Field hockey: Mount de Sales knocks off Seton Keough

Mount de Sales spoiled Seton Keough's homecoming and ended the Gators' unbeaten season Saturday afternoon with a 2-1 triumph.

The Sailors (2-2 overall, 2-1 conference) used an opportunistic attack and steady defense to win its second Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland B Conference game of the week.

The Gators (5-1, 1-1) dropped its first game of the season, but made it exciting in the final 15 minutes.

Julianna Shearer scored off an Ashley Lesniewski assist in the first half to give the Sailors a 1-0 at intermission.

"I was behind the goalie and it went between her legs and I was there to scoop it in," said Shearer, who leads the team with seven goals.

Scoring the goal on homecoming in a victory was even more special.

"It was really great to win against them on homecoming because it gives us team pride," said the junior attacker. "It was totally awesome."

Sophomore forward Amanda Ignacio gave the Sailors a 2-0 lead in the second half after Lauren Guzman sent the ball in the box and Leah Digiandomenico drilled if off the keeper.

"The goalie deflected it and I hit it in and it deflected off somebody's foot," Ignacio said.

It wasn't the first clutch goal for Ignacio.

Last season, she scored the tying goal in an IAAM semifinal playoff game with John Carroll in a game they eventually lost.

The Sailor defense of goalie Eve Lukowski and defenders Courtney Geier, Caroline O'Ferral and Lauren Hiltz and midfielders Kayley Jones, Caroline Butler and Mary Kate Halligan helped maintain the shutout until the Gators broke through with seven minutes remaining.

Ashley Lemanski started a corner and passed to Emily Kelly. Her shot in the circle was redirected by Jordan Smith, but goalie Lukowski was there to kick it out.

Zoe Smith was there for the rebound and she drove it home.

Alisha Locklear had two shot opportunities in the second half that were repelled by Lukowski. Kelly had a nice cross into the circle that couldn't find a Gator in the final minutes.

Seton Keough coach Tom Jester wished his team had more intensity in the first half when the Gators failed to get a shot on goal.

"We weren't working like we were capable of," he said.

Mount de Sales coach Mary Gentner was just glad the Gators didn't get any golden opportunities in the final minute.

The Sailors outshot Friends 19-4 on Sept. 14, but lost 2-1 when the Quakers scored in the last 15 seconds, and they lost earlier to Archbishop Spalding in overtime in the last 23 seconds.

"That last half minute is not good for me," said Gentner, who let out a big sigh of relief at the final whistle.