Notre Dame rebounds, blanks Springside Chestnut Hill

The Academy of Notre Dame had more than a week off to let some of its early-season struggles simmer.

The Irish had gotten off to their worst field hockey start in four years and were aiming to solve lingering problems before their Inter-Ac League opener against Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, a team that had racked up a 7-1 record in its first month of play.

During the break, Notre Dame coach Adele Williams worked with her players on "putting the puzzle together," she said, and improving one particular area of weakness: maintaining possession.

Her team accomplished that and more against the host Blue Devils on Friday afternoon, as senior goalie Gabby Carlini needed to make only one save in the Irish's 7-0 victory.

Sophomore forward Quinn Maguire led Notre Dame with three goals and two assists, posting her first hat trick of the season. The Irish are 3-2-1 overall.

"We were really starting to work more as a team, and we did really well for our first league game," Maguire said. "And there's more to come."

Freshman Ava Leonhardt got the scoring going early, as she fired a pass from Maguire into the left side of the goal to put her team up less than three minutes into the game.

Seven minutes later, Maguire picked up her second assist, on a goal from sophomore Cami Osborne.

Then, with 11 minutes, 16 seconds remaining in the half, Maguire scored a goal of her own to give the Irish a 3-0 lead entering halftime.

Maguire is "unbelievable," Williams said. "Her speed, she's explosive. . . . They know to look for her, and then she's able to make her own space."

Although Springside Chestnut Hill goalie Francesca Reitmeyer held her own with 21 saves, the Blue Devils struggled to keep up with the Irish, as the visitors continued to dominate into the second half.

Senior Sophie Graeff and sophomore Sarah Boles jumped in on the scoring with a goal each and Quinn scored her second and third goals of the game to cement the victory.

While the Blue Devils struggled Friday, coach Katie Mersky and her players said they are focused on their remaining schedule - including another game against Notre Dame, set for Oct. 21.

"We're looking forward to it," Mersky said.

Notre Dame 3 4 - 7

Springside Chestnut Hill 0 0 - 0

Goals: ND-Quinn Maguire 3, Ava Leonhardt, Cami Osborne, Sophie Graeff, Sarah Boles.

Saves: ND-Gabby Carlini 1; SCH-Francesca Reitmeyer 21.