By Larry Moko
With no time left on the clock, Kionna McCrory flicked the ball into the net to win the 2025 Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic high school field hockey championship for the St. Thomas More Knights.
The goal gave More a 2-1 decision over the visiting Bishop Tonnos Titans on Wednesday.
"It was a stressful penalty stroke," McCrory said after the award ceremony and league trophy presentation.
Sixth-place Tonnos, which completed the regular schedule with a 1-5 record, came alive in the playoffs by eliminating the third-place St. Mary Crusaders and the first-place Bishop Ryan Celtics.
Against second-place More, it appeared another upset might be in the works. A goal by Sophie Cook of the Titans tied the score, at 1-1, with five minutes remaining.
"We all battled even when they scored late in the game," McCrory added. "We were able to persevere and push through. We didn't take it as something to stop us."
McCrory is in her fourth season playing field hockey for More. She's currently serving as a team captain, along with Hailey Jolly.
The other Knights goal -- by Danielle Charters -- came three minutes into the second half.
"She (Charters) is one of my newbies," Knights coach Gina LeJambe said. "She's fast and was in just the right spot for her goal.
"We have eight Grade 12 players, so next year is going to be a rebuilding year."
With the victory, More advances to the Golden Horseshoe Athletic Conference final on Oct. 30. The Knights will travel to face the winner of the Halton public vs. Halton Catholic semifinal.
"We're definitely strong on the ball," LeJambe said. "Just seeing our other players, passing it up and running. I've got a running team ... they're so fast and able to get to the ball."
The Knights had a 5-1 regular-season record, including a 4-3 win over Tonnos. In the playoffs, More started out by topping the Cathedral Gaels before ousting the defending champion St. John Henry Newman Cardinals, 4-2, on penalty strokes.
Said McCrory: "We're really good at using each other -- give-and-go passing. But we also have a lot of speed and we back each other up well."
Other More players included Logan Ryerson, Alexis Lalli, Cardyn Gedye, Julia Piraine, Gabby Gennaccaro, Giulia Fanara, Angelica Morcone, Jordana Boschman, Keira Brazeau, Alisha Goobie, Mackenzie Mitchell, Maia Burke, Ella Alberton, Emma Knowles, Lola Casalinguida, Evangeline Sullivan, Brooklyn Gardner, and Tarryn Bianco.
"They work well as a team," Tonnos coach Christina Barbati said of the Knights. "They have good stickhandlers who can really dominate the middle. We tried to keep it out of the middle knowing that they could set up some good plays from there."
Barbati says her team this season was a "resilient" group.
"We really pulled it together in the last few minutes and were able to find the back of the net," she said. "We just kind of ran out of time today."
Tonnos was also a finalist last year.
Photos by Richard Andoga
More photos on HWCDSB Athletics Facebook page
