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Although they had different results on the field on Oct. 22 in their 6-0 victory against visiting Oldfields School, St. Vincent Pallotti senior field hockey players Madeline Goodman and Shelby Lyles celebrated senior day and the three years they had dedicated to the sport together.

Pallotti (7-6-3) thoroughly dominated Oldfields behind three goals and an assist from Goodman and a second-half goal by freshman Victoria Ackroyd. Lyles wasn't bashful about shooting, but was off the mark on her shots in the second half. For Goodman and Lyles, the climb from a winless inaugural season in 2007 to a winning record in 2009 meant more than any personal accomplishments.

"It really didn't matter to me that I didn't get a goal," said Lyles, who plans to play lacrosse at Mount St. Mary's Unversity. "I don't really care about statistics. I'm just happy that we won. We've had a great season and we've come a long way since our first year."

During a winless inaugural campaign in 2007, Goodman and Lyles really had to stay focused on the smaller tasks of passing and shooting in order to get the few goals that came their way. Last year saw marked improvement, with the Panthers going 4-12. This year they won enough games to avoid having to play in the opening round of the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland playoffs for the first time. Pallotti was scheduled to face Baltimore Lutheran in the quarterfinals on Tuesday after The Gazette went to press.

"Scoring three goals on senior day meant a lot to me, but it meant more because we won," Goodman said. "We've played really well all season. It's great to have a winning record, especially after going winless that first year. It's been great to be part of this program."

Pallotti third-year coach Bethany Mazalewski honored seniors Goodman, Lyles, Allie Abell, Leilani Johnson and goalie Carolyn Correa in a postgame ceremony. Mazalewski had high praise for her departing seniors and could look brightly into the future with several underclassmen displaying talent and potential.

"I was very pleased with the way the girls played," Mazalewski said. "We took control of the game early and the girls played with a lot of intensity. Their record is a tribute to their hard work and dedication."

E-mail Ted Black at tblack@gazette.net.