Karakousis lifts Gilman in MIAA A opener
Late goal lifts No. 7 Greyhounds past Mount Saint Joseph
The ball didn’t spend much time in Gilman’s or Mount Saint Joseph’s penalty area in Friday’s Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference soccer opener.
So when Gilman senior midfielder Costi Karakousis suddenly found the ball at his feet on the right side with just under eight minutes left to play, he stayed composed and wasted no time.
Karakousis perfectly placed a shot from 14 yards to the left corner giving host and No. 7 Greyhounds the offensive breakthrough they needed to secure a 1-0 win over the visiting Gaels.
Gilman now has three cleans sheets in its 2-0-1 start with goalie Grant Farley earning the shutout with three saves.
Deep in the game and still scoreless, the margin of error is magnified along with the nerves when provided a rare opportunity. Karakousis didn’t show any nervousness after a long throw wasn’t able to be cleared by the Gaels. His first varsity goal was indeed a big one.
“The whole game we were struggling to get it up there, but I knew if once we got the chance we would bury one,” he said. “It just perfectly came to my feet it and I just saw the goal and finished. It’s great — there’s no feeling like it. All the fans we had out today were great and celebrating with my teammates was great.”
The Gaels were playing their season opener and had some good moments with quality possessions. But their only considerable scoring threat came early in the second half when Van Danielson sent an ideal cross in front from the right side. Miles Lam and Alex Crabbe both crashed the goal area and going to be like this – they’re going to be one of them sent a header that went off the really gritty and tough and I think we have side post. the guys here to take care of those kind of
“It doesn’t matter how much possession games,” he said. you may have, if you don’t put the ball in the “We might not be the prettiest team, but back of the net in soccer, [you’re not going to we’re always in games, always going to fight win] — that’s the name of the game. Credit and this game once again proves we can to them, but it’s also disappointing,” said play with anyone.”
Mount Saint Joseph coach Mike St. Martin. Archbishop Spalding1, No. 1McDonogh0:
Friday’s tightly contested game may well The host Cavaliers (2-1, 1-0 Maryland serve as a microcosm of the entire MIAA A Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conseason with more than a handful of teams ference Red Division) upset the top-ranked believing this could be their year. Eagles (2-1,1-1). McDonogh faces Cardinal
Defending champion and No. 1 McDonGibbons (North Carolina) on Saturday at 2 ogh has earned the nod as favorite with its p.m. Spalding travels to St. Paul’s on experience and talent through the middle Wednesday. of the field, but there’s seemingly a longer No. 5 Loyola Blakefield 2, John Carroll 1: list of teams this season capable of pulling Julian Schmugge scored two goals to lead through. the visiting Dons (1-1, 1-0 MIAA A Confer
In addition to McDonogh, Gilman and ence Black Division) past the Patriots (0-2, 1).MountSaintJoe,No.3CalvertHall,No.50-
Loyola Blakefield and No. 8 Archbishop C. Milton Wright 2, Perry Hall 1: Ryan Curley give the league six of the area’s top 8 Roszko and Austin McCafferty each teams in The Sun’s top 15 preseason poll. scored and the Mustangs (1-0) beat the
Farley thinks these grinding kind of Gators (0-1). Zach Eichelberger scored on games fit well with the Greyhounds. a penalty kick in the second half for Perry
“I feel like a lot of the league games are Hall.
No. 1 Garrison Forest 2, Bryn Mawr 0: The Grizzlies (1-0) scored two goals in the second half to shut out the host Mawrtians (1-1).
No. 4 Archbishop Spalding 2, No. 10 Broadneck 0: Freshman Ruby deFrees made two saves in her first shutout as the Cavaliers (1-0) beat the host Bruins (0-1). Bridget Donovan and K atie Fichtner each
No. 7 Arundel 3, Towson 0: Brooke Watts had 11 kills and the host Wildcats (1-0) beat the Generals (0-1). Arundel won, 25-17, 25-10, 25 -11.
No. 13 St. Paul’s 3, Notre Dame Prep 1: Abby Snyder had 29 assists, Shelby Lucas had 13 kills and Abby Mudd had 10 kills to lead the visiting Gators (3-0, 3-0 Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference) past the Blazers (0-2, 0-2). St. Paul’s won, 22-25, 25-23, 25-17, 25-22.
C Milton Wright 3, Havre De Grace 2: Brooke Naugle had 15 kills and the Mustangs (1-0) beat the host Warriors (0-1). C.M. Wright won, 25-14, 22-25, 15-25, 25-22, 15-10.