CRESSON, Pa. - The opening quarter was the only stretch where La Roche struggled to find its footing. Mount Aloysius struck twice in quick succession, capitalizing on early possessions and putting La Roche behind 2–0 before the Redhawks could settle in. The pressure was immediate, but not overwhelming—more like a wake-up call.

In the second quarter, La Roche began to respond.

Jaina Ilko broke through first, creating her own opportunity and finishing unassisted. It wasn't just a goal—it was a shift. The defense tightened, possessions became cleaner, and the team started to look composed. By halftime, despite trailing 2–1, La Roche had regained control of the pace.

That control carried into the third.

Alecia D'Urso's unassisted goal evened the score at 2–2, and suddenly the game felt entirely in La Roche's hands. The defense, anchored by steady play in goal from Julianna Hornikel—who would finish with 11 saves—kept Mount Aloysius quiet through two full quarters. Ground balls were hard-earned, clears were efficient, and every possession felt deliberate.

Early in the fourth quarter, La Roche finally took the lead.

Ilko converted a free-position shot to make it 3–2, her second goal of the game. At that moment, La Roche had done exactly what it set out to do: erase the early deficit and move ahead with momentum on its side.

But the final minutes told a different story.

Mount Aloysius answered less than a minute later, tying the game at 3–3. Then, in a rapid and decisive stretch, they scored three more times in under three minutes. What had been a tightly controlled game suddenly became a scramble La Roche couldn't slow down. Possession slipped away, draw controls favored the opposition, and the defensive stands that defined the middle quarters gave way to quick strikes.

By the time the final whistle blew, the scoreboard read 6–3.