Centennial girls soccer is unstoppable in second half

A scoring splurge in the second half broke open a tight game as Centennial beat Hammond, 7-1, Tuesday night.

The Eagles, now above .500 in league play, held a 2-1 edge at halftime but took control for the final 40 minutes, scoring four goals in a seven-minute span.

Two freshmen – Megan Oliver and Jesse Dunagen — marked milestones in the win.

Oliver got her first varsity goal on a breakaway off a through pass from Anna Mitchell to open the second half, and added another goal later in the game. Dunagan, in her first varsity game, picked up an assist on a first-half goal by senior Jillian Loeffler. Dunagen played “a good square pass to Jillian's feet to set up the shot,” said coach Steve Baxter.

Mitchell scored the game’s first goal unassisted. Loeffler’s marker gave the Eagles a 2-0 lead but Hammond hit a “nice shot from inside the box,” Baxter said, to cut the margin to one with a minute and half left in the first half.

After Oliver opened the second half with the Eagles’ third goal of the night, Carolyn Eichhorn scored on a penalty kick. Mitchell and Oliver got their second goals of the game and freshman Reese Western, on a through ball from Lexi Mace, wrapped up the scoring.

“Reese continues to create lots of offensive opportunities every game and scored a much-deserved goal tonight,” Baxter said.

Ruthie Lucas and Bridgette Burrell had assists for the Eagles.

Cristina McGuire scored Hammond's goal.

Long Reach holds off hosts

Ana Rebaza and Kristen Fawole both scored to lead Long Reach to a 2-1 win over host Wilde Lake Tuesday.

Rebaza was “at the end of two great chances in the first 15 minutes, one of which the Wilde Lake keeper (Julia Crowe) was able to push nicely over the bar,” said Long Reach coach Erik Sandersen. But it was not until the 33rd minute, after Fawole was fouled about 30 yards out, that Rebaza scored on a line-drive penalty kick.

Fawole scored off a rebound of her own shot four minutes into the second half.

“The next 20 minutes were intensely fought with the Long Reach defense limiting opportunities,” said Sandersen, about the second half. “Emily Bradford had sensational timing, coming off her goal line to thwart some Wilde Lake opportunities. Rachel Kim played a great game at sweeper and Rebecca Naughton worked hard to mark Wilde Lake attackers tightly.” 

Long Reach had a number of chances during a stretch late in the second half, but could not finish.

Midfielders Ann Bonner, Victoria Simpson and Angelina Rebaza had a “great spell of winning clears and returning the ball to the attack, but the waves of attack passed without a goal,” Sandersen said.

With five minutes remaining, Wilde Lake got a direct kick head on from just outside the 18. Maria Pascale was “able to bury the kick to set up a dramatic closing,” said Sandersen. 

There’s “not much to say about tonight's game,” said Wilde Lake coach Davia Procida. “We played our hearts out in the final 10 minutes of the game but just couldn't get that second goal.”

“It is a very disappointing loss, but hopefully we can rebound for a big game Thursday against Howard,” she added.

Crowe had eight saves for Wilde Lake.

Glenelg Country unleashes offense

After getting shut out in a 1-0 loss to Mt. Carmel last week, Glenelg Country School exploded for a 9-0 win over Oldfields Monday.

The Dragons are now 8-2 in the Gold Division of the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland’s C Conference.