Paybacks can be painful.
A year ago Howard defeated Marriotts Ridge, 1-0. Tuesday, the Mustangs turned the table on the Lions, winning 1-0.
It was Howard's first loss of the season.
Molly Fleming scored the game winner 5 minutes into the game.
"Jenna Kerr brought the ball down the field and passed it Bri Hanlon," Fleming said. The senior took her shot from right inside the circle and directed it toward the right post.
"I knew it was going to be a close game," she said. "We had a lot of opportunities to score, but Howard has a defensively strong team."
And so does Marriotts Ridge.
"Our defense really stepped it up," Fleming said. "Rylie Whiting kept us in the game." Whiting and her defensive teammates often turned the ball back before it reached their keeper, Sophia Hamilton, who made two saves.
"We just couldn't get over the hump. That's pretty much it," said Howard's Katja Randazzo. "I feel like we didn't play to our potential. …We were down there but we couldn't finish."
Howard's loss drops the Lions into a three-way tie with Marriotts Ridge and Mt. Hebron for second place in the county standings. Glenelg is undefeated.
Goals: MR - Molly Fleming. Ho - none.
Assists: MR - Bri Hanlon.
Saves: MR - Sophia Hamilton 2. Ho - Lani Sasser 3.
Halftime: Marriotts Ridge. 1-0.
Mt. Hebron 2, Atholton 0
Goals: MH - Yun, Sutton. A - none
Assists: not available.
Saves: MH - Maddy Fisher 2. A - Camille Bulte 13.
Halftime: Mt. Hebron, 1-0
Centennial 4, Long Reach 0
Goals: C - Erica Heaphy 3, Sadie Rockefeller. LR - none.
Assists: C - Anna Kelly, Carey Whittenberger.
Saves: C - Caitlin Cleveland 10. LR - Taylor Burfiend 4.
River Hill 8, Hammond 0
Goals: RH - Kat Varga 2, Pauline Shih 2, Natalie Bird 2, Nina Collins, Dani Mzhen. Ha - none
Assists: not available
Saves: RH - not available. Ha - Shannon Burt 15.
Reservoir 3, Oakland Mills 0
Goals: Re: Katie Westermeyer, Sydney Zester, Megan Maloney. OM - none
Assists: Re: Katie Westermeyer.
Saves: Re: Olivia Lynch 2. OM - Celine Manneville 9.
Halftime: Reservoir, 1-0.
Glenelg 16, Wilde Lake 0
Goals: G - Meagan Guthrie 4, Meghan Milani 3, Stephanie Asher 3, Tagne Vandewall 2, Mary Kate Olson, Emily Perry, Ivy Meissner, Danielle Baker. WL - none.
Assists: G - Meghan Milani 4, Meagan Guthrie 2, Kristen Powers, Kendall Lutts, Emily Russo, Danielle Baker.
Saves: G - Amanda Hoyt 2. WL - Krina Suddeth 17.
Halftime: Glenelg, 12-0.