VILLANOVA, PA- This past Wednesday afternoon on the Main Line at the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur, you could tell that something special was about to take place. You could feel the competition in the air as the No. 2 seeded Irish took to their home field to face No. 3 seed Agnes Irwin for the third year in a row in the PAISAA Semifinal round. 

Tensions and endorphins running high one could sense that this game was not going to be an ordinary win by either team. 

In a period loaded with penalty corners and shots on goal, the Irish took the first half. AIS’s  #30 Sydney Wolfington grabbed one for her team on a fast break, but with one goal apiece from seniors #22 Sara Jane Quigley and #6 Quinn Maguire, Notre Dame put two points on the board, giving them a one point lead at the half.

With only 1 minute and 10 seconds into the second half Notre Dame’s Quinn Maguire grabbed her second goal of the game, putting the Irish up 3 - 1.

Minutes later, The Owls #36 Elizabeth Dallara retaliated by grabbing her own rebound, putting the game within one goal yet again.

Then came AIS’s  #44 Julianna Tornetta.

Tornetta grabbed the tying goal late in the second, keeping her team alive in the "win-or-go-home" semifinal game. When the scoreboard's timer finally ticked out, sending the game to a pulse pounding overtime, it was Tornetta who slapped in the "golden goal," sending Agnes Irwin to the state finals with a 4-3 victory.

Tornetta's two goals put her at 49 goals this season, and increased her total career goals to an astounding 109.

"Originally, I hadn't thought that I was going to get all 40 goals this season [Tornetta needed 40 goals this season to reach a 100 goal career milestone], but the first few games of the season were like, 4, 5, 6 goal games so I was like, ok, maybe this will happen," said Tornetta.

Tornetta remarked that her game had been "more composed" since she hit 100, and that she did it all with the intention of getting her team to the championship.

Also leading the Owls to victory with a goal each were forwards Sydney Wolfington and Elizabeth Dallara.  Both credit this win to their teammates.

"It takes a lot of teamwork and focus from everybody to get the goal," said Dallara. 

"I think today we worked really well during transfers and using everyone on the field," said Wolfington.

“It's really important to me to keep everything as positive and encouraging as possible. I mean, at this point in the season, we know what to do, it's mostly about taking care of the little things," said Agnes Irwin head coach Alison Brant.

Those little things added up. The Owls down 3-1 early in the second half Brant knew her team needed that little something to get them focused.

"I simply told them to "get hungry”,” said Brant.  They picked up the energy beautifully. That was one area where I thought we were a little flat and they picked it up really, really well.”

The Irish closed their season with (15-3) record and (8-2) Inter-Ac League finish. Academy of Notre Dame head coach Adele Williams was proud of her team’s accomplishments.

 "After graduating 7 starters, there were big shoes to be filled and the girls certainly stepped up. We had some great wins and some extremely close losses against top competition,” said Williams.

“I am fortunate to coach a group of girls who are extremely passionate about the sport and who will go the extra mile to improve their game. I have no doubt that they will take the off season to be prepared for the upcoming season,” said Williams. 

"As a school, we all love coming out and supporting the team,” said Academy of Notre Dame student “MM” Gayhardt, “so I think everyone's kind of bummed. But it's been really fun watching the team this season.”

The Owls face Episcopal Academy for the PAISAA state title Saturday at Bryn Mawr College.