Spotlight: 2021 National Championship Rematch and Top 25 Matchups Highlight the Weekend

Friday  

#8 Penn State @ #12 St. Joes 

Penn State is coming off a 6-2 win over Albany on the road where Sophia Gladieux netted a hat trick. Mackenzie Allessie and Anna Simon combined for four assists.  

Saint Joes downed Philly rival Drexel 5-2. Lily Sant paced the offense with two goals in the win.  

Last Time They Met: In their first meeting since 2005, Gladieux scored a late goal to edge Saint Joes in State College last season. Penn State outshot Saint Joes 15-11 and Brie Baracco made five saves.  

Players to Watch 

Mackenzie Allessie (PSU): Allessie leads the Nittany Lions with four assists and is currently second on the team in points.  

Lily Santi (SJU): Santi scored twice in back-to-back games, including a pair in a 5-0 win over no. 15 Rutgers. She currently leads the team with 11 points.  

#11 Liberty @ #1 Northwestern 

Liberty lost a tight 1-0 battle with no. 21 William and Mary on home turf. Azul Iritixity Irigoyen made one save.  

Northwestern routed no. 20 Boston College 6-0 in the final game of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Peyton Halsey and Lane Herbert led the offense with a goal and assist each. 

Last Time They Met: Northwestern shutout Liberty 2-0 for the first national title in program history. Alia Marshall and Maddie Zimmer scored for the Wildcats and Annabel Skubisz made two saves.  

Players to Watch 

Peyton Halsey (NU): Halsey recorded a point in three of four games so far this season, which includes two multi-point games.  

Daniella Rhodes (LU): Rhodes leads team with four goals and nine points. She scored both goals in a 2-0 win over Indiana.  

#12 Harvard @ #3 Maryland 

Maryland routed no. 16 Duke in the final game of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Hope Rose and Leah Crouse combined for two goals and four assists.  

Harvard is coming off a 2-0 loss to no. 10 UConn at home. Ellie Shabo made three saves in the loss.  

Last Time They Met: These squads last met in 2018 at the Terrapin Invitational. Hannah Pearce opened the scoring, but Linnea Gonzales, Sabrina Rhodes and Madison McGuire scored for a 3-1 win.  

Players to Watch 

Leah Crouse (UMD): Crouse scored goals in back-to-back games, including the game-winner against Boston College.  

Bronte-May Brough (HAR): Brough scored the overtime goal against Miami (OH). She currently leads team with nine shots.  

#7 Syracuse @ #17 Princeton 

Syracuse scored three times in the first quarter in a span of three minutes to rout in-state for Columbia in their home opener last Sunday. Quirine Comans led the way offensively with a hat trick.  

Princeton is coming off a narrow 2-1 defeat against no. 5 Louisville. Ali McCarthy scored the lone goal for the Tigers while Robyn Thompson made three saves.  

Last Time They Met: Clara Roth and Hannah Davey combined for four goals as Princeton defeated Syracuse 5-1 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in 2018.  

Players to Watch 

Charlotte de Vries (SU): The senior forward has tallied a point in every game so far this season. She scored a goal and dished out an assist in the win over Columbia.  

Ali McCarthy (PRIN): She scored the lone goal against Louisville.  

Sunday  

#9 Virginia @ #1 Northwestern 

Noa Boterman scored with 1:29 remaining to force overtime against James Madison. In overtime, Adele Iacobucci set up Laura Janssen for the overtime winner. Tyler Kennedy made two saves in the win last Sunday.  

Last Time They Met: These two squads haven’t met since 2013 where Virginia edged Northwestern 2-1 in Charlottesvile.  

Player to Watch 

Laura Janssen (UVA): The senior strike has scored at least one goal in every game so far this season including a pair in their win over Delaware.  

#4 Michigan @ #5 Louisville 

Michigan earned a gritty 1-0 win over Miami (OH) at home on Thursday night. Kathryn Peterson scored the lone goal, and the Wolverines defense held the Red Hawks to two shots.  

Louisville edged Princeton 2-1 in the ACC/Ivy League Crossover last Sunday. Katie Schneider and Mattie Tabor both scored, and Sasha Elliot made three saves.  

