Hirschmann, Gwynedd Mercy break through to top Mount St. Joseph in double overtime

LOWER GWYNEDD >> Grace Hirschmann knew it was time for everything to come together.

The Gwynedd Mercy Academy senior and her teammates had been close to connecting too many times to count as the second overtime started against Mount Saint Joseph. Hirschmann wasn’t directly intending to score when she launched a ball off the left wing a minute into the extra time but that’s what ended up happening.

Hirschmann’s 93rd minute volley lifted the Monarchs to a 2-1 overtime win against their fierce AACA rival in a tight game Friday afternoon.

“I kind of just went for it and hoped for the best,” Hirschmann said. “Throughout the season I’ve tried to cross it in and hoped someone got there. This one just happened to go in.”

“That’s kind of our game and we were hoping one would finally go in.”

Befitting a contest between the two rivals, neither side could really claim a definite edge in the proceedings. Gwynedd Mercy was better early, but Mount countered with a strong spell to respond and so it went through the first half.

Mount asked more of senior forward Madison Hornig to carry the offense while the Monarchs used Samantha Berish as a launching point for most of their attacks. Chances weren’t of a high number before halftime but had quality to them, so keepers Grace Galbreath (GMA) and Gina Sassane (Mount) had to be on task.

“They fought so hard in this game,” Mount coach Bill Naydan said. “Getting that first goal was critical. When you’re playing Gwynedd, anything can happen.”

Sassane was very busy throughout the game, making 12 saves and also patrolling the penalty box quickly and alertly to cut down some potential Monarch chances. The senior co-captain couldn’t have stopped either GMA goal, but she was on point in turning away efforts from Cassidy Palazzo at the near post in the first half and a couple from Berish at different points.

“Gina saved a couple point-blank ones from Sam Berish and Grace Hirschmann and just played so well back there,” Naydan said. “It was a bit of an unfortunate ending they got that last shot in.”

Both squads made some adjustments in the second half, with Gwynedd sending senior co-captain Sarah White out of the back and into the midfield. The Mount got some good supporting midfield play from Kate Taulane, Cayla Higginson and Emily Friel, but continued to try and find Hornig up top.

Galbreath made six saves in goal and she had a good connection with her defenders, something junior co-captain and center back Hailey Morris said was a result of strong communication.

“We really tried to talk positive,” Morris said. “We had to stay together as a team because possession is our game and we’re looking to play through balls and be aggressive.”

While most of the Monarchs players wore eye black on Friday, Morris took the intimidator look to the next level with her sleeves rolled up for most of the match. It was a fitting look for the junior, who didn’t directly man-mark Hornig, but made sure the Mount senior had a second shadow following her around the pitch.

The two clashed often but Morris’ solid play was part of the reason Gwynedd Mercy was able to move White up the field to let the senior rampage around the midfield.

“We had to keep pressuring her,” Morris said. “You don’t want to let her have any open space, so that constant pressure was the goal.”

The Magic’s defenders were just as tough. Senior co-captain Caroline Kelly was strong at center back, as was Ava Picofazzi and the two of them made a couple very timely tackles inside the 18.

Hornig however, wasn’t going to go scoreless against a Monarchs side she’s had plenty of success against in her career. With about eight minutes left, a short clear by GMA turned into a midfield win for the Magic, with the ball finding its way up to Hornig.

“Getting those final chances are so tough against a team like this,” Naydan said. “We’ve adapted well to the teams we’re playing against. Sometimes it takes the first 15 minutes for us to feel it out but whether we’re playing Gwynedd, Villa Joe or Villa Maria, we’ve adapted and hopefully will have a different story the second time around.”

Getting behind the back line, the senior tucked home the first goal with 8:12 to play but the home side wasn’t discouraged.

“This year, we’ve been trying really hard to stay positive on the field and if we get down or make a mistake, we’re always there to back our teammates up,” Hirschmann said. “I think that’s the main part of what’s allowed us to play so well.”

It only took two minutes for Gwynedd Mercy to get right back in the game. A foul gave the Monarchs a free kick out on the left wing about 25 yards out.

Senor co-captain Mollie Hanson stepped over the ball and took on the challenge, looping a gorgeous service to the far side of the net, over the keeper’s reach and rippling the back of the net with 6:09 to play.

Hirschmann almost won it in the first overtime, denied by a great Sassane save with Hanson’s follow-up blocked out by Kelly.

“It was really important for us to keep talking and get open,” Morris said. “We were really frustrated not scoring in the first half but we came together and came through.”

The winner came about thanks to some hustle too. Hanson and Hirschman battled Mount’s Emily Jones to win possession of the ball on the flank with Hirschmann touching it into space and recovering quickly enough to get the decisive service off.

 “For us seniors, it’s our last Mount home game and we really wanted to win,” Hirschmann said. “I know we gave it our all out there.”

GWYNEDD MERCY ACADEMY 0 1 0 1 – 2

MOUNT SAINT JOSEPH ACADEMY 0 1 0 0 – 1

Goals: GMA – Mollie Hanson, Grace Hirschmann; MSJA – Madison Hornig