Mustangs make most of chances
Two goals in 1-minute span in second half help secure fourth win in five games
For Marriotts Ridge boys soccer, the second half on Tuesday against Reservoir was not going the way it intended. But in a tight game between two quality opponents, it doesn’t always have to. Even just a single play can decide the match’s outcome.
The Mustangs’ 2-1 road triumph had two such sequences that occurred less than a minute apart. First was a nifty equalizer off a set piece with about 26 minutes to play in regulation, and then came a well-executed counter attack that resulted in the go-ahead goal. It turned out to be the only offense the Mustangs would need en route to securing their fourth win in five games.
“That’s what it’s all about,” Marriotts Ridge coach Quinn Khouri said. “You’ve got to be high percentage, because you know against good teams, you’re not going to have 10, 15, 20 shots on goal. You’ve got to take advantage of the ones that you do have.”
Second-half scoring opportunities came at a premium for a Marriotts Ridge team that spent much of the final frame defending its own net.
Reservoir (7-5 overall, 5-5 Howard County) constantly attacked the goal out of the break, much like it did in the latter stages of the first half after netting the opening tally. The strike came in the 21st minute on a perfectly-timed finish from Alex Molina off an Aaron Kaplan corner kick, and it seemed to jumpstart a Gators’ attack that endured a slow start.
Eventually the Mustangs (6-6-1, 6-4) advanced possession past midfield and kept it there with the hope of mustering even one quality scoring chance. That opportunity came around the 54th minute.
Off what Khouri called a “brilliant” free kick from junior MarkLee, senior Gabe Jones found enough space in the box to swoop in for the header that no one could prevent from tying the game.
In the mind of Reservoir first-year coach David Obeng-Darko, it marked the “one mistake” his team made in an otherwise promising late-season performance. And making matters worse was that the miscue had multiple parts. For one, Obeng-Darko thought the Gators were too slow in setting up their defense in preparation for the set piece. That left players out of position, allowing Jones a clean look that he sent past goalkeeper Andre Jobst (seven saves).
The second goal was far less preventable, Obeng-Darko, as it occurred with precision passes in quick succession. Starting in their owndefensive third, Marriotts Ridge charged down the field as Reservoir attempted to set up after having an attempt of its own moments earlier. There was simply too much space to work with, and the Mustangs made the Gators pay with the go-ahead strike.
SEVERN 4, PARK 0: Camryn Levin had two goals and one assist to lead the Admirals (4-7-1, 4-2 Interscholastic Athletic Association B Conference) past the Bruins (4-6, 1-5). Severn outshot Park, 25-2.
GLENELG COUNTRY 1, LIBERTY 0, 2OT: Ava Swartz scored the game-winner on a corner assisted by Celia Pell to lift the host Dragons (3-8) over the Lions (4-4-1) in double overtime.
Girls volleyball
ST. MARY’S 3, CATHOLIC 0: Alli Cherry had11 kills and went14-for-14 serving to lead the Saints (13-2, 10-0 IAAM B Conference) past the Cubs (10-4, 8-2). St. Mary’s won, 22-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-19.
HARFORD TECH 3, NORTH HARFORD 0: Kerrigan Clem had four aces and 14 kills to lead the visiting Cobras (11-3) past the Hawks (10-3). Harford Tech won, 22-25, 25-13, 25-23, 26-24.