Last Time They Met: Halle O’Neill scored the game-winner off a penalty corner with under three minutes to go as Michigan edged Louisville 2-1 at home last season. Sofia Southam and Katie Schneider also scored.  

Players to Watch 

Alana Richardson (MICH): Richardson scored a pair of goals in Michigan’s 9-0 win over Central Michigan last weekend. She currently sits second on the team in goals (3) and points (7).  

Katie Schneider (LOU): The fifth-year senior leads in goals (4) and points (9). She scored twice in a 4-1 win over Penn last weekend.  

#19 Ohio State @ Miami (OH) 

Ohio State is coming off a 4-0 win over Leigh at home, their third straight shutout to open the season. Leanne Bough, Cameryn Forgash, Zella Bailey and Claudia Thomas each scored in the win, while Makenna Webster tallied two assists.  

Miami (OH) lost a tight 1-0 battle at Michigan on Thursday night. Isabelle Perese made eight saves in the loss.  

Last Time They Met: Leanna Bough scored the lone goal in a tight 1-0 in-state battle last season.  

Players to Watch 

Claudia Thomas (OSU): The sophomore midfielder did record any points last season and already has two goals in three games so far this season. She scored the game-winner in a 4-0 win over Northeastern.  

Claudia Negrete Garcia (MIA): The junior midfielder leads the RedHawks with three goals so far this season. She leads the squad with 18 shots.  

this isn’t goodbye, it’s see ya later

First Communion in 2006 (so young and tiny!)

Feb. 20 — I have never been one who has been good with remembering bible stories – even though I attended Sunday School and Vacation Bible School growing up – it wasn’t always something that stuck with me (I have a lot going on in my head). There is this particular parable that has kind of stuck with me over time that I first heard from a Saturday night sermon. I don’t remember a whole lot, but it might go something like this: a storm was coming and a man prayed to God for help. The man turned down help from others as he had faith that God would save him. The man ended up drowning and when he got to heaven, he asked why God had let him drown. God responded that he had sent him help and what more did he expect.

In my up and down relationship with faith, there is something that I have always believed in is that God puts people in your life when you need them, or he puts them in your life for a reason. I believe Pastor Bill was one of those people. I remember him in some of my youngest memories and he was always a kind, caring and compassionate man. One of the things I admire most about him was his dedication and his passion for his community. Recently, I learned about his involvement with fifth quarter, a Friday night after football event and the parade honoring high school seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic. When I was in middle school, I remember a high school student (that went to the high school in the same town as my church was located) was killed in a car accident. I remember Pastor Ball overcome with emotion during the sermon and that’s when I realized how much the community meant to him.

My Conformation Class in 2012 (awkward middle school years, yikes)

Community is important. It often seems that through death and grief we are always reminded how important out communities are and the role they play in our lives. They are there for uplifting and support; the highs and lows; banding together when it is needed most. It’s interesting to think how someone can teach you something without you really knowing it. Don’t get me wrong, Pastor Bill taught me a lot about faith and God, even telling my conformation class that “SEX WAS GOOD” when I was in the seventh grade. But I think the most important thing I learned from him was caring for those in your community and I’m always going to be amazed by the things he had done. 23 years seems too short to have known him, but maybe in those 23 years I learned just what I needed from him. These words will never be enough, but I hope one day I can make him proud to know me as we are proud to have known him.

A Letter to 2020

Everyone deserves flowers for making it through 2020

Dear Jill,

What a year it has been! Lots of ups and downs with a few moments that I wasn’t sure we were going to get through, but we made it to the other side.

Let’s reap, shall we?

I spent January recovering from foot surgery and struggled with the uncertainty that loomed going into my final semester of college. I put a lot of pressure on myself to have future plans sorted out and it caused me a quite a bit of unhappiness.

In February, I went back to Towson for my last semester of college. One last semester of classes, PRSSA, The Table, working athletic events, OTB Happy Hour and seeing some of my best friends every day. I turned 22 (T-Swift and Christian McCaffrey year) and knew that this year held a lot of promise.

