Following John Carroll's 1-0 win over Mercy in Tuesday's Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference playoff opener, Thursday's semifinal round is set with the Patriots next traveling to No. 1 Archbishop Spalding and No. 2 Notre Dame Prep hosting defending league champ and No. 3 McDonogh. The winners will meet in the championship game, set for 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Anne Arundel Community College.
Here's a closer look at the semifinal matchups:
John Carroll (3-10) at No. 1 Archbishop Spalding (10-2-3)
Time: 3:30 p.m.
After going 0-8 in league play during the regular season, John Carroll pulled off a 1-0 upset at Mercy to advance. Can the Patriots' momentum carry into Thursday's semifinal at Spalding? It won't be easy. The Cavaliers were the most consistent team in the league this season, thus earning the top seed, and they have experience and skill all over the field. All-Metro senior defender Emily Roberts controls play in the back, jumpstarting the Cavaliers short passing game. Fellow seniors Allie Brimmer and Katie Martin are the catalysts on attack. The Patriots will need a big game from goalie Ellie Marts. The Cavaliers won both regular-season games – claiming a 3-1 win at John Carroll on Sept. 20 and then blanking the Patriots, 2-0, at home on Oct. 6.
No. 3 McDonogh (6-2-3) at No. 2 Notre Dame Prep (8-2-2)
Time: 3:30 p.m.
After the teams played to a 0-0 draw at McDonogh on Sept. 27, the Blazers claimed a 1-0 win on Oct. 19 to gain the home field advantage in this semifinal showdown. The Blazers' senior class had never defeated the three-time defending league champion Eagles, so the home team should have added confidence going into the matchup. Defense has been the Blazers' trademark behind goalie Ashley Gabor and defender Erica Carpenter – both All-Metro seniors. The Eagles have a young roster with a good chunk of their starting lineup playing a significant role in the playoffs for the first time. Senior Marissa Vincent is the glue in the middle with Jenna Soriano anchoring the back line and Julia Dorsey the primary offensive threat. With Notre Dame Prep scoring the only goal in the two regular season games, Thursday's first goal could go a long way. If the Blazers get it, they can bunker down and leanon their tremendous defense. If the Eagles get it, that would provide them with great confidence and open the game with the Blazers eventually needing to commit more players forward.