La Plata, North Point clinch division soccer titles

After suffering back-to-back losses early in the season to Leonardtown and Northern, the La Plata boys soccer team have been red hot as of late.

Tuesday, the Warriors were able to control possession and play tight defense as they held off the visiting North Point Eagles for the 2-1 victory in a Southern Maryland Athletic Conference Potomac Division contest.

With the win, La Plata (8-3, 6-0 Potomac) clinched its second-straight division crown with two more regular season games left on the schedule and will take on the Chesapeake Division winner in the SMAC championship game.

The Warriors are off until Tuesday when it travels to Huntingtown, then will finish the regular season Thursday when it hosts Chopticon. Both games are scheduled for 6 p.m.

During its win streak, La Plata has outscored its opponents 31-4 due to strong defense and balanced scoring.

“We possessed the ball for the much of the game,” La Plata head coach Chris Butler said of Tuesday’s contest. “They played very deep and looked to counter attack with long balls.”

In what was a tightly contested game throughout, La Plata took a 1-0 halftime on a goal from senior forward Seth DePriest-Kessler and added another goal in the second half to take a two-goal lead on a shot from junior forward Robbie Delozier.

Warriors goalie Ben LeBarron saved four shots in the win.

“The difference in the game was that our possession was able to limit North Point’s fast-break opportunities,” Butler said. “Ben made some great saves in the game and so did the North Point goalie [Austin Geier].”

North Point (5-4, 3-1) was led by Devin Douglas, who scored its lone goal in the losing effort. Geier kept the Eagles in the game with 12 saves.

North Point has three regular season games remaining, all to be played next week. The Eagles host St. Charles at 6 p.m. Tuesday followed by a road game at 6 p.m. Wednesday versus Leonardtown, to make up a Sept. 29 postponement, then end the regular season at Lackey at 6 p.m. next Friday.

“We had our chances,” North Point head coach Doug DeCook said. “They came out and played a ver y physical style of soccer which took our boys a half to figure out. We had our chances, but the ball didn’t bounce our way today. Best of luck to La Plata who will represent the Potomac Division.”