Mustangs Beat Wesley 3-2, Advance to CAC Semifinals
OWINGS MILLS, Md. - Sophomore Katelyn Manocheh (Timonium/Maryvale Prep) had a hand in all three goals, scoring twice to lead the Stevenson University field hockey team to a 3-2 victory over Wesley in the quarterfinals of the CAC Field Hockey Championship Sunday afternoon at the Caves Complex.
With the win, the Mustangs (10-9) move one game up in the win column for the first time since September 13, setting a new school record for wins in a season by becoming the first team in the 15-year history of the program to win at least 10 games.
Meanwhile, Manocheh, who had just one goal and three points as a freshman, raised her season totals to nine goals and 19 points, both second on the team behind senior Krissy Leventis (Baltimore/Lutheran).
Leventis scored the game's first goal less than five minutes in off an assist from Manocheh before Manocheh scored 16 minutes later to give Stevenson a 2-0 lead.
Stephanie Johnson then answered with her sixth goal of the year just six minutes later to put Wesley (11-7) on the board and cut the Mustang lead in half.
However, an unusual decision by the Wolverine coaching staff right before the half proved to be the difference in the game. With 56 seconds left in the first half, Wesley pulled starting goalkeeper Maura Druhan in favor an 11th field player.
Just before time expired, Stevenson was awarded a penalty corner on which, Manocheh scored her second goal of the game off assists from seniors Emily Pullarn (Baltimore/Perry Hall) and Cat Connelly (Fallston/Fallston), giving the Mustangs a 3-1 halftime lead.
Seven minutes into the second half, the Wolverines would substitute Sarah Johnson in goal for Druhan after Druhan joined the team just two days prior to the team's game against Frostburg State because of a knee injury to Johnson.
Johnson, who was 10-6 with seven shutouts in 16 starts this season, was required to make just one save in the final 28:16 as the Mustangs totaled just one shot during that time.
Stephanie Johnson would net her second goal of the game with less than 14 minutes to play to pull the Wolverines back within one, but the Stevenson defense held strong over the final 13:25 to pick up its record-setting victory.
Sophomore Kara Zimmerman (Odenton/Arundel) made six saves for the Mustangs as did Druhan for the Wolverines.
More information on Wednesday's quarterfinal contest at No. 9-ranked and top-seeded Salisbury, including game time, will be made available on gomustangsports.com as soon as it is available.
