Catonsville senior and co-captain Emily Tyson is not shy about telling you what her goals are for the Comets volleyball team this year. Yesterday, she checked one off the list.

Tyson used a beguiling serve and the Comets played great defense to knock off host and three-time defending Baltimore County champion Dulaney, three games to none (25-22, 27-25, 25-12), to begin their season.

The loss was No. 9 Dulaney's first to a Baltimore County team since falling to Towson in the final game of the 2004 regular season.

"At the start of the season, we set our goals as beating Dulaney, beating Towson and going to the states," Tyson said. "One down, two to go."

Sixth-ranked Catonsville used a strong defense and superior passing to rally from a 16-20 deficit in the first game. After an errant Dulaney serve into the net cut the Lions' lead to 22-21, Tyson served the last four points and the Comets took the first game.

Dulaney (0-2) trailed for most of the second game but rallied to tie it at 24. The Lions took a 25-24 lead, then Catonsville won the next three points.

"You could just tell at that point that they were fired up and they wanted it," Lions coach Cary Lyons said.

The Comets cruised to an easy win in the final game, with Tyson acing the final two points and setting off a wild celebration.

"This was a total team effort - passing, setting and hitting," Comets coach Dorothy Gill said. "We've set the bar high this year, and this was a big win for our team and our program. ... This feels real nice."

Tyson said the players' ability to pick one another up is a change from last year's team, which lost to Towson in the regional final. "I don't play defense real well, so my teammates picked me up," she said. "I try to pick them up with my offense. We play really well as a team, and we have a lot of confidence. We've set high goals, but we know we can achieve them."

girls soccer

NORTH CARROLL 3, WINTERS MILL 2:: Brittney Coppa scored two goals in the second half as the visiting Panthers (2-0) came back from a 2-0 halftime deficit to defeat the Falcons (0-1). The junior forward took a pass from Julia Pope in the 55th minute and scored to tie the game at 2. Pope had scored earlier. Coppa added the game-winning goal in the 65th minute.

boys soccer

CHESAPEAKE-AA 4, MEADE 2:: Senior forward-midfielder Adam Jankiewicz scored early in the second half to break a tie at 1 as the visiting Cougars (1-0) defeated the Mustangs (0-1). Meade tied the score at 2 on a goal by Jean Toussant, but Chesapeake scored back-to-back goals late to put the match away.

BROADNECK 2, ANNAPOLIS 1: :: Senior midfielder Alex Workman scored off a throw-in deflected by Eric Hallberg to lead the visiting Bruins (1-0) over the Panthers (0-1). Henry DuPont added an insurance goal in the second half. Giovanni Menjivar scored a late goal for Annapolis.

SPARROWS POINT 2, CATONSVILLE 0:: Senior midfielder Dylan Hurst fired from 12 yards out to break a scoreless tie in the first half and added a goal in the second as the Pointers (2-0) beat the visiting Comets. Junior Garrett Hellman made nine saves to earn the shutout.

Baltimore Sun staff reports contributed to this article.