South River rallies to District V field hockey championship

Brittany Baker just made South River angry.

Baker scored on Glenelg's first chance, and the Seahawks responded with three unanswered goals yesterday to post a 3-1 victory and win the inaugural District V field hockey championship.

"That was like the only time they were down there, and they scored," South River's Brooke Griffin said. "We were dominating the whole time. We just needed to pick it up and play more as a team."

Jennie Milligan answered Baker with seven minutes left in the first half, and Griffin beat Christy Bishop on a penalty stroke early in the second to take the lead. Leah Anonsen's late score provided extra cushion for the Seahawks' defense, which kept Glenelg quiet for the last 44:58.

Baker found a way through early, though. Alyssa Parker broke into the Seahawks' zone and set up Baker with a pass on the right for a one-timer through Emily Melanson's feet to make it 1-0 lead with 14:48 remaining.

"I had no idea I was open," Baker said. "I couldn't have done it without Alyssa. She totally set me up for the goal. It was all her."

It was the first time South River (14-1) had trailed since dropping a 3-2 loss to Severna Park on Sept. 16 - a 615-minute, 2-second span.

"I was so nervous," Griffin said. "They're a good team."

Glenelg (13-2), the Howard County champion, didn't lead for long.

While Bishop stood her ground in goal, kicking away several scoring chances, South River exploited her aggressiveness to lock up its 11th consecutive victory.

Griffin recovered a loose ball at midfield and began the Seahawks' 22nd-minute charge. Griffin directed a pass high on the left wing for Maloy, who dribbled toward the cage. Maloy struck a through ball behind a charging Bishop to Milligan for an open shot on the right.

"I knew once we got that one, it would help us build upon the next one," South River coach Katie Corcoran said. "We just had to get that first goal in, and we'd have the momentum from there."

Karlee Zywusko drew a foul in the 37th minute, and Griffin made Glenelg pay with a penalty stroke. Trying to break up a close opportunity, Bishop ran out of the cage's left corner and tripped Zywusko, who had her stick in motion.

Not knowing her approach prior to squaring for the shot, Griffin lined up in front of Bishop and plotted.

"I knew she had it," Anonsen said.

Griffin drove a low shot by Bishop's outstretched left leg to put South River ahead, 2-1.

Even with defensive captain Christina Giampalmo out with the flu, the Gladiators were able to keep South River silent on penalty corners. The Seahawks, who scored on corners against Severna Park and Broadneck, were 0-for-16.

Glenelg defenders blocked Griffin on four of the five second-half corners before she could penetrate to the cage.

"They just weren't working out," Milligan said. "We weren't going to goal fast enough."

The Seahawks decided to go another way.

With 17:40 left, Mary Milligan stole Katie Becker's pass deep in the Seahawks' defensive third to begin a breakaway. Abbey Lawrence took a quick, outlet pass down the right sideline and brought it into Glenelg's end. Jennie Milligan circled behind Lawrence before taking a short pass toward the center and slid a feed to Anonsen, who drove a 15-yard shot past Bishop to make it 3-1.

"Our coaches always tell us that when you're inside the circle, shoot," Anonsen said. "The goalie comes out far, so I knew if I just shot, then it could go in."

South River held on from there.

"Unfortunately, the flu is going around, and our defense is decimated," Gladiators coach Ginger Kincaid said. "We were trying to figure out how to play defensively against them, so we could never get as much attack generated as we wanted."

South River, the No. 2 seed in the Class 4A East Region playoffs, got all it needed.

Anonsen's score gave the Seahawks three or more goals for the 12th time in 14 games.

"This is a huge step for us," Griffin said. "We just have to keep working hard. We've got big games ahead of us."

Glenelg (13-2) 1 0 - 1

South River (14-1) 1 2 - 3

GOALS: GL - B. Baker; SR - J. Milligan, Griffin, Anonsen. ASSISTS: GL - Parker; SR - Maloy, J. Milligan. SAVES: GL - Bishop 5; SR - Melanson 2. SHOTS: GL - 4; SR - 17. CORNERS: GL - 2; SR - 16.