Glenelg field hockey sophomore midfielder Caroline Latchis had one singular focus in a critical moment: the ball.

The fourth-seeded Gladiators and top-seeded Buccaneers were tied at two with under three minutes in Thursday evening’s Class 2A state semifinal. After an initial shot off a corner, Latchis used that laser focus to deliver when her team needed it most. Amidst a sea of sticks in front of the net, she deflected the ball past the diving Buccaneers goalie for her second goal of the night.

That timely finish put the Gladiators back on top for good as they closed out a 3-2 victory and clinched a fifth straight appearance in the 2A final. Glenelg (15-2) will face either No. 2 C. Milton Wright or No. 3 Manchester Valley on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Stevenson University’s Mustang Stadium.

See Full Page