MPSSAA 2A Soccer State Championships
2A Girls
Two first half goals were enough for River Hill to win its eleventh MPSSAA state championship. This is the fourth title for the Hawks in girls soccer since 2012.
River Hill got on the board first with 25:10 left in the first half when Brigette Wong teed up a beautiful pass for Ashlee Hamer. Hamer was able to float the ball past the outstretched arms of Calvert goalie Patty Massie.
The Hawks doubled their lead with 13:18 left in the first half when Megan Chun lofted a free kick into the box which Adriana Zakel was able to head into the bottom corner, and past Massie.
The Hawks almost made it a three goal game with 6:55 left in the half when Chun burst down the right flank and lofted a cross in than Hamer got to, but her header went off the crossbar.
River Hill was awarded a free kick in excellent position with 26:58 left in the game, but Chun's cross was cleared by Calvert.
Calvert got on the scoreboard with 10:53 left in the game on a free kick by Sydney Watson. It curled to the right of River Hill goalie Juliana Grasso who got a hand to it, but wasn't able to keep it out of the net.
It was a game in which Calvert's offense struggled to link up. The play of River Hill defenders Claire Kremer, Carly Wetyzel, Danielle Poindexter and Sophia Elguera were key in the Hawks keeping Calvert at bay for the majority of the contest.
River Hill finishes the year 14-3-2. Calvert ends 2016 12-4.
2A Boys
Middletown braved the wind and sleet to beat Fallston 1-0 in the MPSSAA 2A boys state championship. It's Middletown's second boys soccer championship in a row, and fifth overall.
Both keepers were active early having to come off their lines to help their defenses clear danger.
With 22:30 left in the first half, Ben Muzzelo lifted a teasing pass across Middletown's goal, but no Fallston players were able to get on the end of it.
Reese Ripken had an excellent corner kick for Fallston that found the head of Andrew Solomon, but the tall defender's effort went wide of the goal. Fallston continued the pressure moments later when Jeff Otenasek sent in a volley from 25 yards out that had movement on it, but Middletown goalkeeper Ethan Remsberg was able to catch it.
Middletown's best chance of the first half happened when Josh Woozley rounded the Fallston's goalkeeper with less than five minutes remaining, leaving the net unguarded. Caynnan Taylor was able to block Woozley though, and Fallston's avoided giving up the early goal.
Owen Smith curled in a free kick that was caught by Fallston's keeper to start the scoring chances in the second half. Smith had another free kick chance from the top of the box, but his effort at the 27:30 mark went over the bar.
Middletown continued to have chances come their way, including an effort that forced Fallston's goalie to tip the ball over the crossbar off a corner kick. Evan Joseph finally got on the end of one of Luke Ahalt's corners and headed it off the underside of the crossbar, and into the net, giving Middletown a 1-0 lead with 21:55 left in the game.
It would be Ahalt's last contribution to the game, as he got a straight red card with 19:14 left in the game, leaving Middletown to defend its lead a man down. Fallston looked to press its advantage straight away, taking a couple speculative shots from outside the box.
Despite the man advantage, Fallston was unable to penetrate Middletown's defense, and the Knights held on to win the state championship.
Middletown ends the season 19-1. Fallston finished 15-4.
Two first half goals were enough for River Hill to win its eleventh MPSSAA state championship. This is the fourth title for the Hawks in girls soccer since 2012.
River Hill got on the board first with 25:10 left in the first half when Brigette Wong teed up a beautiful pass for Ashlee Hamer. Hamer was able to float the ball past the outstretched arms of Calvert goalie Patty Massie.
The Hawks doubled their lead with 13:18 left in the first half when Megan Chun lofted a free kick into the box which Adriana Zakel was able to head into the bottom corner, and past Massie.
The Hawks almost made it a three goal game with 6:55 left in the half when Chun burst down the right flank and lofted a cross in than Hamer got to, but her header went off the crossbar.
River Hill was awarded a free kick in excellent position with 26:58 left in the game, but Chun's cross was cleared by Calvert.
Calvert got on the scoreboard with 10:53 left in the game on a free kick by Sydney Watson. It curled to the right of River Hill goalie Juliana Grasso who got a hand to it, but wasn't able to keep it out of the net.
It was a game in which Calvert's offense struggled to link up. The play of River Hill defenders Claire Kremer, Carly Wetyzel, Danielle Poindexter and Sophia Elguera were key in the Hawks keeping Calvert at bay for the majority of the contest.
River Hill finishes the year 14-3-2. Calvert ends 2016 12-4.
2A Boys
Middletown braved the wind and sleet to beat Fallston 1-0 in the MPSSAA 2A boys state championship. It's Middletown's second boys soccer championship in a row, and fifth overall.
Both keepers were active early having to come off their lines to help their defenses clear danger.
With 22:30 left in the first half, Ben Muzzelo lifted a teasing pass across Middletown's goal, but no Fallston players were able to get on the end of it.
Reese Ripken had an excellent corner kick for Fallston that found the head of Andrew Solomon, but the tall defender's effort went wide of the goal. Fallston continued the pressure moments later when Jeff Otenasek sent in a volley from 25 yards out that had movement on it, but Middletown goalkeeper Ethan Remsberg was able to catch it.
Middletown's best chance of the first half happened when Josh Woozley rounded the Fallston's goalkeeper with less than five minutes remaining, leaving the net unguarded. Caynnan Taylor was able to block Woozley though, and Fallston's avoided giving up the early goal.
Owen Smith curled in a free kick that was caught by Fallston's keeper to start the scoring chances in the second half. Smith had another free kick chance from the top of the box, but his effort at the 27:30 mark went over the bar.
Middletown continued to have chances come their way, including an effort that forced Fallston's goalie to tip the ball over the crossbar off a corner kick. Evan Joseph finally got on the end of one of Luke Ahalt's corners and headed it off the underside of the crossbar, and into the net, giving Middletown a 1-0 lead with 21:55 left in the game.
It would be Ahalt's last contribution to the game, as he got a straight red card with 19:14 left in the game, leaving Middletown to defend its lead a man down. Fallston looked to press its advantage straight away, taking a couple speculative shots from outside the box.
Despite the man advantage, Fallston was unable to penetrate Middletown's defense, and the Knights held on to win the state championship.
Middletown ends the season 19-1. Fallston finished 15-4.
| November 19th, 2016 | By: Wick Eisenberg |