Shady Side Academy earns 2nd straight WPIAL Class A field hockey championship

By: Ted Sarneso
Saturday, November 2, 2024 | 4:43 PM

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When field hockey season started for Shady Side Academy coach Elizabeth Patterson, she knew she would have five returning players from the team’s 2023 championship winning squad.

How the rest of the roster would fill out remained a mystery.

“Last year we had lower numbers, one or two subs, so it was a fight,” Patterson said. “I had no idea what to expect, but we ended up with a roster of 22, most of them young players. It was a creative challenge all season to play to everyone’s strengths and figure out where to play everyone.”

It all worked out in the end, as the Bulldogs edged Aquinas Academy, 1-0, to claim their sixth title in seven years Saturday at Washington & Jefferson.

“We prepped all season for today,” Patterson said. “This game was always in our sights.”

It was the second time in as many years that the two teams had met in the championship match. Last year, the Bulldogs (16-4) prevailed 2-1 in double overtime.

“They’re always a tough competitor for us, and we love playing with them,” Patterson said. “After last year’s game, we knew it was going to be tight. We were ready for anything.”

The championship was Shady Side Academy’s 21st overall. The Bulldogs trail on North Allegheny (22) for most in WPIAL history.

The Crusaders (8-4) were stout defensively early, shutting down any and all chances the Bulldogs had right in front of the net. Shady Side never relented in its attack.

“Their defense is really strong and they always block very well, and they never give up,” Patterson said. “We just had to keep pushing and try to move their goalkeeper to get a shot off. Finally, the hard work prevailed.”

At the 2:17 mark of the fourth quarter, junior Coco Maxwell corralled a rebound of a corner and blasted the ball through the Crusaders defense and goalkeeper Aarona Casas-Arnedos.

“It felt amazing,” Maxwell said. “It was a very stressful game, and the two teams have really gone at each other all year. It was a moment of relief, where we didn’t have to worry as much, but still putting in that hard work because the score could change at any minute.”

Earlier in the game, the best opportunity of the first half for the Crusaders came when freshman attacker Harley Tomasi worked her way to the side of the goal off a penalty corner and had her stick ready for the shot. Her deflection went just wide.

Casa-Arnedos stood tall and had help from her defense in the third quarter as Shady Side had multiple penalty corners, but the Crusaders held strong and kept the game scoreless.

For the fourth year in a row, the Crusaders came up just short of a WPIAL title.

“We’re very proud of the team,” Aquinas coach Albert Casas said. “As players, individuals, as a team, they grew up. We’re very happy of the job they’ve done. We told them before the game started, they’re already champions.”

Shady Side Academy moves on to the PIAA playoffs and will play the fourth-place team out of either Districts 3, 5 or 6 on Tuesday at a time and site to be determined.

“I’m expecting more of the same — success, teamwork and commitment,” Patterson said. “They’re an amazing group of girls. I could not ask to coach a better team, and they have what it takes, so we’re excited.”

Tags: Aquinas Academy, Shady Side Academy