Robyn Harry wanted Mount Hebron so badly last night that she couldn't restrain herself from kicking the ball as hard as she could every time she got within striking distance of the goal.
Harry missed one opportunity after another in the first half, allowing the Vikings to stay in the game against the more aggressive Loch Raven team.
But suddenly in the opening minutes of the second half, Harry found the target for the only goal Loch Raven needed to turn back Mount Hebron, 1-0, in the semifinals of the state 2A-1A girls soccer tournament at South Carroll.
Harry, a talented sophomore, broke through the Vikings' defense with 3:28 gone in the second half, took a perfect pass from Michele DeJulius and stuck the ball in the net from 8 yards out.
Loch Raven (11-3) advances to the state 2A-1A championship game next Saturday against Oakland Mills, which beat Liberty last night, 1-0.
"Michele chipped the ball perfectly over the defenders and I went for the net with as much touch as I could," said Harry. "Coach [Lou] Menegatti kept shouting to me in the first half not to hit the ball so hard and I got the message on the goal."
So why was Harry so eager to beat Mount Hebron (9-6)?
"They had been beating us in all the other sports in the past year," said Harry. "They beat us in lacrosse [state finals] and volleyball, and tonight it was our turn."
The Raiders wound up outshooting Mount Hebron, 24-8, and could have won in a walk if it had not been for an outstanding effort in goal by the Vikings' Stacia Hepburn (15 saves).
Harry got a lot of help last night from Loch Raven's hustling midfielder, Bridget Harthausen, who was all over the field and even dived in a mud puddle for the ball early in the second half.
But her aggressive play netted a warning card later.