One thing the McDonogh boys soccer team regularly shows is that if provided with an opening, it will find a way to plow through.
Mostly outplayed at No. 3 Archbishop Curley on Wednesday, the No. 5 Eagles were able to take the game into overtime.
Junior Aidan Welsh scored with 2:46 left in the second 10-minute overtime to give McDonogh a 1-0 road win over the Friars.
McDonogh, the defending Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference champions, improves to 9-3 overall and 6-3 in league play for 18 points. The Friars (9-3-2) squandered an ideal opportunity to tie No. 1 Mount Saint Joseph for first place, instead falling to 6-2-1 in league play.
Quality work came before Welsh was able to finish an easy chance right in front. Junior Casey Settleman sent a ball to the far post for senior Dexter Lacovara, whose strong header was brilliantly saved by Curley goalkeeper Nathan Wdzieczkowski. But the rebound came right to the foot of Welsh, who finished into an open net from six yards.
"I was completely surprised the ball came right to me," said Welsh, who has four goals on the season. "Great efforts by Dexter and Casey and I just knew I had to put it in the back of the net. It's a great feeling to have those three points. We're more of a hard-working team this year with not a lot of big-name players, but if we continue to keep working this hard I think we have a great chance of winning it all."
The Friars dominated the first half and had the better of the play most of the time, but couldn't finish any chances.
They hit the post three times and also were unable to finish twice when left alone with McDonogh goalkeeper William Little (seven saves) during regulation.
The Eagles made them pay a high price, claiming the valuable three points a win brings in the MIAA.
"We probably knew in the course of the game maybe we weren't going to be the team that would be on the ball the most and have most possession, but if we fought and scratched there might be some opportunities to find a way to put the ball in and get the three points," McDonogh coach Brandon Quaranta said. "We were able to do that, so I'm proud of their effort. It's a young team and to come down here and shut out a high-powered team like Curley and then to make a play late when we were exhausted says a lot about the group."
Watching a fine effort go for naught was something Curley coach Barry Stitz has seen before this season.
"It's been a year-long theme if you look at any of our losses or ties. … We don't make plays in the box and inevitably stuff like this happens when you let a good team hang around," he said. "I'm disappointed for our boys and the result because I thought we played well. But scoring goals is obviously a big part of it so that's what happens when you don't."
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No. 2 Calvert Hall 4, John Carroll 1: The visiting Cardinals (9-2-2, 7-2-1 MIAA A Conference) broke a tie game with a 3-0 run in the second half.
The Patriots fell to 4-8-2 and 3-6-1. Ben Alexander had a hat trick for Calvert Hall.
No. 10 Gilman 1, St. Paul's 0, OT: Teddy Ndje scored the game-winner with 40 seconds left in overtime as the Greyhounds (6-3-3, 5-3-2 MIAA A Conference) beat the host Crusaders (1-9-1, 1-9-1).
No. 12 Eastern Tech 3, Loch Raven 1: Kai Kressman scored twice to lead the Mavericks (7-2) past the host Raiders (1-9).
Girls soccer
Hereford 10, Pikesville 0: Danielle Maggio and Ana Mozelack each scored twice and Janie Bolling had a save as the host Bulls (6-4) shut out the Panthers (0-5).
Field hockey
Dulaney 1, No. 11 Hereford 0: Kiley Bolonda scored the game-winner on a feed from Emma Klein as the host Lions (6-3) beat the two-time defending Class 2A state champion Bulls (5-3).
—Tom Worgo,
Baltimore Sun Media Group
Catonsville 3, Franklin 0: Second-half goals by Ashley Bates, Ashlyn Cunningham and Grace Pound lifted the Comets (6-4) over the visiting Indians (2-5).
—Craig Clary,
Baltimore Sun Media Group
Baltimore Sun staff contributed to this article.