After finishing the regular season as the top seed in the Atlantic East Conference and taking an easy semifinals victory against Manhattanville College, Marywood hosted the Immaculata University Mighty Macs. The Pacers earned an overtime victory over the Mighty Macs early in the season.
After neither team was able to muster more than four shots in the first two quarters, the Marywood offense dominated in the third, firing seven shots. In the 38th minute, junior Dariane Jones netted her 17th goal of the season, giving the Pacers the lead. Fellow junior Jordan Saybe doubled the advantage just under five minutes later.
Immaculata’s offense was suffocated in the second half, only being able to get one shot off, as the Pacers would finish the job, after falling just short last season.
Since taking over as head coach in 2019, Julie Trott has led the Pacers to three Atlantic East Conference championships, with this being the second title she’s secured with her squad.
“I think overall, it’s the team’s culture,” Trott said. “Rosters change every year, but culture needs to stay the same. I’m just so proud that they found a way to win.”
Jones has been a part of two conference championship-bound teams since joining the Pacers, being the reason Marywood was able to finish the job this season.
“We just know how to play as a team,” Jones said. “This is the best team I’ve ever been on and I wouldn’t trade them for the world. I love them so much.”
Senior captain Corrin Hasty was named AEC tournament MVP.
With the win, Marywood has an automatic bid into the NCAA Division III tournament. Marywood’s last tournament bid was in 2019, Trott’s first year as head coach.
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