At the beginning of March, I saw one of my best friends get married and we jammed out to Backstreet Boys and Come On Eileen. March 10 was the day everything changed. Classes were cancelled the rest of that week and spring break was extended two weeks for remote learning to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Looking back, it was so naïve to think we would be going back to campus after those two weeks but at least there was something to hold onto. Sports were suspended March 12 and then remote learning for the rest of the semester became official March 20. I moved out of my dorm on March 29 and my four years at Towson were over just like that.

I struggled a lot in April and May with the fact that I was finishing my final semester of college at home. I mourned a lot of moments that I didn’t get to happen, and the biggest thing was not able to say goodbye to my friends. We’d all be going our separate ways and it hurt not being able to have the “see ya laters” and the moments at graduation. My family did make my home graduation special for me though. We took fancy grad photos, drank margaritas, ate fish tacos and cake, and my parents organized a card party for me which meant a lot.

Summer came and I returned for another summer of working at the playground, which I’m glad we were able to have amidst the pandemic. I bought my first car, a Toyota Corolla named Rosie who gets me around just fine. I began applying for jobs and questioned myself about what I wanted. I struggled with the fact that I had graduated with a degree in communications and I didn’t really want anything to do with it. I applied for some jobs and ended up getting a job as a special education paraprofessional. After another summer of working at the playground, I knew this was the right choice for me and began working in August. Hockey also returned this month, which made me really happy, but it would’ve been better if the Devils had made it.

Looking back, sometimes I don’t know how I ever made it through the month of September. I really struggled with anxiety and self-esteem that led me to have some serious conversations with myself about what was best for my mental health. It was probably one of the toughest mountains I mentally had to climb. But I made it through that, I know I can make it through a lot of other things.

October brought new things and challenges. After having the opportunity of working in a 7^th grade Language Arts class, I moved into an Autistic Support classroom. It’s never a dull moment working with middle schoolers – it fits well. I began getting into the flow of adulting and I helped out with a high school boys soccer team – what an adventure that was.

November and December came and it’s surprising how fast time has gone since most times it still feels like it is March. I joined a gym and reconnected with Zumba and yoga classes – something I did in college. Thanksgiving came and went. Christmas was hard since my grandparents couldn’t come from Florida but hopefully, I will be able to see them soon.

I climbed various mountains in 2020. Just because I conquered one mountain didn’t mean there weren’t anymore to conquer. It wasn’t always easy, and I questioned myself a lot.

But Jill, I’m so proud of everything you have conquered and accomplished this year. It wasn’t easy and getting through each day might have looked different. Keep wondering, reading, writing, smiling and laughing. Keeping being compassionate, kind, caring, passionate about hockey and be the main character of your life. I cannot wait to see everything you have accomplished in 2021. I hope there’s beach trips and baseball games in the future.

Keep climbing those mountains.

Jill

Pondering What Could’ve Been While Waiting For What’s Next

The best four years at Towson came with an unexpected ending.

 

April 8 — I’ve been doing a lot of different things to cope with the uncertainty and anxiety that surrounds the current pandemic – walking, reading, coloring, watching The Office, facetiming with friends, doing puzzles, working on story ideas and watching reruns of college hockey while I attempt to be productive with online school. (Are you surprised? Probably not) Through reruns of college hockey, it’s hard to not think about what could’ve been. I wrote a couple weeks ago reflecting on my thoughts about the appreciation of the moments that I had at school and how we’ll always have those moments from the four years. As spring begins, it’s getting harder to not think about what could’ve been in the last two months of school.

Thoughts From a Graduating College Senior

 

March 18 — I keep thinking about the last things I had done at school.

The last time I went to the library. The last time I got a muffin from ABP. The last time I got lunch with Bridget on a Tuesday. The last time I went to the Table. The last sporting event I worked (A freezing women’s lacrosse game). The last time I went to On the Border. The last time Sydney and I made a trek to the grocery store on the bus. The last time I went to each of my classes.

I don’t think anyone could have drawn up the spring semester of senior year to look like this. Never in a million years. There was so much left to be done and now it’s just going to be left undone.