GIRLS SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP CAPSULE

CLASS M

Records: No. 3 Sacred Heart Academy (17-1-3) vs. No. 4 Mercy (19-2-2)

When: Saturday, 1:30 p.m.

Where: At Dillon Stadium, Hartford

Tickets: Digital only (no cash sales at the event). $10 adults, $5 for students and senior citizens (65 and older), free for children under 5 and members of the military with an ID

ON THE AIR/WEB: NFHS Network (subscription required) COVID-19 vaccines available: Free vaccine clinics will be held Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (in partnership with Griffin Health). Boosters are available as well, but person must bring a vaccine card to get the booster. K-12 students getting vaccine will be offered free admission to the event.

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME APPEARANCES: Both Sacred Heart Academy and Mercy are in the final for the first time.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Both teams are coming off shutouts in the semifinals: Sacred Heart Academy 1-0 over Notre Dame and Mercy 3-0 over Granby. The SCC programs did square off once already during the postseason: Mercy won 2-1 in the league tournament semifinals. All of the goals were scored in the final 2 minutes. Mercy had the first two and Sacred Heart Academy scored with 1 second left. Kate Donlan anchors the offense with Megan Gallagher while goalkeeper Melina Ford has posted 14 shutouts. Juliana Garcia and Juliana Criscola lead the Sharks’ offense and Ella Guth has 14 assists for SHA. The game will not remain scoreless until the final 2 minutes of regulation this time. But the game may still end up in overtime before one of these teams brings home the hardware.

YOU SHOULD KNOW: This is the first matchup of SCC teams in a state final since Guilford defeated Branford in the 2013 Class L final.