Mercy spoils AACS's plans for hockey crown

BALTIMORE - Annapolis Area Christian School almost had it.

Jenna Benke and Jenna Parr paired up to lead Mercy on an overpowering run to take the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland C Conference field hockey title away from the Eagles with a 2-1 victory yesterday.

"We just knew we wanted to win," said Benke, who began the Magic's comeback with a goal in the 54th minute. "We picked it up and put it in gear and just decided to kick some butt, and we sure did."

Parr set up Benke's score before driving in the game-winner three minutes later to capture Mercy's fourth championship in five years, while spoiling the Eagles' first finals appearance.

Kayla Latney gave Annapolis Area Christian School (17-2-1) the lead with 8:34 left in the first, but Mercy didn't allow a second-half shot.

"They came out stronger in the second half," said Meredith Tull, who assisted Latney's score. "They're a good team. I think we're better."

The Eagles (17-3-1), who beat Mercy twice during the regular season, played three games in three days due to weather delays and a scheduling conflict. The C Conference final was scheduled for today, along with the A and B, but Annapolis Area Christian School does not practice or play on Sundays.

"We've played three games in 36 hours, pretty much," Eagles coach Sharon Wiley said. "The adrenaline keeps you going, but eventually, it starts to sink."

Mercy (14-3-1) had something to do with that.

After struggling to maintain offensive control in the first half, the Magic took control in the second. They put four shots on goal and used 14 penalty corners - including five in a row over a 91-second span early and four late - to keep the Eagles on edge.

"We all just really wanted it, so we were all working together," Parr said. "We kept pushing it in until it went in."

Parr fed Benke on a give-and-go off a corner with 6:50 left. Emily Ferguson stopped Benke's first shot, but couldn't adjust on the rebound. Benke pushed the ball between Ferguson's left leg and the cage tie the score at 1.

Amanda Stecco played a backhanded pass to Parr three minutes later for the game-winner on Ferguson's right.

"We pushed it harder," Benke said. "Just our momentum did well, and especially after we scored the first goal, we knew we had it."

The Eagles thought they were in the right position.

Tull and Latney capitalized on Annapolis Area Christian School's third first-half corner for a 1-0 lead. Meagan Ingley drove a pass at the top of the circle for Tull, who lined a shot to the right side, and Latney - posted on the cage's edge - deflected the ball past Abbie Baker.

"Mer had a great hit to center it in, and I just happened to be at there at the right time to clear it in," Latney said. "I didn't think we had it won. But I thought we could a good lead, and we could keep it going."

That's all the Eagles got, though.

Mercy's defensive unit - led by Gina Free and twins Christina and Nicole Jackson - didn't let the Eagles take a shot for the last 38:39.

Nicole Jackson intercepted a deep pass to Anna Marie Laycock in the eighth minute, and Baker made a kick save on Tull's shot on the Eagles' next push.

"Our defense is unstoppable," Magic coach Alex Chambers said. "They've been the strongest defense I've worked with, so it's really impressive."

Ferguson stopped five shots - four in the second half - including a kick save to deny Kelly Ward with 7:26 left. But the Magic's response was too much.

The Eagles, who lost one conference game during the regular season, beat every team in the league and Annapolis on the way to a program record for wins.

"It was a great season," Latney said. "We did way more than we believed we could ever do."

Mercy (14-3-1) 0 2 - 2

AACS (17-3-1) 1 0 - 1

GOALS: ME - Benke, Parr; AC - Latney. ASSISTS: ME - Stecco; AC - Tull. SAVES: ME - Baker 1; AC - Ferguson 5. SHOTS: ME - 9; AC - 3. CORNERS: ME - 16; AC - 3.