The Bryn Mawr field hockey team is following a seemingly simple game plan as it searches for its first Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference title since 2009.
The Mawrtians can’t lose if they don’t allow a goal.
For the sixth time in its past seven games, No. 2 Bryn Mawr did just that Wednesday, holding No. 8 host Notre Dame Prep — a team that entered the day averaging more than five goals a game — frustratingly scoreless in a 4-0 win. Senior Addie Polakoff had two goals and an assist, and junior Clara Espenshade led a defense that time and again forced turnovers and quickly shifted momentum.
“A focus point in our game today was defensive discipline, so moving our feet, jabbing and retreating … and our defense absolutely did that,” Mawrtians first-year coach Carey Fetting-Smith said. “Our press was on fire and we did a really great job there.”
“It’s really helpful that we have some great offense that goes against us in practice, so we get that really tough competition in game-like situations,” Espenshade said.
Bryn Mawr (12-2-1, 4-1) has recorded 11 shutouts in 15 games, allowing only four goals in three games against top competition at last month’s MAX Field Hockey National High School Invitational — three in a loss to top-ranked Archbishop Spalding and one more in a win over No. 3 Broadneck. Other than that, it’s been all clean sheets.
In this one, Notre Dame Prep (9-3, 1-3) trailed throughout, falling behind with 2:45 left in the opening quarter when Espenshade scored in front off a corner after a flurry in front of the cage. The Mawrtians went on to score a goal in each of the final three quarters, keeping the ball on their end for long stretches and limiting the Blazers’ offenses chances.
Blazers goalie Harper Bowen, back after missing two weeks with an injury, recorded nine saves, helping limit the damage.
“Bryn Mawr plays a simple, well executed game of hockey,” NDP coach Katrina Ross said. “They are well coached, disciplined and athletic.”
That discipline showed throughout the game.
“We knew going into this game that they have a very strong defense, and we needed to work around them using the sides,” Polakoff said. “One of our strengths is those inside-outside passes up the field — using the sidelines to our advantage, then bringing it into the circle. I think we did a really good job executing that today. … I think it all just came together.”
With two games left in the regular season, Bryn Mawr already has surpassed its win total from each of the past two seasons. Fetting-Smith credited the senior leadership of Polakoff and midfielder Penelope Kousouris with helping maintain focus on a team loaded with underclassmen.
“They’ve been on the team since they were freshmen … and you can tell they’re here to make a statement,” Fetting-Smith said. “Everyone has completely bought in.”
Still, Bryn Mawr will have a tough road from here, including its regular-season finale against Garrison Forest next Thursday in a game that could have major implications for tournament seeding, as well as a potential rematch with Spalding in the playoffs. No matter the opponent, however, the Mawrtians know their defensive intensity will continue to play a leading role.
“Having so much trust in our defense is so helpful,” Polakoff said. “As a team, we’re all so close and know how to communicate with each other. I think our defense, our mids and our offense work so well together to get these shutouts.”
Bryn Mawr 4, Notre Dame Prep 0
Goals: BM — Polakoff 2, Espenshade, Sa. Schwartz. Assists: BM — Si. Schwartz, Kousouris, Polakoff. Saves: BM — Herkalo 7. NDP — Bowen 9. Half: Bryn Mawr, 2-0.