Mariotts Ridge's Alexandra Price provided further proof of the old adage that practice makes perfect in overtime of Friday's soccer game against Howard County rival Reservoir.
Running on to a drop pass from Katherine Kanner up top and just outside the penalty area, the senior midfielder cleanly struck a shot that quickly found the net just under the top crossbar. The goal, coming seconds after the first minute of overtime, provided the No. 9 Mustangs with a 2-1 win over the No. 7 Gators.
"I was thinking we practice this. It's been a focus all season that we need to execute when we have opportunities and we also make sure that we're prepared for the opportunities. I couldn't ask for a more beautiful ball. I had my space. I had the time and connected with it and then it went in the back of the net," she said.
The win puts Marriotts Ridge at 7-1-1 overall and 5-1 in Howard County, while Reservoir (7-2-1) drops to 5-1-1 in league play.
Price's goal, her fifth of the season, was the biggest of a number of big plays in a game that featured a fast pace with teams that mirrored each other.
The host Mustangs got to the ball first for most of the first half and were rewarded with a 1-0 lead when Maxine Brewer headed home a corner kick sent by Price in the 20th minute.
Playing with more urgency in the second half, the Gators had the better of the play with high pressure and were able to equalize when Megan Jackson hit a half volley from 10 yards off a short cross sent in by Amy Armstrong with 35 minutes to play to tie the game.
Strong defense from the Mustangs kept the game tied in the closing minutes — goalie Kristene Mumby making a reaction save on Michelle Viegas shot from 10 yards and then defender Sarah Ferrell alertly clearing a ball off the goal line with 2:48 to play — to force the extra time.
It didn't take long for Price to make the home team happy as teammates collectively rushed at her after the game-winner.
"This is huge for us. We were a little down because of Tuesday [in a loss to Glenelg] we were off our game so we really wanted to prove ourselves against Reservoir, which is such a formidable opponent," said Marriotts Ridge coach Robin Grey. "This count is unbelievable between all the overtimes or the one-goal games — it's anybody's game every time out."
glenn.graham@baltsun.com
No. 9 Marriotts Ridge 2, No. 7 Reservoir 1 (OT)
Goals: R -- M. Jackson; MR -- Brewer, Price.
Assists: R -- Armstrong; MR -- Price, Kanner.
Saves: R -- Fowler 4; MR -- Mumby 5.
Half: MR, 1-0.