It was the end of another field hockey season, which featured another Holy Cross-Good Counsel matchup in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference field hockey final. And just like the previous two years when they met in the final, Holy Cross came away with the WCAC title.
However, the Tartans had to brave more than a chilly and blustery evening at the Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex on the University of Maryland, College Park campus. They had to face something they did not have to do all year: come from behind.
The Falcons’ Meagh Graham sent a long pass down the middle of the field to a streaking Angela Pannunzio at the top of the shooting circle. Pannunzio knocked it in the back of the net for the 1-0 lead halfway through the first half.
“We were a little bit nervous; we were shaky for some reason,” said Holy Cross Head Coach Jenna Ries.
Three minutes later, Kelly Kuzma had the answer Holy Cross needed. She corralled a long rebound and then sent it past the Good Counsel keeper to tie the game at 1-1.
The game featured plenty of Holy Cross possessions after the second goal. They had a total of nine shots and eight penalty corners in the game, but couldn’t find a way to get another goal until the second half.
The game-winner for Holy Cross came with less than 10 minutes left on the clock, in a very unusual fashion. Cristina McCarthy sent a pass into the shooting circle, which got by the Good Counsel goaltender. That led to a massive scramble on the right side of the goal. Holy Cross’ Shannon Gallagher was there to try and knock it in, until she was surrounded by Good Counsel players.
“I kind of hit it towards the right and I guess one of the girls from the other team tapped it in,” said Gallagher.
Either way, she was credited with the championship-winning goal for Holy Cross.
This is the fifth consecutive win for Holy Cross over Good Counsel. Even with many statistics favoring Holy Cross, Good Counsel Head Coach Martie Dyer was proud of her team’s performance.
“We scored on their goalie, who hadn’t been scored on all year. I think we played them extremely tight and tough and I think that speaks for how much they’ve gelled and how much they’ve grown,” said Dyer.
Holy Cross finished with a 16-5 record on the year, and Good Counsel ended the year with a 9-7 record.
