After any sports season, coaches, players and fans look back and find those key moments that either made or ruined a season. Sometimes, those moments are known right when they happen because they change the tone of a team’s season.

That happened for Salisbury field hockey (6-4-2 Colonial, 8-6-2 overall) against Moravian Academy (7-4-0, 7-5-0) when the Falcons downed the Lions 1-0 on an overtime goal by Gwyn DeFazio.

“We were able to pull out the win in overtime because of several amazing plays that were strung together,” said Falcon head coach Jane Brennan. “First, sophomore goalie Caroline Gedney made an amazing save on a Moravian fast break and following the save, Bailee Neitz drove the ball to the middle of the field where sophomore Kendra Morgan gained possession and centered the ball.

“Gwyn hustled up the middle of the field and while sliding swept the ball into the goal beneath the goalie’s pads. This win put us a step closer to qualifying for league playoffs and districts.”

Brennan’s description of the goal points out something interesting about her team. It’s the number of sophomore players not just playing but making an impact on the team.

For her part, DeFazio, who is also a sophomore, has started every game of her varsity career and had an impact on the Salisbury team that went to districts last season.

Her first career hat trick came this season when she put three shots into the cage in a 6-0 win over Palisades.

“She helps set the tone in practice by working hard and brings the same tenacity onto the field in games, which is infectious,” said Brennan. “Gwyn has a great field hockey IQ and along with our senior captains has emerged as a team leader. Statistically, she leads the team in points, with seven goals and seven assists, but it is her on-field decision making that really shapes our play.

“Gwyn was recently named Colonial League Player of the Week, which is a nice honor for her to receive after all her hard work. But knowing Gwyn, she is more concerned with team wins and success at districts than individual recognition. I am excited to see the future of Salisbury field hockey with Gwyn and her teammates.”

On Monday night, Salisbury and Pen Argyl (4-5-2, 5-6-2) played to a scoreless tie, but combined with their wins last week against the Green Knights (4-5-2, 5-6-2) and Lions, Salisbury has now qualified for districts.

In the Colonial League, the Falcons penultimate game of the season is at Wilson, which will likely decide the final entrant into the postseason for the league. Wilson comes in at 6-5-1 in league play and Salisbury is 6-4-2. The final regular season game for Salisbury is at Southern Lehigh (12-0-0, 12-2-0).