Although the game was close for the first 20 minutes, R-H scored four unanswered to lead 5-2 over Mercy and never looked back.  The Royal Comets also added the final five goals.  Mercy scored the opening goal with Sami Carey scoring with a drive around behind the cage.  0:36 later, RH tied the game with a free position goal from Emily Schillinger.  The Monarchs kept the game close with another goal less than one minute later.  Katie Sergeant was patient and drove to the cage and found the back of the net.

RH scored the next four goal to take control of the pace.  Jenna Brill scored two fast-break goals off the draw control.  The first had Rachel Crane picking up the draw and finding her open across the crease.  The second was Destinee Johnson with a similar drive and pass.  Gabby Garrett scored the first of her 3g-2a after a quick succession of passes and a drive into the goal.  The fourth goal was scored by Camryn Thayer with an inside feed from Johnson.  Mercy scored the next goal with Carey driving around behind the cage and finding Izzy Stockman cutting parallel in front of the cage.  The Royal Comets led by two with 7:39 remaining, 5-3. The final six minutes of the first half decided the rest of the game.

Mercy had two strong shots at the cage off fast-breaks.  They came down the field and drew the defense across to them.  Both times they passed to the far side crease and both times they failed to score.  The Monarchs needed the goals to keep pace, but the Royal Comet defense was too strong.  Instead of tying the game, RH added two goals of their own with Schillinger and Mashewske scoring, both off feeds from Garrett.  The close defense for the Patriots were impressive in the final minutes and throughout the entire contest (Clare Nothnagle, Crane, Lily Rasichanh, Sara Wurzer and Emily Connell).  In the cage, Leah DiDomenico finished with 9 saves (64%).

In the second half, the Royal Comets just pulled away in the scoring.  They added nine and held the Monarchs to only three.  In addition to the defense, the Royal Comets had strong day at the draw.  Freshman Kate Mashewske finished with 7 draw controls and was instrumental in keeping the ball away from the Monarchs when the game was still close.  she also added two goals for the Royal Comets.

#3 seeded Rush-Henrietta will continue on to play #2 seeded Fairport in the second game of a double header on May 26th at 7:00.