At the end of yesterday's Association of Independent Schools A Division semifinal, it was hard to tell that No. 13 Severn had outshot No. 14 Bryn Mawr, 9-6, and taken 15 more penalty corners.
One look at the Mawrtians' lively celebration was enough to reveal the bigger picture.
Emily Hickman scored late in the first half, and host Bryn Mawr held off the Admirals' determined offense in the final 25 minutes to preserve a 1-0 win.
The Mawrtians (10-2-1) advance to Saturday's noon AIS title game at St. Paul's School for Girls, where they'll face Garrison Forest, 2-1 winners over five-time defending champion Roland Park in the day's other semifinal.
The game will mark Bryn Mawr's first trip to the final since 1990. For coach Jeanette Budzik, it couldn't have come soon enough.
"I'm really excited," said Budzik, who said one of her team's big motivating factors was avenging a 2-1 late-season loss to Severn. "The kids were just so distraught afterward, so they worked hard and came here today ready to win. They wanted to prove that they could play hard, and that's what they did today."
Severn, however, worked equally hard, controlling the ball for most of the game and keeping the Mawrtians on the defensive. But each time the Admirals seemed ready to score, that same defense came up with the big play.
"I thought we dominated parts of the game," said Severn coach Amy McConnell, "but we couldn't get the ball across."
Hickman scored the game's only goal with 40 seconds to play before halftime. After a scramble in front of the cage, the link beat goalie Jill Stursa with a hard shot from 16 yards in front.
Said Hickman: "I just saw the opening and I went for it."
Severn had a number of chances to tie down the stretch, including Jessica Burke's short shot from the right side with under two minutes left -- but the Admirals could never break through.
"I have to really credit our defense," said Budzik.
"In the last two tournament game's [including Tuesday's 1-0 overtime win against McDonogh] they've been unbelievable."