They say revenge is a dish best served cold.
Bryn Mawr found that out for itself during a blustery cold Sunday as the Mawrtians avenged a 2-1 loss to a 2-0 loss in the regular season with a 2-1 upset victory over the top-seeded Grizzlies in the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference championship game at Villa Julie College. The win marked the school?s first conference title since 2001.
“I thought it was an exciting game and highlighted our A Division,” said Bryn Mawr head coach Jeanette Budzik. “Lots of skill and lots of speed.”
Coming out strong, it appeared as if Garrison Forest would break through, but Bryn Mawr?s defense held strong. Weathering the early offensive, Bryn Mawr responded itself, and netted the game?s first goal at 21:51 of the first half.
Going down for the save, Garrison goalie Emily Cain had the ball roll under her while offensive players poked away. The referee had to decide on whether it was a free hit for Garrison or a penalty stroke for Bryn Mawr. The referee ruled stroke, and senior captain Allie Emala didn?t miss the upper right hand corner.
“Well I had do it a couple of times before,” said Emala, now 4-for-5 on strokes for the year. “I knew that [the corner] was where I wanted to go.”
Trailing 1-0, the Grizzlies went back at it, but had an apparent equalizer waived off late in the first half.
“I really think that within the whole scheme of things we had ball control a larger amount of time,” said Garrison Head Coach Traci Davis. “We had our chances.”
Still down 1-0 early in the second half, Garrison finally tied the game on a goal from senior captain Poppy Hall. Collecting a loose ball at the front of the Mawrtian cage, Hall calmly slid the ball past the keeper to the back of the goal.
Back even at 1-1, it was like a switch went on the last 18 minutes for Bryn Mawr. Buzzing around, the Mawrtians controlled play for the rest of the day, including the stunning game winner from Emala, her second of the day, with 3:28 left.
“Allie is a role model for her teammates,” Budzik. “This class [of seniors] set an excellent example for future Bryn Mawrstudent athletes.”
» In the B Conference finals, Maryvale Prep defeated Mount de Sales, 1-0 on a goal from Katelyn Maoncheh.
