An in-season tournament can be looked at as an opportunity to put into play what a team has been working on in practice.
Marriotts Ridge opened its season Sept. 7 with a scoreless tie against Severna Park, as repeated thunder caused the game to be declared official early in the second half.
Even in the short time the Mustangs were on the field, they saw things that needed to be addressed.
Coach Stacie Gado said the game, with its tough competition, was a good eye-opener for her team.
"It gave us a lot of things to work on," she said.
Skills that Gado, her staff, and her players felt needed to be addressed were the focus of practice on Thursday and Friday.
It all paid off for Marriotts Ridge Saturday at the Stick It to Cancer round-robin tournament, as the tournament-hosting Mustangs swept both their games on the day.
Gado said she saw much improvement in her team's play from the Severna Park game to the tournament.
After beating Liberty, 2-1, in the opening game, Marriotts Ridge toppled Patterson Mill, 6-2, in its second game, which was shortened 15 minutes due to the heat.
The Mustangs have two tough away games this week, facing Broadneck on Tuesday and Atholton on Thursday.
Marriotts Ridge 6, Patterson Mill 1
Goals: MR — Caroline Blalock 2, Lily Kennedy, Erin Ko, Jenny Chi, Abby Poole. PM — Jasmine Sabol.
Assists: MR — Caroline Blalock, Erin Ko, Erin Topaltzas. PM — Juliia Frankis.
Saves: MR — Katie Garman 3. PM — Emily Pascoe 10, Grace Batimore 6.
Marriotts Ridge 2, Liberty 1
Goals: MR — Sarah Blalock, Acadia Noll. L — Ryleigh Pardoe.
Assists: MR — Caroline Blalock. L — none.
Saves: MR — Kate Garman 7. L — Grace Senner 7.
Halftime: Marriotts Ridge, 2-0
Liberty 6, Patterson Mill 2
Goals: L — Ward 3, Caldwell 1, Hessler 1, Miller 1. PM — Julia Frankis 2.
Assists: L — Miller 2, Busch 2, Ellis, Caldwell. PM — Sydney Beck, Julianne Gabor.
Saves: L — Senner 6. PM — Grace Baltimore 5, Emily Pascoe 4.
Wilde Lake tournament
Wilde Lake hosted a three-team round-robin tournament involving North Point and Oakdale.
Victory eluded the Wildecats, but they did score their first goal of the season when Hannah VanOsdel slipped the ball over the goal line.
"It looked like they had gotten the gold medal," said Wilde Lake coach Ginger Kincaid. "They jumped up and down; they were so excited."
Wildecats keeper Brittany Rotolo made four saves against the Eagles.
The Bears also defeated North Point, 8-0, in the next game and then followed that up with an 11-0 victory over Wilde Lake in the last game of the day.
Rotolo made six saves in that contest.
"All in all we played very well," Kincaid said. "It was a good day."
Centennial tournament
Centennial finished third in its own tournament Saturday.
After losing to Mount de Sales, 3-2, in the opening game, the Eagles defeated Leonardtown, 10-1, in the consolation game.
The Sailors defeated Towson, 2-1, in the championship – which was interrupted by thunder.
This is the 19th year for the Centennial field hockey tournament, which has had the same lineup of teams the past three seasons.
"It's nice to get good competition," said Eagles coach Tara Carr.
Championship:
Mount de Sales 2, Towson 1
Consolation:
Centennial 10, Leonardtown 1
Goals: C — Camden Blevins 2, Maggie Sullivan 2, Mary Monroe, Julia Grable, Zaharra Hotait, Lauren Muma, Olivia O'Connell, Kate Reis. L — Brenner Duke.
Assists: C — Olivia O'Connell 3, Brigit O'Neill, Brianna Belt, Julia Grable, Zaharra Hotait, Maggie Sullivan, Marissa Lagera. L — Catie Corolla.
Saves: C — Jenna Dietrich 2, Meg Thompson 2. L — Bella Dakis 7.
Opening round:
Mount de Sales 3, Centennial 2
Goals: MdS — Lindsay Kelly 2, Gianna Antoine. C — Julia Grable, Olivia O'Connell.
Assists: MdS — none. C —Zaharra Hotait.
Saves: MdS — Olivia Gretz 2. C — Jenna Dietrich 2.
Halftime: Centennial, 2-1.
Towson 1, Leonardtown 0