She definitely had heart.

Maddy Morrissey came through when her team needed her the most, giving Skaneateles its only lead of the game and its sixth straight Section III, Class C title with a 12-11 win over Marcellus Sunday.

After a rough first half, the Lakers didn't look like a team that had dominated sectional play this decade. Apparently, all they needed was for a new leader to step up and take charge, inspiring the team to push harder and to put the pressure on.

“We talked about heart and teamwork at halftime, which has been our theme this season,” Morrissey said. “I knew I had to step it up and push hard.”

And push hard she did, as Morrissey scored three second-half goals to help lead the Lakers to the win. With less than three minutes left, Morrissey produced the tying goal and then with 1:41 on the clock, she provided the game-winning score.

“It was the first time I got to really make the difference and get the big plays,” Morrissey said. “Usually the seniors do it. It's only my second year and I got to pull through for them.”

The Lakers were down 4-0 early in the first half but rallied to make the score 6-5 at the half. Morrissey recorded the first goal of the second half, her second of the game, to build the pressure on Marcellus.

Morrissey gives a lot of credit for her inspiration to the Lakers coaching staff and her father, who is also a coach.

“The coaches helped us pick it up at the half; they told us we had nothing to lose and we didn't,” Morrissey said. “My dad told me today that I had to step it up so I practiced hard and pushed my hardest.”

As for the coaching staff, Marquart knew what Morrissey was capable of and wasn't surprised about her performance Sunday.

“She is so coachable and will do anything; she'd get in the goal if we told her to,” Lakers head coach Bridget Marquardt said. “We talked to her yesterday at practice and told her that this was her opportunity, not to be afraid to go in there. She's a play-maker and feeder, she doesn't always get all the goals but she has been stepping it up all along.”

As a sophomore being considered a leader is a big deal to Morrissey who couldn't be more excited about winning and about finally getting her chance to shine.

“Morrissey is a sophomore but she doesn't play like a sophomore, she is a leader out there,” Marquardt said.

Leading the way is exactly what she did.

Morrissey won the game for Skaneateles with a break-away shot off a steal from Jenna Lotkowictz, showing her power on the field.

And while she's young, that may be her greatest asset, as she was an unexpected catalyst on the field.

“(The Mustangs) were going to be tough on the other players and she is a sophomore so for her to come up and play like that, it's huge,” Marquardt said.

Not only was it huge for Morrissey, but it gives her some bragging rights.

“I have a lot of friends on the Mustangs team, now they can't bug us about it,” Morrissey said. “Last year I didn't get to contribute. Now I can show that I can really play.”