With a largely inexperienced group still settling in at the varsity level, the No. 4 McDonogh boys soccer team understands it has to grind for everything that comes its way.
The Eagles' 2-1 come-from-behind win over No. 3 Mount Saint Joseph on Wednesday was the ideal case study.
Outplayed in the first half and down 1-0, host McDonogh worked harder in the second half to make more things happen, and good things did. After Luke Davis tied the game with a penalty kick midway through, Andrew Privett made a smart decision with a direct free kick from 30 yards with 8:55 to play. With a brief but steady rain having started just minutes before, Privett decided to put the kick on goal and it was mishandled by Gaels senior goalie Nicholas DeShong.
McDonogh improved to 2-1 overall and 1-1 in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference. Mount Saint Joseph fell to 1-1 in overall and league play.
The Gaels carried the play for big chunks of the first half and were rewarded late when Jake Mazzei found the lower right corner from 16 yards after taking a through ball sent forward by Andrew Robbins.
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No. 1 Calvert Hall 4, St. Paul's 0: Ben Alexander scored two goals to power the Cardinals (3-0, 3-0 MIAA A Conference) past the host Crusaders (1-2, 1-2).
No. 2 Archbishop Curley 2, No. 9 Loyola Blakefield 1: The visiting Friars (5-0, 3-0 MIAA A Conference) were down a goal in the second half before a 2-0 run carried them past the Dons (0-2, 0-2).
Matt Brummet scored the winner off a free kick near the midway point of the second half.
No. 10 Perry Hall 8, Loch Raven 0: Jack Muller had a hat trick to power the host Gators (1-1) past the Raiders (0-3).
Mervo 5, Dunbar 1: Bjabari Collymore had a hat trick and Carlos Gonzalez scored twice to lead the host Mustangs (1-0) past the Poets (0-1).
Girls soccer
No. 6 Archbishop Spalding 4, St. Mary's 1: Allie Brimmer had a hat trick to power the Cavaliers (3-0-1) past the host Saints (0-1).
No. 10 Perry Hall 4, Loch Raven 0: Hannah Becker and Ryleigh Fachler each had a goal and an assist to lead the Gators (1-0) past the host Raiders (1-2).
Old Mill 4, Annapolis 0: Braelynn South had two goals as the host Patriots (1-0) shut out the Panthers (0-1).
—Brian Burden, Baltimore Sun Media Group
Field hockey
No. 7 Garrison Forest 8, Century 0: Amanda Fruman and Claire Jones scored two goals each to lead the host Grizzlies (2-1) past the Knights (0-1).
Varsity Highlights
Goalie Tessa Evarts had her second shutout for Garrison Forest.
No. 5 Dulaney 1, Notre Dame Prep 0: Emma Klein scored with 23:04 left in the second half off a penalty corner to lift the Lions (3-0) over the host Blazers (0-1).
Klein tipped Claire Podles' shot past goalie Lucy Lowe.
Klein, who had 20 goals last season, has four goals in three games this year.
—Tom Worgo, Baltimore Sun Media Group
River Hill 3, Howard 0: Caroline Kral made six saves in her second shutout of the year for the Hawks (3-0). The host Lions fell to 0-1.
Baltimore Sun staff contributed to this article.