Wilde Lake coach Matt Pickett was keeping tabs Friday night on what was happening 12 miles away at Marriotts Ridge as his team battled Long Reach.
A win or tie by No. 5 Marriotts Ridge against top-ranked River Hill would give the Wildecats the outright Howard County title with a victory of their own. Marriotts Ridge did its part by beating River Hill, 2-1, but Pickett kept the final score from his team because he wanted it to focus.
Fourth-ranked Wilde Lake responded by beating Long Reach, 1-0, on a penalty kick by Alex Driessen in the 20th minute. The surging Wildecats will play No. 9 Arundel for the District V title Tuesday at Meade. The two teams played to a 1-1 tie earlier this season.
"I was expecting to have a very solid season, and challenge the so-to-speak perennial powerhouses in the county," Pickett said. "We play very similar to Arundel. It's going to be a heck of a game."
At Marriotts Ridge (13-1, 10-1), the Mustangs continued its recent dominance over River Hill with its fifth consecutive win in the series. The Mustangs struck early when Patrick Sullivan headed in a long throw-in from Kevin Yu.
The Hawks (12-1-1, 9-1-1) tied the game on a goal by Michael Peters in the 30th minute. Michael Glazer then gave the Mustangs back the lead when he knocked in another long throw by Yu in the 39th minute.
"After we scored the first goal, we thought we had to slow down a little bit, but then they scored and we had to pick it up again," Sullivan said "We think we're the best in the county."
No. 6 Perry Hall 2, Towson 1: Chris White and Kevin Medrano scored for the Gators (11-2) against the visiting Generals. Perry Hall had 12 shots on goal to Towson's six.
No. 7 Mount St. Joseph 2, John Carroll 0: The Gaels (11-3-1) scored twice in the first half against the host Patriots and recorded their ninth shutout of the season. Nick Buric scored first on a penalty kick after a handball in the box, and Drew Smith scored a goal from about 20 yards out. Missing from the Gaels lineup because of injury was Jordan Manley and Jalen Robinson, but Brett Smoot filled in to help the defense to the shutout.
Girls soccer
No. 3 Mercy 5, Mount de Sales 1: Alexandra Niedoba scored three goals and added an assist in the host Magic (12-2-3) victory over the Sailors. Alexis Prior-Brown also scored a goal and added two assists.
No. 4 John Carroll 2, Eastern Tech 0: Freshman Sophie Centi scored her first goal of her high school career for the Patriots (12-2-2) against the Mavericks at CCBC-Essex. Jordan Clarke also scored her seventh goal of the year as the Patriots went on to their 10th shutout.
No. 10 Perry Hall 2, Towson 1, OT: Senior Danni Bock scored twice for the Gators (10-1) against the host Generals to conclude their regular season. Bock scored her second goal with six minutes left in overtime.
Baltimore Sun reporters contributed to this article.