Senior forward Wendel Villacarlos scored three goals, leading the Loch Raven boys soccer team to a 9-0 victory over host New Town in a Class 2A North Section II semifinal in Owings Mills Friday.
Junior midfielder Jay Smith had two goals.
There hasn't been many highlights for the Raiders in a 2-11 season, but their playoff-opening victory against the Titans was clearly one of them.
"We played hard and smart and were capitalizing on the opportunities that were given to us," said Loch Raven coach Matt Radebaugh, whose team lost in the state semifinals last year to La Plata, 1-0. "We were able to connect on a lot of passes and find our guys in good spots."
Loch Raven advances on to play Hereford Tuesday night in Parkton.
"We didn't do that well during the regular season, but hopefully the New Town game will give us a little momentum," Radebaugh said. "It won't be our toughest game of the season, but it will be a tough game. Hereford is certainly a good team. We have to play with the same type of intensity."
New Town (3-4-2) seemed intimidated by Loch Raven's aggressive play.
Villacarlos scored the game's first goal on a right-footed shot 12 minutes into play from two yards out on crossing pass from Smith.
About four minutes later, Smith made it 2-0 when he beat senior goalie Jared Jones, who finished with 15 saves.
"We just had to many defensive lapses," New Town Coach Preston Waters said. "That's why we gave up the goals."
New Town never really came close to getting a shot off until freshman goalie Patrick McKinley saved Moses Mugisha's attempt midway through the first half.
It was shortly after that the rout was on.
Cal Hagan and Smith scored back-to-back goals about a minute apart to give the Raiders — who outshot the Titans, 28-3 — a 4-0 lead.
Villacarlos finished the first-half scoring on a penalty kick.
"He's been working harder in practice and I think it showed today," Radebaugh said of Villacarlos.