A lesser team would have crumbled under the circumstances, surrendering a tying goal to its fiercest rival off a penalty corner with no time left on the clock.
But the defending Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference champion and No. 1 Archbishop Spalding field hockey team went about the business of controlling the overtime in Thursday's showdown against No. 2 McDonogh in a rematch of last year's title game. The Cavaliers' persistence paid off when sophomore forward Margot Lawn scored her second goal of the game with 3:05 left to play in the first 7-on-7, 10-minute overtime period for a 3-2 victory.
After going 17-0-1 and winning the league crown with a win over McDonogh last season, Spalding (3-1, 1-0 in the IAAM) was coming off an upset loss against South River on Tuesday that was decided on penalty strokes after overtime.
The Cavaliers put the experience to good use against the Eagles, who got the tying goal from Katelyn Whittle to force the overtime.
"It was rough. But we went into overtime earlier this week against South River and all of us knew in our hearts we didn't want to lose another game that way," Lawn said. "So we knew we wanted to get it done in the first overtime and I was able to do that with a great pass from Jenna Garden, which made it really easy to put it in the back of the net."
Hard work and skill came before Lawn's goal in sweltering heat during the overtime. Spalding senior Mary-Mac Poulton came into the game with fresh legs to challenge and beat a defender to get the ball in the circle. She connected a pass across to Garden, who found Lawn open in front.
"I think the overtime we played Tuesday against South River prepared us for this," Spalding coach Leslee Brady said. "I told them it wasn't a loss, it was a learn. And we did — we learned how to manage the 7 v. 7 better. The girls didn't panic."
While the Cavaliers were already playing their fourth game of the season — they outscored Good Counsel and Chesapeake-AA by a combined 9-0 to open with two convincing wins before Tuesday's setback — the Eagles had the chore of opening their season on the road against the defending league champions.
They didn't falter either, despite falling behind 2-0 when the Cavaliers, clearly outplayed in the first half, dominated the early part of the second half with goals from Garden and Lawn.
When McDonogh senior Andie Aldave scored off a feed from fellow senior Bethany Lally with 10:28 to play, the Eagles saw hope. They capitalized when the Cavaliers surrendered a penalty corner and then a second one with no time left on the clock. A successful clear was all the Cavaliers needed, but Whittle scored to force the extra time.
Spalding didn't allow the Eagles to carry over any momentum, though. McDonogh coach Denise Wolf called it a heartbreaker, but a fantastic game.
"We had the first half, they won the second half and we just couldn't finish the ball today. They're a fantastic squad and I knew it was going to be a tough game," Wolf said. "We didn't give up. The last five minutes of the game, we got the ball down on our side of the field and they kept at it. So good for them for sticking in and hanging tough to the end — that's all we can ask."
The teams have met in the past three conference title games with Spalding taking two of three in the span.
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Field hockey
1 Archbishop Spalding 3, 2 McDonogh 2 (OT)
Goals: M – Aldave, Whittle; S – Lawn 2, Garden
Assists: M – Lally, Carlson; S – Garden, Lawn, Caruso 2.
Saves: M – Hyatt 2; S – Nemecek -- 4
Half: 0-0