It's not uncommon for the better athletes to elevate their game to a higher level come playoff time, no matter the sport.
St. Paul's School for Girls junior midfielder Ashlyn McGovern is doing just that.
McGovern led Gator scorers with six goals — including the game-winner with 2:54 remaining — as sixth-seeded St. Paul's defeated 11th-seeded and visiting Mount de Sales, 12-11, in an Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference first-round game in Brooklandville Friday.
"Ashlyn is ready to take charge and step up when we need her to," St. Paul's coach Ali Jacobs said. "She was awesome. She was all over the ball and all over the draw. She was finishing her shots. Her play brings everybody else up. She is the total leader."
The Gators (9-6) advance to Tuesday's quarterfinal against third-seeded Severn in Severna Park at 4:30 p.m.
"I am looking forward to seeing them again," said Jacobs, whose team lost to host Severn, 14-13, in early April. "We are headed to their turf again, but it be an exciting game. We are happy to keep rolling."
The Gators were rolling early in the second half against Mount de Sales, who got standout performances from Grace Bartlinski (4 goals) and Becca Boyle (4 goals).
St. Paul's broke a 5-5 halftime tie with a 4-1 run over the first six minutes to take an 10-6 advantage.
McGovern had two goals during that stretch.
"I think we were a little sloppy in the first half," Jacobs said. "We just talked about being a little sharper and being quicker defensively at halftime. We were slacking off our cutters defensively and on attack, finding openings a little better."
The Sailors responded to St. Paul's run with consecutive goals from Boyle, a senior attacker.
After McGovern beat goalie Meghan Clayton on a feed Lizza Liotta to give the Gators a 11-8 advantage with 6:57 left, Mount de Sales reeled off three straight goals over the next 3:41, as Boyle, Mary Blee and Bartlinski to force the game's fourth tie.
But the final tie lasted only 47 seconds as McGovern scored her sixth goal.
Sophomore midfielder Darby Welsh won her eighth draw to set up the goal.
Mount DeSales had possession with about two minutes left, but couldn't get off a shot.
"Things didn't go our way the last two minutes," Mount de Sales coach Mike Tirocchi said. "But we were down three goals and we fought to the bitter end."
Liotta and Welsh added two goals apiece.