Marriotts Ridge held off a determined and hard-charging Atholton squad, 2-1, Thursday afternoon with a goal line stand.
It was the first county game of the season for both teams.
"It was a very intense, exciting game. It always is with Atholton," said Sarah Blalock, a Marriotts Ridge senior.
"Half a second more and we would have scored," said Raiders coach Martie Dyer.
Her team pinned the Mustangs deep in their own defensive end the final minute of the game.
A few seconds were added back onto the clock twice in that timeframe. Both instances occurred when Mustang players received cards and the clock continued to run.
The cards meant the Mustangs were down two players.
Marriotts Ridge goalkeeper Katie Garman said that last minute was an adrenaline rush.
"I just wanted to focus on where the ball was at all times," she said. "Once I saw the ball coming, I wanted to get it out [of the circle] as hard as possible."
Garman made a couple of saves in final 20 seconds that helped pump her teammates up.
"It was Katie, who is the pit of our defense, that really got us together," Sarah Blalock said.
Caroline Blalock put the Mustangs on the scoreboard five minutes into the game.
Atholton turned up its offensive pressure and answered late in the first half when Tori Raulin scored.
While Atholton had control in the first half, Marriotts Ridge had the advantage in the second.
Goalie Adira Colton (16 saves) presented a wall to the Mustangs until the 2:01 mark when Abby Poole scored on a corner play to put Marriotts Ridge in front for good.
"We really dug deep and fought together. At that point in the game we had had so many opportunities when the ball was literally right in front of the goal," said Sarah Blalock, who was credited with the assist.
"I am very proud of them. They came out and played composed," said Mustangs coach Stacie Gado. "We were more intense today than we were two days ago [a loss to Broadneck]."
"Props to Atholton, they did an amazing job. We love playing them," Sarah Blalock said.
Dyer was very pleased with her team's play.
"We played phenomenally," she said.
Marriotts Ridge 2, Atholton 1
Goals: MR — Caroline Blalock, Abby Poole. A — Tori Raulin.
Assists: MR — Sarah Blalock. A — Natalie Lewis.
Saves: MR — Katie Garman 14. A — Adira Colton 16.
Halftime: tied, 1-1.
Other scores:
Reservoir 9, Oakland Mills 0
Michelle Armstrong, Sarah Nam and Haley Tiller each scored twice as Reservoir defeated Oakland Mills.
Oakland Mills' defense, anchored by keeper Lizzie Yu, withstood a barrage of shots to keep the score from being even more lopsided.
"[Yu] has some quick reflexes and recovers quickly," said Reservoir coach Lindsay Beil.
Reservoir's Emily Fourney and Julia Payne split playing time in goal, but neither had to make a save.
Goals: Re — Michelle Armstrong 2, Sarah Nam 2, Haley Tiller 2, Jillian Weinman, Julia Dixon, Zara Ameli. OM — none.
Assists: Re — Michelle Armstrong 2, Sarah Nam, Mary Kate Sisk.
Saves: Re — Emily Fourney 0, Julia Payne 0. OM — Lizzie Yu 40.
Halftime: Reservoir, 5-0.
River Hill 6, Long Reach 0
Goals: RH — Gaby Hamburger 4, Bailey Schwab, Cristina Scolaro. LR — none.
Assists: RH — Gaby Hamburger, Bailey Schwab, Miriam Sheetz, Quinn Kindbom.
Saves: RH — Caroline Kral 2. Taylor Novotny 8.
Halftime: River Hill, 3-0.
Howard 9, Hammond 0
Wednesday's game:
Centennial 9, Wilde Lake 0
Goals: C — Camden Blevins 2, Brianna Belt 2, Maggie Sullivan, Julia Grable, Grace Rockefeller, Brigit O'Neill, Marissa Lagera. WL — none.
Assists: C — Brigit O'Neill 2, Bridget Israel 2, Zaharra Hotait, Lauren Muma, Grace Rockefeller, Marissa Lagera, Mar Mar Baldy.
Halftime: Centennial, 3-0.
Standings (as of Sept. 15)
River Hill, 3-0 county, 5-0 overall
Centennial, 3-0, 5-1
Marriotts Ridge, 1-0, 3-1-1
Atholton, 1-0, 2-2
Glenelg, 0-0, 4-0
Mt. Hebron, 0-0, 2-2
Reservoir, 1-2, 2-3
Howard, 1-2, 1-2
Hammond, 0-1, 2-1
Long Reach, 0-1, 1-2
Oakland Mills, 0-1, 0-3
Wilde Lake, 0-1, 0-5
Glenelg Country, 0-1 (IAAM B), 1-1.