Third-ranked McDonogh dominated possession in the first half, then broke the game open with three second-half goals to defeat No. 7 Loyola, 4-1, in a Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference semifinal soccer game yesterday at McDonogh.
The Eagles will be making their fifth straight appearance in tomorrow's 5 p.m. conference championship at UMBC when they will face top-ranked Calvert Hall, a 3-1 winner against visiting Archbishop Spalding.
The Cardinals, who edged McDonogh, 3-2, in the final seconds three weeks ago, got two second-half goals from junior Patrick Healey and one from senior Will Bach to defeat Spalding.
Sophomore defender Matt Beckman scored two goals and senior forward Brian Yi and senior midfielder Kyle McHugh added one each for McDonogh(19-4-2).
The Eagles outshot the Dons 9-2 in the first half and 14-6 for the game. Beckman's first goal, his 13th of the season, came from inside of 10 yards with roughly 15 minutes left in the first half.
"We were all over them in the first half," McDonogh coach Steve Nichols said. "It wasn't even close. We should have been up three or four nothing at the half. They started to panic a little bit after we scored."
Yi scored the game-winner with his 29th goal of the season 10 minutes into the second half, breaking through the Dons' defense, which had double-teamed him nearly the entire game.
In the other semifinal, Calvert Hall (19-0-2) and Spalding (12-8-1) played a scoreless first half, combining for just five shots. The pace picked up in the second half. Calvert Hall built a 2-0 lead behind goals from Bach and Healey.
Spalding drew to within one when senior B.J. Fuller converted a cross from Brian Barry with 13 minutes remaining, but Calvert Hall iced it seven minutes later when Healey converted a direct kick from 20 yards out.
Calvert Hall coach Andy Moore said his team played better in the second half.
"Our guys just settled down in the second half and played with composure, particularly in the midfield," Moore said.
Nichols said his team looks forward to facing Calvert Hall again.
"We think we can beat them," Nichols said. "We're not intimidated. We're better on the ball. They're better off the ball. Hopefully, we'll do a better job off the ball this time. It's going to be a classic."
B Conference
Severn 3, St. Mary's 2: Sean Engles, John Edjar and Mike Phipps gave host Severn a 3-0 lead before St. Mary's rallied in the last eight minutes behind goals from Nick Bonacci and Justin Schneider.
Severn held on behind the solid play of sophomore goalkeeper Brian Sparrow. Severn will meet Boys' Latin at 2:30 p.m. tomorrow at UMBC for the conference title.
Boys' Latin 2, Park 0: Goalkeeper Chris Maisel made seven saves to record the shutout.
Boys' Latin's Jay Smith opened the scoring midway through the first half on a penalty kick. Ten minutes into the second half, Chris Marion added a 30-yard rocket.