RADNOR, PA – The Cavaliers recorded just four shots tonight, but it proved to be more than enough, as the Cabrini field hockey team made a reservation for Saturday's CSAC Championship game with tonight's 2-0 victory over Marywood.
On Saturday, the Cavaliers (8-9) will visit top seed Gwynedd Mercy, who defeated number four seed Immaculata 9-0 in tonight's other semifinal. The game will mark the Cavaliers' 10th consecutive title game appearance, with each of the last seven coming against Gwynedd Mercy.
The Blue and White will also play for their third consecutive conference championship. With a victory on Saturday, Cabrini would join the Griffins and Misericordia as the only teams in CSAC field hockey history to win three straight titles.
The opening 35 minutes proved to be quiet, as neither team recorded a shot. The Cavaliers managed four first half penalty corner, but neither club could solve the other's defensive alignment.
After two penalty corners early in the second half, Cabrini finally marked the score book in the 43rd minute, as senior
Sara DeVita's cross found classmate
Alexandra Swallow alone in front of the goal cage. The eventual game-winner marked Swallow's fourth goal of the campaign.
The Cavaliers added to their lead five minutes later, as senior
Sara Johnsen collected a Marywood turnover and fired a long range shot the deflected off a Pacer defender and into the cage for the senior's fifth goal of the season.
The Pacers pressed to get on the board, but senior
Taylor Bookman notched all three of her saves in the second half to record her program record 44th career victory.
Marywood forced three of its five second half penalty corners in the final three minutes of the game, but Cabrini's defense stood firm, holding the Pacers without a shot over the final 16 minutes of the game.
DeVita and fellow senior
Jackie Neary joined Swallow and Johnsen in recording Cabrini's shots.
Sophomore Lindsey Gladden and Heather Forbes recorded the two shots for Marywood, whose season came to an end with a 5-13 mark.
Stay tuned to CabriniAthletics.com to learn Saturday's CSAC championship game time and location.