Focused Saints on point in 3rd win

St. Mary’s adjusts to change in surfaces to hand AACS its first setback of season

The St. Mary’s field hockey team knew nothing at all about Annapolis Area Christian School.

“I think it really helped,” junior forward Kaitlyn Panebianco said. “They didn’t get in our heads at all. We focused on ourselves.”

Four goals, including two back-to-back from Panebianco, handed the Saints (3-1) the shutout win over the Eagles, 4-0. Before Thursday, AACS had amassed 15 goals over two games.

“Forwards did a great job with their deflections, and their touches were on point today,” Saints first-year coach Kaitlyn Marsh said. “I think we were playing our game, a small game, and not playing their big ball game.

It was the first loss of the year for AACS, as well as the first goals-allowed, the result of a half-dozen factors that slowed the Eagles (2-1) on Thursday.

The field at AACS is grass, not artificial turf, like St. Mary’s.

“It is an adjustment, definitely, for us,” AACS coach Mallory O’Hara said. “We’re on Bermuda, which with the weather has been really slow. We’ve got some players used to playing on turf, but, yes, definitely an adjustment in speed and getting low.”

The team felt some calls that could have been made flew by unnoticed. It was sophomore goalkeeper Gracie Brewster’s first full game in the net, and first real test. Senior Maggie Stallings went down, injured. The Eagles, like the Saints, knew nothing about their opponent.

“They moved down from (IAAM) A (Conference). This is actually my first time playing them,” said O’Hara, a third-year coach. “They’re very aggressive, very strong, great sticks, and they know how to use their sticks effectively.”

At first, it seemed maybe the two were on pace for a stalemate, trading possession almost constantly. Then, junior midfielder Emma Legacy got control from a Spira Rosseau pass, sneaked to the corner, and flicked in the first goal, just four minutes in.

Later, after a timeout, the ball skittered toward Panebianco. She’d been hurt before the season, a pinched nerve in her foot, and this was a chance to prove she was back. So she did, and doubled it, scoring back-toback goals amid a crowd to up the Saints’ lead to 3-0.

“That was huge for her today,” Marsh said. “She had been hurt and she just came back, so it was awesome to see her healthy and contributing to this team.”

AACS was aggressive, but St. Mary’s was just more so. As Eagles midfielder Bianca Iannielli tried for a shot, Saints defender Molly McAteer whisked it away.

Then, in a tangle with defenders, Stallings dropped to the ground, clutching her leg, her face screwed up. Coaches rushed to her side and helped her off the field. By game’s end, her right ankle would be bound in ice and plastic.

“It’s kind of unknown. It’s something with her ankle, ligament,” O’Hara said. “She tore her ACL two years ago and was out last season, so hopefully it’s not that.”

For much of the second half, the Eagles stepped up their defense, one of their proudest takeaways postgame. The Saints relied on their trade style, passing small and sticking to the ball.

The Saints suffered an injury of their own, Rosseau, who was hit in the face.

“She’ll need stitches,” Marsh said. The coach hopes her senior forward will be healthy by next game.

It wasn’t until 24 minutes in, when freshman forward Gracie Driggs skirted around the keeper, scoring the fourth Saints goal of the game and 11th shot on goal. AACS would have five.

Postgame, the Eagles gathered around to pray for Stallings while she leaned on crutches.

“Perseverance. These girls stuck with it and fought to the end,” O’Hara said. “We have a lot we want to work on — transitioning, being strong with the ball, overcoming obstacles.’’