With two conference losses dogging them and just over a week left before the start of the playoffs, Severn needed a spark.

What better than besting rival St. Mary’s on its own field?

“I feel like it brought us together,” said Severn junior Nia Hudson, who recorded the final goal in a 3-0 win. “Even though the other players, the student section, were yelling, saying stuff — it’s always a rivalry — it brought us closer. We needed this one.”

A lack of completion has haunted Severn for nearly a year, as the then-top-seeded Admirals failed to net an equalizer against Maryvale Prep in the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland B Conference semifinals last season.

It wasn’t by accident, either. Hudson felt team growth was needed before they reached a championship caliber again, like two years ago. That’s why a game like Wednesday’s that cycled in and heavily involved every player served that end.

“I felt like it was way better in the second half. We just brought each other together,” Hudson said, “and we were having so much fun.”

The Saints forwards lacked the urgency for the ball their counterparts had. Save for a breakaway by Leah Hamilton halfway through the first 40 minutes, St. Mary’s attempts for driving rarely survived past midfield.

Severn did not have that same issue.

Admirals buzzed around sophomore goalkeeper Abby Hanks, flinging shots just off target. One from midfielder Layla Epps did find its mark in the top of the net — but was eliminated for being offside. That disappointment didn’t deter Severn’s enthusiasm for taking shots, but with figures like Anna Ervin prowling in front of their keeper, nothing snuck by — for a while anyway.

Through most of the first half, Hanks swatted the more hairline shots away, absorbing three saves in the process.

“But they focused,” Admirals coach Denison Cabral said. “They finished the changes they created.”

Junior Eli Valencia had several shots already. But with 30 fruitless minutes behind her, finishing them had remained elusive. That is until she lined one at the goal post that ricocheted into the goal.

Severn’s back line didn’t lessen its grip on its hosts in the second half, even as Saints forwards dug more frequently into the attacking third. Cabral credited his defense for playing the unified, possession-generating style that he’d been clamoring for.

Which Severn’s offense graciously accepted.

The Admirals sent shot after shot toward Hanks early in the second half. Despite possessing the upper hand, Severn increased its ferocity — and capitalized when given the chance to.

Junior Elliot Wienk didn’t hesitate to sink her penalty kick behind Hanks six minutes in. Roughly 60 seconds later, Hudson lashed in Severn’s third unanswered goal the very moment she broke free from defenders.

“I think we just needed to stop getting in our heads,” Hudson said. “A lot of times, when we’re not getting shots in, we get frustrated. I felt like we need to take it easier — if we don’t finish, just keep on trying.”

But while the outcome sharpened to reality with every scoreless minute that passed from then, neither side relented. Junior Bronwyn Bolton overtook a ball 30 yards out and thundered so heavily on goal that it took three Saints to head her off. Hanks collected three more saves.

And, there was fire still from the other side, too. Ervin swapped back into the field, took a loose ball from the midfield and carried it unfettered until hitting Valerie Waugh for her first Severn save, 75 minutes in.

Her spark ignited a more concerted effort from St. Mary’s at last, with two more possible scores flying Waugh’s way. They broke down the back line, Hudson said. Settling down was the key to maintaining the shutout.

“These are the games that remind them of the good things they do,” Cabral said. “It doesn’t matter who we’re playing, if it’s conference or nonconference, finish your changes. Work on defense, work on possession, and don’t leave anything for the next game.”

Other girls soccer scores:

Bryn Mawr 3, Gerstell 2

Hereford 1, Sparrows Point 0

Boys soccer

Liberty 2, Century 1: One night after watching their respective schools’ girls programs battle to a draw, the Liberty and Century boys took center stage Wednesday to decide which of the neighboring communities get soccer bragging rights for this fall.

The Lions, still seething from a loss in last year’s regional playoffs, defeated the Knights, 2-1, on the strength of Grant Bernstein’s go-ahead goal.

“This is the game that we look forward to every year no matter what,” Bernstein said. “Losing to them is never an option.”

This year’s chapter of the rivalry had it all: an intense showdown between players extremely familiar with each other from club teams, intense moments where the slightest loss of composure could cost either team a victory, and of course, a standout performance by one of the quietest players on the field.

As Liberty’s goalie, Arjun Singh wasn’t in the mix when checks and tackles turned into scuffles that brought out a yellow card or two. Instead, the junior did the talking with his play, finishing with 13 saves to anchor the Liberty defense. Coach Donnie Kwedar wasn’t surprised by another strong day by Singh as he brought the same thing he normally brings to the table every day for the Lions.

“Stability,” he said. “I can always count on him and his teammates know they can count on him all the time.”

— Timothy Dashiell

Franklin 3, Towson 0

Eastern Tech 2, Perry Hall 1

Carver A&T 5, Woodlawn 3

C. Milton Wright 2, Fallston 1

Aberdeen 2, Elkton 2

Poly 2, Digital Harbor 0

Volleyball

Maryvale Prep 3, Mount de Sales 0: Despite trailing midway through the first set and late in the third set, visiting Maryvale Prep pulled through during crunch time in a battle of conference unbeatens and swept Mount de Sales, 25-23, 25-19, 26-24.

The victory vaults the No. 4 Lions to the top of the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference with a 6-0 record (8-2 overall). The Sailors are 4-1 in the league (8-2 overall).

Senior Olivia Nunoz (match-high 14 kills), junior Jess Gogel (team-high 21 digs, 10 kills) and senior Brielle Urban (18 digs) led the Lions along with setters Kaitlyn Hall and Miley Snodgrass, who each had 17 assists.

The Sailors were led by Christina Fitzsimmons and Brigid Donahue (eight kills each), CJ Freeman-James (six kills) and Anna Fleckenstein (five kills).

— Craig Clary

Field hockey

Long Reach 2, Catholic 1

River Hill 4, Reservoir 0

Manchester Valley 9, Tuscarora 0

North Harford 6, North East 0

C. Milton Wright 5, Fallston 1

Chesapeake-AA 7, Arundel 0

Boys volleyball

Patterson Mill 3, Edgewood 0

Havre de Grace 3, Joppatowne 0