Mount Mercy’s Keane shines on the biggest stage

AMHERST - Monsignor Martin freshman Brigid Keane (Mt. Mercy Academy) was watching this game from the stands last year as an eight grader.

Keane never thought she would be the toast of the town as the freshman scored the game-winning goal in a 3-2 win over Williamsville to clinch the 2012-13 Federation title. The win also capped off a perfect 20-0 season.

“I just remember last year I was just watching this team,” said Keane. And, to be able to play with them and experience it is amazing. I was just so happy that it went in. I was amazed. I knew that all along we would win and pull it off.

Keane happened to be in the right place at the right time as she deflected a shot from senior captain Julia Duquette. The goal set off a celebration and one that Keane will never forget.

“We all try so hard and give 110 percent,” said Keane. “And, I just knew that we would be able to pull it off.”

It’s also special for Keane because she is one of six Mount Mercy Academy hockey players on this team. While the Monsignor Martin has girls from all the Catholic schools on the team, Mount Mercy leads the way with the most. Besides Keane, Madeline Stoklosa, Shannon Moran, Katherine Lauber, Morgan Haettich and Catherine Radwan all played a big part on this undefeated championship team.

And Keane was happy to be able to share this experience with her ‘sisters.’

“It is really great to win with the,” said Keane. “Since we are one of the schools that have the most girls on the team, it is a really great experience.”

Monsignor Martin coach Chris Malicki said Keane, along with the other underclassmen, have really stepped up their games over the season.

“She (Keane) scoots all over the place,” said Malicki. “I told her that I want you to find the net. Pick up any loose rebounds. She was in the right place. Shot came and tipped off her stick and went in. She was were she was supposed to be.”

Stoklosa, a sophomore, said winning a title is a great way to cap off the season.

“It’s unreal,” stated Stoklosa. “I don’t have any words to describe it.”

She also said being able to play in the playoffs during the soccer season in the fall (for Mount Mercy and coach John Glose) helped her get ready for the run to the finals.

“It’s the work ethic,” said Stoklosa, on what she has learned. “You are taught to just keep going and keep going.”

It has been an interesting season for Stoklosa who plays defense on her travel team, but forward on the high school team.

She said the transition wasn’t as hard as you would think and that she actually enjoyed playing both.

“It’s kind of weird, because I play defense for my travel team,” said Stoklosa. “But, it feels natural (out there).”

While people knew this could be a special season, Malicki never talked about going undefeated until after they won the title. In the two years prior, the Monsignor Martin was 35-3-1. Add in a 20-0 record and a 55-3-1 record in three years spells dynasty, and the team to beat for years to come.

“I didn’t want to talk about the undefeated season,” said Malicki. “And, the only time I really brought it up was today. I have said anything all year, but now we are going to talk about it. It came from our senior leadership. We had some wins, but 20-0 is pretty special.”