Boys soccer: Opportunistic Atholton upends Marriotts Ridge, 1-0

Atholton coach Roch DeFrances called it a signature game, the kind that has the ability to change a season.

Freshman Tariq Pitt-Bey scored late in the first half and goalie Kyle Forbes made several huge stops, as the Raiders stayed unbeaten by knocking off visiting Marriotts Ridge, 1-0, Sept. 20.

"I told them coming in that this is the one that will tell you if you're for real or not," DeFrances said. "These guys needed to win a game like this against a really good team to convince themselves that they are that good."

Marriotts Ridge, the two-time defending 2A state champions, was coming off a 1-0 victory over Liberty the day before in what was a rematch of last year's state title game. And, in the early stages against Atholton, it appeared the Mustangs were going to carry over some of that momentum.

After several near misses in the first 10 minutes, Marriotts Ridge was awarded a penalty kick with 28:45 remaining in the first half after Atholton was whistled for a handball in the box.

However, as would become a theme all evening, Forbes saved the day.

Diving to his right, the senior goalie secured the ball and kept the score knotted at 0-0.

"I could tell from the way his hips were that he was going to go to the left, my right, and I was able to come up with the save," said Forbes, who finished the game with 11 saves. "I told myself that I had to make that save. If it goes in, it's a completely different game."

Atholton (3-0, 3-0) made Forbes' heroics count, getting on the scoreboard with 5:41 left in the opening half. Senior Emilio Altamirano chased down a ball on the right wing and flicked it to the center of the box, where Pitt-Bey was waiting to finish into the right corner.

It was only the second goal that Marriotts Ridge (2-1, 4-1) has allowed this season. The other one was against Sherwood in the team's opener, but that game was postponed at halftime.

The Mustangs continued to apply pressure offensively in the second half, generating more than three times as many shots and corner kicks as the Raiders.

Ultimately, though, the clock ran out on any comeback bid.

"What it comes down to is that they got the ball down the field and finished when the opportunity came … we didn't," Marriotts Ridge coach Kevin Flynn said. "I was happy with how we limited them and happy with the opportunities we created, but unfortunately there are going to be games like this. Soccer can be cruel sometimes.

"Hopefully it keeps the boys hungry."

Atholton 1, Marriotts Ridge 0

Goal: A - Pitt-Bey.

Assist: A - Altamirano.

Saves: A - Forbes 11; MR - Moore 3.

Half: 1-0 A.

Other games:

Reservoir 1, Glenelg 0

Curtis Kosmowski provided the only goal, off a feed from Jimmy Rager late in the first half, as the Gators survived a stiff test from the Gladiators. Glenelg had several quality chances to tie the game in the second half, including a one-on-one chance that was stopped by Reservoir goalie Ryan Dooley, but couldn't find the net.

"It was a little nerve-wracking, they definitely had some chances," Reservoir coach Paul Linkins said. "It came right down to the end … they had a ball go right over the cross bar with five seconds left."

Goal: Re - Kosmowski.

Assist: Re - Rager.

Saves: Re - Dooley 5; G - Haussler 9.

Half: 1-0 Re.

Hammond 3, Long Reach 1

The Golden Bears got their first win of the season, scoring back-to-back goals in the second half to break open a 1-1 tie. Michael Waters provided the team's first goal and added another in the second half to lead the Hammond offense.

"It's nice to get that first win. You can only have so many moral victories," Hammond coach Brett Cutler said. "We played one good half against Wilde Lake, but couldn't finish. So today was definitely important."

Goals: Ha - Waters 2, Lippit; LR - N/A.

Saves: Ha - Sandish 7; LR - N/A 10.

Half: 1-0 Ha.

River Hill 3, Wilde Lake 1

Goals: RH - Kaiser 2, Turney; WL - Johnson.

Assists: RH - Riso 2.

Saves: RH - Voyton 4; WL - Park 5.

Half: 1-0 RH.

Mt. Hebron 2, Centennial 1