More News

After Saturday's 2-0 shutout of Calvert County's Huntingtown High in this past Saturday's Class 3A state semifinal at the Community College of baltimore County-Essex, the Tuscarora girls soccer team stands on the brink of earning its first state championship in four years.

The Titans (14-3-1) will play for the state title on Thursday at 5 p.m. against Reservoir of Howard County at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County. The Gators earned a 2-0 win over Hereford in the other semifinal and defeated the Tuscarora, 2-1, in an early season meeting in the Tournament of Champions hosted by the Titans.

"Of course we're excited to get back to the state final," said Tuscarora head coach Mark Walcott. "I think if you ask [my players], we're not thrilled with the 80 minutes we put together [against Huntingtown], but they played through and found a way to get the result."

Tuscarora pounced onto the scoreboard in the seventh minute when freshman scoring sensation Aaran Parry's 18-yard free kick found its way to the back of the goal.

"It was just one of those things you watch in disbelief from the bench," said Huntingtown head coach Rob Soper of the seeing-eye shot through a maze of players. "Because all the stuff you work on all year long, you never think something like that will put you in a 1-nil spot."

Parry added to her school's single-season record with her 22nd goal of the year. She has scored in 15 of the Titans' 18 games, and also recorded a hat trick in a 4-1 regional final win over Quince Orchard.

"She is incredibly talented," Wolcott said, "but I think the overall impressive thing with [her being] 14 years old is her consistency."

Huntingtown's best chance of the half came in the 12th minute when Rebecca Gibson found herself in alone on Titans' senior goalkeeper Sara Jo Hayden. The ball squirted past the goalie and out of bounds before Gibson was able to gain control.

The Hurricanes began the game strong and had a few chances but were unable to get a quality shot on goal.

"We started off playing a 4-5-1 and hunkered down to see what they had but after 10 minutes I turned to [assistant coach] Greg [Tewell] and said, 'They're not the factor I thought they would be,'" Soper said. "They were big but they're not even real fast. I didn't think they were a threat up top."

"Even when we were down by a goal we turned up the intensity up even better," Soper said.

"Going into halftime I told the girls, 'I'm not changing anything. This team is on its heels and we're pressuring everywhere and we're dominating the midfield.' But we just couldn't find that first one."

The Titans' senior striker Michelle Rock added an insurance goal in the 64th minute to seal the win. The Hurricanes finished the season with a 13-3-2 record.

Against Reservoir (15-3-1), the Titans must contend with all-state senior striker Kelsey Reiff, who has scored 12 goals during her senior season.

"We know Kelsey has the ability to change and impact games by herself," Wolcott said.

"She is quick, and she is going to put some pressure on our fullbacks. Our central defenders [seniors Brittany Clemens and Anne Wickett] are going to have to win balls."

Tuscarora will also have to watch for fellow striker Stephanie Zaycer, who tallied a goal and an assist against Hereford.

"We know for them to have made it this far, that they are a very good team," Wolcott added.

"But we are excited to be back in the state championships. Although this is a new group of kids, they understand the tradition, and they are still very connected to the older kids. We had a lot of the alumni come out for our region championship [at Quince Orchard], and with the Thanksgiving Break, we expect to see more at the state final."