When Westminster defeated Urbana nearly three weeks ago, there was no indication that would be the start of something big for the Owls. After all, that win had snapped a six-game losing streak, three of them by one-goal margins.

Since then, however, Westminster has won four in a row, and its latest triumph, a 2-1 victory last night at North Carroll (7-5-1, 1-2-1), almost brought it level at 5-6, but more importantly earned it the county championship with a 4-0 record. A loss would have given Liberty a fifth successive title at 4-1.

While North Carroll was doing everything but taking advantage of its opportunities, an "opportunistic" (in coach Mick Ferraro's opinion) Westminster scored once off a ricochet and got the winner off a free kick while playing a man-down with 10 minutes left.

With some 31 minutes gone in the first half, Mike Nixon had a shot carom off the right post directly to teammate Tony Legge, and the senior midfielder scored from 15 yards away.

The Panthers tied it nine minutes into the second half when Chris Wineke, taking a penalty shot after a North Carroll handball the box, had it deflected by Westminster goalkeeper Adam Kiracofe, and Sean Dukehart was there to kick the ball home.

On the last goal, Adam Fisher watched his free kick from 40 yards out curve into a group of players at the side of the goal, and sophomore Jason Holman, getting his second game-winner in three games, put it past North Carroll keeper Andy Lindner.

From there to the end, the home team kept the pressure on a man-down Westminster defense, led by Fisher and Chris Brothers, but came away with nothing to show for it.

North Carroll showed a new wrinkle, dropping forward Wineke (six goals, seven assists) back to the defensive end, and, as Ferraro said, "We weren't ready for him in back. It's always more dangerous when you have somebody coming out of the back because you don't see them."

Pub Date: 10/27/98