The Mercy soccer team’s confidence and poise were easy to discern Wednesday afternoon when the third-ranked Magic shut out No. 1 John Carroll, 2-0, in chilly Bel Air.
The Magic, who have never claimed an IAAM A Conference championship, won for the 12th straight time this season while simultaneously earning a program-first top seed in the upcoming playoffs with one conference match remaining on the schedule.
Leading scorer Payton Schenning was once again at the forefront of a Mercy offense that built a two-goal lead by the 39th minute and then let the defense pitch its fourth straight shutout against league foes.
The senior striker, who has not played for the Magic (12-1, 4-0 league) since her freshman year because of the pandemic and a knee injury, finished a pretty 16-yard turn-and-fire on a ball played to her by senior left back Ella Gembicki on a sequence started by senior midfielder Sydney Feiler with 14:32 remaining ninth first half.
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”I looked up and saw an opportunity,” Schenning said about the first goal.
Less than four minutes later, Schenning dribbled past two defenders and powered a shot inside the near post for her team-leading 15th goal of the season.
John Carroll coach Hayley Howe said that the talented UMBC recruit’s skill set makes her difficult to defend.
”She dangerous from 10 yards or 40 yards,” Howe said. “And she has such a quick shot. I think our goal was to improve from our last game (a 1-1 tie with Notre Dame Prep) and we did that. They just got us in the defensive third and their best player got us.”
Schenning came oh-so close to notching her third score of the match when her left-footer struck the inside of the far past and caromed away.
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Even so, Mercy’s defense was up to the task by limiting John Carroll (7-2-2, 2-1-2) to a precious few promising comeback chances.
With 18 minutes left in regulation, senior midfielder Ella Steck stung a diagonal shot that found neither the net nor the foot of a fellow Patriot as the ball carried wide. Her lefty drive later in the period was also slightly off-frame.
Sophomore midfielder Elle Turner’s direct kick was hugged by Mercy sophomore Soliel Umbarger to end John Carroll’s final threat. The backline, featuring senior Allie Pteryszak and juniors Camren Blocker, Ella Gembicki and Marena Quattrocche, have been perfect so far in league play.
”We were nervous coming into the game,” said Petryszak, a co-captain with fellow senior Bella Wojcik. “But we put our minds to it that nothing goes in the goal.
”Mercy coach Doug Pryor alluded to the rags-to-riches nature of the Mercy-John Carroll rivalry in a topsy-turvy 2022 campaign.
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”I told Hayley (Howe) that in past years we’d be playing for which team doesn’t get last place and this year we’re playing for first,” he said. “This was one of our goals, to win the league and then get a bye. Now we go to the playoffs and everybody is 0-0. I still think McDonogh is the team to beat — they’re the defending champs.”
The No. 5 Eagles (6-3-1, 3-1), who have been on a roll lately, whipped fourth-ranked Notre Dame Prep, 3-0, on Tuesday to earn the second seed in the playoffs and will be seeking their fifth straight title.
No. 3 MERCY 2, NO. 1 JOHN CARROLL O
Mercy 2 0 — 2
John Carroll 0 0 — 0
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Goals: Mercy-Payton Schenning 2.
Assists: Mercy-Ella Gembicki.
Saves: Mercy-Soleil Umbarger 5; John Carroll-Anna Garvey 8.
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