BETHESDA - Century girls soccer coach Vanessa Ozimek wasn't quite sure what to expect from Worcester County's Stephen Decatur in last night's Class 2A state semifinal at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School.
It didn't take the No. 10 Knights long to figure it out, scoring on their first shot just over four minutes into the game on their way to a 5-0 win, sending the first-year varsity squad - which has no seniors - into this week's state final at UMBC.
Freshman Amanda Bradley had a goal and two assists and junior Kelly Kasper one each for Century (14-1), which used its precise passing game to outshoot the previously unbeaten Eastern Shore team 26-2.
"The whole bus ride, we were very nervous, and when we pulled up, all our stomachs were turning," Bradley said about facing the Seahawks (15-1-1). "Once we got our first shot off, our offense calmed down."
Said Kasper: "After about the first 10 minutes, we worked the ball and like 10 people got touches on it. Then it was like 'we've got this.' "
The Knights wasted little time in taking the lead, with Bradley sending a cross in front to Megan Mills, who punched a shot past goalie Jonnie McGrath into the left corner of the goal to make it 1-0.
Minutes later, Kasper made it 2-0, taking a pass from Bradley and sending it off the goalie and inches over the goal line with about 31 minutes left in the half. Century put the game out of reach with three goals in the final 17:25.
Ozimek said that the performance was a culmination of what's been a dream season.
"It took a lot of work in the beginning of the season to build the chemistry and mesh together, but I think we've found what works," Ozimek said, "Now, we're just going to continue going with it."
Bethesda-Chevy Chase 0, No. 9 Eastern Tech 0 (3-2 penalty kicks): The Mavericks survived regulation and a pair of sudden-death overtimes before falling to the host and defending state co-champion Barons in a controversy-filled penalty-kick session.
The confusion began when Mavericks forward Stephanie Gutowski led off the shootout with a liner that Barons goalie Mary Creighton deflected high and off the crossbar. According to Eastern Tech, at least one referee called the kick a goal.
Later in the session, with B-CC (9-0) apparently ahead 3-2, Eastern Tech's Angela Cassano beat Creighton high to seemingly tie it; then Mavericks goalie Katlin Hassell blocked Ingrid Osterholm's shot to apparently force a second shootout.
After meeting near the center of the field, the three officials ruled that Eastern Tech's first shot, in fact, had not counted, and awarded the victory to B-CC.
"You could see the back of the net move," Eastern Tech coach Brett Smith said. "Both coaches were calling out there finding out if it was a goal, and he turned around and said, 'Yes, it's a goal.' After the last save, then they came over and said they had it 3-2."
Said Creighton: "I had no question in my mind - I was sure I saved it. I didn't know it was in question until after the fact. It came toward me and I caught it and pushed it upward."
Eastern Tech (14-2-1), which had scored consecutive overtime wins against Hereford and Towson to advance to the semifinals, spent the night continually rebuffing B-CC's offensive advances, getting outshot 23-4 but never allowing a goal.
With just over 16 minutes left in the first half, B-CC's Andrea Moody's direct kick from 20 yards out hit the crossbar and goalie Katlin Hassell smothered Lily Hitchner's follow.
Class 1A
Poolesville 2, Sparrows Point 0: Gretchen Auer helplessly watched on crutches from the sideline last year with a hamstring injury as her Poolesville teammates lost in the region playoffs.
Last night at Broadneck High, Auer, a junior midfielder, scored in the 35th minute to propel the Falcons (8-1) from Montgomery County.
Poolesville will play Smithsburg (14-4) at UMBC this week for the Class 1A state title. Smithsburg beat Cambridge-South Dorchester, 4-0, yesterday.
Sophomore Caitlin Evans added the second goal with 1:20 left to seal the victory over the Pointers (10-7), who had last played in the state semifinals in 1999.
The Falcons scored despite the outstanding play of senior keeper Amie Barcikowski, who was named to the coaches' All-Baltimore County team.
Barcikowski, who had seven shutouts, had eight saves last night to keep the Pointers in the game along with senior backs Sarah Iman and Jen Bischoff.
"We were 6-6 when the playoffs started because of the 4A schools we play, and something is to be said for finishing as one of the top four teams in the 1A state semifinals," said second-year coach Lori Sexton, whose Pointers won eight of their last 10 games. "I thought we had the potential to get this far with 10 seniors who had played a lot of club ball."
- Pat O'Malley