Alaina McVeigh leads Gwynedd Mercy over Mount St. Joseph

SPRINGFIELD >> Gwynedd Mercy Academy dominated from start to finish Tuesday afternoon in its 10-0 Athletic Association of Catholic Academies win over Mount St. Joseph Academy and midfielder Alaina McVeigh was a big reason why.

The senior scored six goals and assisted on three others as the Monarchs cruised to a comfortable win at the Mount.

“Our passing was so great today,” McVeigh, who’s closing in on 150 career goals, said. “We were just seeing each other and that was really our plan. In practice we were saying move the ball, transfer the ball and that’s what we did. My teammates found me open a lot.”

“(McVeigh is) very important,” GMA coach Allyson Fuller said. “Offensively and defensively she creates things for us. Moving the ball up the field she has great vision, great execution, her decision-making with the pass, the dribble, the shot. It’s great.”

McVeigh, a Duke commit, scored at least one goal in all four quarters. She found the back of the cage once in the first quarter, twice in the second, once in the third and twice in the fourth.

Four of McVeigh’s goals and two of her assists came on penalty corners. The team converted on 7-of-15 corners in the game.

“I just try to shoot as fast as I can,” McVeigh said, “get it to corners and hope it either goes in or someone’s able to touch it and get the rebound. It’s something we’ve been practicing a lot. In some of our earlier games (corners weren’t) our best part of the game, so it’s something we’ve been working on a lot and they’ve improved immensely.”

“(McVeigh’s) shot is incredible,” Fuller said. “We really pride ourselves on being adaptable and making the best situation in corners – whether it’s the initial shot or an extended play. She’s definitely a big part of that for us. Great shot, but also recognizes that she’ll draw the defense to her and knows what other options are available.”

Caroline Fitzgerald added two goals for the Monarchs (10-2, 7-1 AACA) while Sydney Mandato and Ella Saxon each scored once.

The Magic (2-10, 0-8 AACA) goalies were busy throughout the game. Nora Haney made six saves in the first half and Alyssa Brachelli stopped 15 shots in the second.

Gwynedd Mercy Academy 10, Mount St. Joseph Academy 0
Gwynedd Mercy Academy 3 3 2 2 – 10
Mount St. Joseph Academy 0 0 0 0 – 0
Goals: GMA: Alaina McVeigh 6, Caroline Fitzgerald 2, Sydney Mandato, Ella Saxon.
Assists: GMA: Alaina McVeigh 3, Caroline Caputo, Ava Huntley 2, Ella Saxon, Sydney Mandato.
Saves: GMA: Lily Sweeny 5. MSJ: Nora Haney 6, Alyssa Brachelli 15.
Corners: GMA: 15. MSJ: 0.