Cobras strike quick in semifinals
Harford Tech scores early, uses defense to top Liberty
Harford Tech boys soccer got the needed offense out of the way early against Liberty in Saturday’s Class 1A state semifinal, scoring a goal nine minutes into play.
The rest of the game, the Cobras found a winning formula — a quality mix of attacking and defending that secured a 1-0 win over the Lions for a chance at the program’s first state title.
Harford Tech (12-4-1) takes on unbeaten Allegany, a winner over Perryville in Saturday’s other semifinal, for the state championship next week. All the boys and girls state title games will take place Thursday through Saturday at Loyola Maryland’s Ridley Athletic Complex.
After senior defender Demayne Trotter headed home Aiden Warren’s corner kick in the early stages, the Cobras showed just how much they wanted another crack at a state title. In 2021, they lost a heartbreaker to Parkside, 1-0, in their first title game appearance.
“That game was back and forth and could have gone either way. We were fortunate the ball bounced our way one more time than [Liberty] and our guys grinded it out,” Harford Tech coach Mike Dempsey said. “It wasn’t our best game, but sometimes you just got to find a way to win to move forward.”
Quality work down the left side led to the Cobras’ goal.
Brendan Coldiron made a short run before sending a through ball to Ben Kiedrowski down the left side. He carried it closer to the end line before sending a low cross to the near post that Liberty goalie Arjun Singh steered out for a corner kick.
Warren aimed the corner at the far post and Trotter got his head on it. Singh was there to secure it, but he was past the goal line when making the grab.
For Liberty, which finishes with an 8-7 mark, the season was a testament to staying fully invested. Coach Donnie Kwedar was appreciative.
“I’m proud of my guys — they just worked hard all season,” he said. “We started off 2-6 and just rallied. Every day, we just came to work so I’m happy and proud of them. [Today] was unfortunate, but that’s just the way it goes sometimes.”
Century 4, Queen Anne’s 3: Ryan Bauer pulled the ball far behind his head like a slingshot and hurled it into the box on a throw-in midway through the first half of
From left, Harford Tech’s Demayne Trotter, Brayden Chryst, Aiden Warren, Ethan Prevost and Brody Smith, back right, celebrate their victory over the Liberty in a Class 1A state semifinal.
Saturday’s Class 2A state semifinal. Nick McGhin’s head rose above the pack and redirected the incoming ball past Queen Anne’s goalkeeper.
Before the ball could pierce the mesh netting, Bauer, a Century junior defender, spun around and mean mugged the nearest camera like Stephen Curry after hitting a pivotal 3-pointer.
Bauer’s supreme confidence in McGhin (three goals) and the ensuing celebratory team pose was precisely the flair and swagger that led No. 5 seed Century to a 4-3 win over the top-seeded Lions for a spot in the state championship game.
The Knights will meet Damascus next week at Loyola Maryland’s Ridley Athletic Complex.
“We were pretty focused and pretty intense in our preparation before the game,” Century coach Stephen Hurst said. “Going in, I would say we were highly motivated. And we’re not listed as one of the top seeds so I think that motivates us.”
Towson 2, Great Mills 0: Towson scored a pair of goals less than a minute apart in the first half and the defense make it stand up in a 2-0 victory over Great Mills in a Class 3A state semifinals at Crofton High.
The win sends the Generals to the state championship at Loyola Maryland against South River at a date and time to be determined.
It will be Towson’s 10th trip to the state final. The Generals won championships in 1972, 1986, 1991, 2003 and 2005 and lost in the state title game last year.
Junior midfielder Zach Shrager scored the first goal with 16:35 left in the first half, and 55 seconds later Justin Villano added the second.
“I was just in the right place at the right time, the ball dropped to me and we practice it and I just sneaked it in the goal,” said Shrager, whose goal came after a long throw-in by sophomore Will Heacock.
Damascus 3, North Harford 2: In the frantic final seconds of Saturday’s Class 2A state semifinal, North Harford junior Cole Schultz delivered an ideal free kick right in front of the Damascus goal.
It found senior Mason Barker, who got good snap on the header he placed on target.
The Hawks’ final chance to tie — Barker’s poised bid with eight seconds left — ended up in the arms of Damascus goalkeeper Ty Washington as the Hornets from Montgomery County secured a thrilling 3-2 win at Bel Air High.
Surrendering an early goal and facing an uphill battle for most of the game, North Harford (9-8) showed character but was unable to get over the hump against the emerging Hornets, who make their first state title game appearance next week.
For North Harford, which reached last year’s title game and wanted to go one win farther, it wasn’t meant to be. It didn’t go without trying hard.
“We were almost there,” North Harford coach Erik Lane said.