Three HCC teams off to combined 9-0-1 start

As the leaves begin to change and autumn is upon us, the fall sports season at Harford Community College gets into full swing. And this fall, the Fighting Owls have started off with a bang, leading the conference standings with undefeated Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference (MD JUCO) records.

Both the men's and women's soccer teams as well as the volleyball squad sit atop the MD JUCO standings with a combined 9-0-1 record.

The women's soccer team remains undefeated overall with a 5-0-0 mark through the beginning of their difficult 2011 slate. The goalkeeping of sophomore Audrey Baldwin (Fallston) has paced the Fighting Owls early. The 2010 First-Team All-Region XX stopper has 13 career shutouts and owns a 0.62 goals-against average after making a career-best 10 saves in a 1-0 overtime victory against No. 5 Rockville on Tuesday.

The men's soccer team has relied on a potent offense to vault into a first-place tie with a 2-0-1 record. A 2-2 tie against conference power house CCBC-Essex earlier this month has given the team confidence. Harford has totaled 25 goals in seven matches, including victories of 9-0 and 6-0.

The volleyball team has been infused with energy from its youth and combined with the amazing play of returning all-conference standout Amanda Mackey (North Harford) to a 6-1 record, including a perfect 4-0 mark in league action. A thrilling five-set win over Frederick on Wednesday has the team riding momentum into a tough stretch on the schedule.