Crofton High coach Amy Skrickus knows Tuesday’s win at Severna Park could have a lasting impact for her field hockey team.

The fourth-ranked Cardinals persevered and passed a big test with a 2-1 overtime victory against a spirited No. 8 Severna Park celebrating its senior night.

The win sends Crofton, just in its second varsity season, to the Anne Arundel County final Monday evening at Southern against No. 1 Broadneck, and gives the Cardinals a huge momentum boost with the state regional playoffs looming.

“We needed it,” Skrickus said. “We [have] started to play better — we had a little plateau during the middle of the season — but we needed to start building our momentum for the playoffs and that is exactly what we did here.”

The overtime winner came off the stick of sophomore forward Charlotte DeForest with just 4 minutes, 22 seconds left in the extra period. DeForest knocked the loose ball into the cage after a shot had rebounded off Severna Park goaltender Charlotte Kramer following a free hit.

“This was one of the most important games [we have played],” DeForest said. “We definitely fought all game, all 60 minutes. We all worked together, and nobody gave up. We bonded from this experience. We can only go up from here.”

DeForest nearly didn’t have the opportunity to win the contest. Crofton (10-1 overall, 7-1 Anne Arundel) faced an aggressive attack from the Falcons at the start of the extra session.

Severna Park (8-5, 4-2 Anne Arundel) earned five straight penalty corners at the 8-minute mark of overtime but were unable to cash them in. This was largely due to the brilliance in the cage from Crofton goaltender Ryleigh Osborne. The sophomore stopped two shots during that spurt and finished with nine saves in the game.

“Ryleigh is amazing under pressure,” Skrickus said. “She is very vocal and directs the girls. She is going to do everything she can to get the ball out. She had an amazing game tonight.”

It was a game off missed chances for Severna Park. From the outset, the Falcons used their speed to drive the ball into the Crofton scoring area and earned a significant advantage in the number of shots and penalty corners.

The Falcons just had trouble finishing those chances as Osborne have five saves in the first period alone to keep the Severna Park offense frustrated.

“I actually think we played really well,” Severna Park coach Shannon Garden said. “I told them not to hang their heads. I think we passed well and I think we did a lot of nice things. It was just one of those nights when the ball just doesn’t bounce your way.”

After a scoreless first half, Severna Park came out of the break with energy and took the lead early in the second half. At the 10-minute mark, junior forward Noel Stefancik put one past a diving Osborne to give the Falcons a 1-0 advantage.

That lead was short-lived as Crofton got the momentum back on their side a short time later when they converted a chance following a penalty corner. At the 6:45 mark, junior midfielder Kylie Corcoran slipped a pass to sophomore Mary-Cate Parks in the scoring circle, and Parks slipped a shot under Kramer to tie the score.

The Cardinals, who close their regular season schedule against Arundel Thursday, are confident heading into a rematch with undefeated Broadneck, which handed Crofton its only loss, 5-1.

“I don’t think Broadneck was our best game in the season so I think the girls want to prove to themselves that they can play better,” Skrickus said. “We’re excited for that test.”

NO. 4 CROFTON, 2; NO. 8 SEVERNA PARK, 1 (OT)

Crofton: 0, 0, 1, 0, 1 — 2

Severna Park: 0, 0, 1, 0, 0 — 1

Goals: Crofton — Mary-Cate Parks, Charlotte DeForest; Severna Park — Noel Stefancik

Assists: Severna Park — Kylie Corcoran

Saves: Crofton — Ryleigh Osborne, 9; Severna Park — Charlotte Kramer, 7.