalty corners in the game, but scored on two of them. The other was the first goal of the game, when Keough inserted to Paul and she found McGlynn for a 1-0 lead late in the first quarter.
“We work on (corners) a lot at practice,” Paul said. “We have a lot of good shooters on this team. We’re really gritty in the circle and we’re always getting on pads and putting it back in.”
Paul made it 2-0 early in the third quarter when her strong shot beat GMA’s goalkeeper to the right side of the cage.
“(Paul) is one to watch,” MSJ coach Kyra Castano said. “What makes her so special is she is extremely hardworking. You could see throughout the game if she loses a ball, she will run 50 yards to get it back. She takes accountability on every single play that she makes. Huge team player, as well. A great addition and impact on our team.”
The Monarchs (6-4, 2-2 AACA) answered with two goals across 6:27 to tie the game, 2-2, at the end of the third quarter.
“I thought that was amazing,” GMA coach Leah Westerman said. “They stepped up, they put their head in the game, they played solid, they knew what they needed to do. They executed well on everything that we talked about. It was a great thing that they went in and were able to come back from that 2-0 to tie it up to 2-2.”
Carsy Kelly caged the first goal on a penalty corner with 6:27 left in the third. She ended a scramble in front of the Mount goalie with a score to make it 2-1.
GMA earned a penalty corner with time expiring at the end of the third quarter and brought the entire team forward. All they needed, however, was Maddie Bogle. Reese Westerman inserted the corner to Bogle and her first shot was blocked, but came right back to her. She wound up again and sent a screamer off the goalie and into the cage for a 2-2 tie heading to the fourth.
The Monarchs earned a pair of penalty corners in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t capitalize. The Magic, who have limited opponents to eight combined goals with four shutouts in eight games, held GMA to 2-for-14 on penalty corners.
“They are truly confident in themselves and I love that about them,” Castano said of the defense. “They’re poised in the backfield, but a lot of that is support from all the way up front, too. Our defense starts at the forward line.”
Both teams return to AACA play Tuesday. GMA travels to Villa Maria and the Mount visits Sacred Heart.
Mount Saint Joseph Academy 3, Gwynedd Mercy Academy 2
Gwynedd Mercy Academy 0 0 2 0 – 2
Mount Saint Joseph Academy 1 0 1 1 – 4
Goals: GMA: Carsy Kelly, Maddie Bogle. MSJ: Julia McGlynn, Caitlin Paul 2.
Saves: GMA: Jenny Keagy 5. MSJ: Lexi Kelly 5.
Corners: GMA: 14. MSJ: 6.
