NEWTOWN SQUARE - To say that Episcopal's field hockey team was in danger of losing its first game is putting it mildly.

But great teams have a way of doing great things, and on Friday afternoon, the Churchmen once again exhibited why they are among the finest teams in the area.

Trailing visiting Germantown Academy at halftime, 2-0, on the strength of Sammy Popper's two goals, Episcopal erupted for four goals in the second half and emerged with a hard-fought, 4-3 Inter-Academic League victory, raising their record to 13–0.

"That was a good win," said Duke University-bound senior Margaux Paolino, who netted the game-winner with 2:26 left in regulation. "We were a little worried when we fell behind, but by the second half we started to play the way we usually play."

Goals by Colby Gallagher and Maddie Backskai tied the game at 2-2, but Germantown Academy's Ali Crump scored late in the second half to give the Patriots a 3-2 lead.

Undaunted, Corinne Zanolli banged home the tying goal with 5:51 left, and then Paolino, after taking a feed from Courtnie Williamson, deposited what proved to be the game-winner.

In defeat, Popper remains upbeat. The freshman star, who now has 25 goals on the season, is no stranger to dramatic endings. A member of the Under-19 national squad, Popper was confident her team could find a way to win.

Later, she took a pragmatic approach when assessing the defeat.
"Maybe we got a little complacent when we had our leads," she said. "We lost to a very good team and that's the way it goes."

"That was one of the best games we've played. It would've been nice to come away with a win, but things don't always go your way. There's nothing we can do about it except come back and keep playing hard."