Howard rallies to force OT, win
Lions beat Centennial in quarterfinals, face Marriotts Ridge next
Howard senior attacker Alyssa Gorny darted around the cage looking to create separation with a Centennial defender draped on her hip.
Faking inside and stepping back outside, Gorny found the minimal separation she needed, then fired the game-winning goal past Adria Welsh, 28 seconds into the overtime period.
The goal capped off Howard’s 13-12 come-from-behind victory, advancing the fifth-seeded Lions to a Class 3A East Region I semifinal against top-seeded Marriotts Ridge on Thursday.
“I just wanted to win and I just thought now or never, get the shot off as fast as I can before something else happens,” Gorny said. “It really just is the timing. [Sam Brothers] did amazing on the draw and [Jenna Vetter] did amazing in the circle. We really just had each others’ backs the whole game.”
Howard trailed by two goals at multiple points in the second half. However, the Lions fought back to tie the game each time. Shortly after Katherine Roybal scored to put fourth-seed Centennial back on top, 12-11, with 3:36 remaining, the Lions were assessed a yellow card. Down a player for two minutes, Howard killed the penalty, controlling much of the possession offensively.
“I think that’s what we’ve worked for all season, being able to control the game and working on that mentality,” Howard coach Carly Brunett said. “These girls have put in the work and they really dug deep in themselves to learn what that means. They’ve been able to play for each other at the end of the season.”
Returning to even strength, the Lions cycled the ball around multiple times, patiently looking for an opening as Brothers found a crease. She was fouled inside the 8-meter line, then promptly buried the free position shot, her sixth goal of the game tying the score with 1:06 remaining.
“I think we all just had a sense of urgency looking at the clock,” Brothers said. “Seeing the time that we had and being able to work with my teammates to get through and really be able to see our cuts helped out. I was super pumped to get open and to make the shot.”
With the score tied, Centennial pressured
Howard’s defense during the final 30 seconds. The Eagles’ Alaina Kelly, who had scored twice already, earned a free position shot. However, Howard goalie Allayna Martone cut off Kelly’s shooting angle for her most important save of the afternoon.
“It was awesome,” Martone said of the save. “I’m so fortunate that I’ve been able to play with these girls.”
The entire game was just as tightly contested. Centennial led 7-6 at the break, catalyzed by Abby Cudzilo who scored four of her team-high five goals in the first half. Brothers and Jenna Vetter fueled Howard’s first-half offense, combining for five of the six goals.
Roybal spearheaded Centennial’s offense in the second half, as all three of her goals came in the final 25 minutes. For Howard, Brothers, Vetter and Gorny continued to lead the way in the second half, pushing the pace off the draw controls. The Lions’ success in the draw circle helped them fight back from each deficit.
Howard’s final draw control victory to start overtime proved to be the most pivotal of the afternoon. Shortly after Gorny’s shot hit the back of the net, the Lions sprinted toward her, embracing the opportunity to share at least one more game together.
“This game was so back and forth just like when we played them last week,” Centennial coach Ellen Johnson said. “I told my girls, it’s going to be a fight. Every single ground ball counts; every single goal counts. I told them this is what lacrosse is about, it’s about the next play. They were able to get that next
play and we didn’t.”
Boys lacrosse
Winters Mill 14, Hammond 2: The Falcons took an early lead and never looked back, defeating the Golden Bears, 14-2, in a Class 2A West Region I quarterfinal. William Litz and Owen Boone led the Falcons with three goals each. Jesse Tobias, Zachary Rill and Jack Wivell each scored two.
Winters Mill advances to play No. 2 Glenelg in the semifinals.
“I felt it was a good team win. We got everybody out there as far as a couple younger guys we brought up from JV, so I was happy to get everybody out there,” Winters Mill coach Darian Meador said. “Good win for the guys, especially if it’s our last home game.”
-- Jordan Kendall
North Harford 21, Elkton 0: The Hawks rolled in their Class 2A East Region I quarterfinal, earning a trip to Kent Island on Friday for a semifinal against a much tougher opponent, the top-seeded Buccaneers.
Michael Rote (two goals, one assist) opened the scoring 35 seconds in, the first of nine first-quarter goals. Owen Smith, whose four goals shared high honors, netted three in the quarter, as did Preston Webb, who also finished with four goals.
— Randy McRoberts
Bel Air 20, Edgewood 2: Dylan Foughty scored four goals and Devin Trzeciak had three as the fifth-seeded Bobcats won decisively over the fourth-seeded Rams in their Class 3A North Region II quarterfinal. Eleven Bobcats scored. Ben Gaughn had three assists, while Foughty and Grant Smith each had two. Bel Air advances to play top-seeded Towson on Friday.
Manchester Valley 13, Wilde Lake 3: The fourth-seeded Mavericks topped the fifthseeded Wildecats in their 2A West Region I quarterfinal. Gavin Reid paced the Manchester Valley offense with five goals. Trent Onkst backed him with three goals. JT Calhoun and Eli McCallum each scored twice, with Calhoun handing out three assists. Kevin Connor made 15 saves. Wilde Lake got goals from Evan Robinson, Rowley Jackson and Myles Brown. Manchester Valley plays at top seed Century on Friday.
Aberdeen 24, Kenwood 2: Max Williams scored eight goals and Chris Mercado added four as the host Eagles defeated the Bluebirds in a 3A North Region II quarterfinal. Lucas Padowski added three goals. Aberdeen will visit Franklin on Friday.
Girls lacrosse
Aberdeen 10, Kenwood 7: The visiting Eagles defeated the Bluebirds in a Class 3A North Region II quarterfinal. Lauren Miranda and Anella Tabafunda each scored three goals to lead the win. Amanda Wang added two goals, while Jenna Stevens and Emily Sause scored a goal each. Eagles goalie Annika Thompson made 15 saves.
Glenelg 20, Winters Mill 2: The Gladiators dominated their 2A West Region I quarterfinal. Emma Kennedy scored four goals, while Carleigh Callahan, Isa Torres and Lauren LaPointe each had a hat trick. LaPointe added two assists, and Reese Allnutt finished with a team-high five assists. Maura Murphy, Sophie Cipolla and Sarah Johnson each scored twice.
Manchester Valley 25, Hammond 0: The third-seeded Mavericks won their 2A West Region I quarterfinal. Mia Addo made 17 saves for sixth-seeded Hammond.
Baseball
John Carroll 11, Loyola Blakefield 7: The Patriots built a 10-1 lead before surrendering a five-run sixth inning. Matthew Archibald had a home run, a single and two RBIs. He was also the winning pitcher, striking out 11 in five innings. Griffin Shirk doubled and drove in three runs. Austin Hofmann had two RBIs and William Weiman collected three hits.
To submit scores and stats, email mdscores@baltsun.com with a full box score, including first and last names of the players.