Mike Piccolo of North Harford picked a good time to score the first game-winning goal of his career.
Piccolo scored on a penalty kick in the 42nd minute to give No. 4 North Harford a 1-0 victory over Loch Raven in the Class 2A North Region final last night at Hereford.
North Harford (14-0-1), which also won a region title two years ago, advanced to the state semifinals on Friday against Oakland Mills, the South Region winner, at a site to be determined today.
The Hawks came up with some good scoring chances in the first half. Piccolo, in fact, lined a shot off the crossbar from 20 yards. He later took a low 20-yard shot that Loch Raven goalie Joe Russell (eight saves) stopped by diving to the left.
"I just told them at halftime to keep doing what they were doing," said North Harford coach Ed Zorn. "I think we were unlucky."
The Hawks' luck changed early in the second half. Chris Roberts was pulled down from behind in the box two minutes into the half, and North Harford found itself with a penalty kick.
Zorn, as he has done all season, chose Piccolo to take the kick. The senior center forward, the team's leading scorer with 17 goals and six assists, rocketed one inside the left post for the goal.
"I knew one goal would decide the game," said Piccolo. "I was nervous, but I just tried to keep calm."
Calm was not always evident on the field, as this was a physical game marked by eight yellow cards and several brief shoving incidents. Loch Raven drew six of the yellow cards -- including five of them in the first half.
The Hawks benefited from strong play on defense. Loch Raven often put strong pressure on North Harford, especially in the second half. North Harford's defense cleared the ball well, especially on a couple of plays in which a loose ball rolled in front.
Jeremy McDonald had some good chances for Loch Raven, but the North Harford defense, led by Ryan Renfro, Garson Beers and goalie David Zorn (seven saves), kept the Raiders scoreless.
The Loch Raven defense also shut down North Harford for long stretches. Phil Lancelotta, Casey Sydnor, Joe Pyles and Scott McCumbee more than did their job. .
"We [want] our defense to play good, smart defense," said Loch Raven co-coach Chris Mitchell. "They didn't get a good shot all game. They got a lucky break; that's what soccer is all about."