MIAA Soccer Week 2 Roundup

by Nelson Coffin

After bulldozing Concordia Prep, 6-0, to open its MIAA A Conference campaign, John Carroll’s prolific offense was held in check by previously unbeaten Archbishop Curley (3-1-2, 2-1-1 league).

Even so, the Patriots prevailed, 1-0, over the Friars last week on junior Tommy Wysong’s strike late in the first half, assisted by senior Jacob Gensel.

The goal not only helped John Carroll garner three points, it was Wysong’s impressive fourth goal of the young season. He also scored in wins over Concordia, B Conference member Severn and Harford County rival C. Milton Wright.

However, the Patriots (4-1, 2-1) ran into a veritable buzzsaw in Towson on Friday where they were flattened by Loyola Blakefield, 7-0, preventing the Patriots from taking sole possession of first place.

Freshman Brayden Kowalik’s hat trick paced the Dons, who also received goals from seniors Diego Hernandez and George Forakisj and juniors Kannon McKenzie, and Chase Palmerino.

Meanwhile, Curley rebounded nicely a couple of days later by hammering Concordia Prep, 6-1.

Gilman, coming off a 2-2 deadlock with the Friars in its previous match, edged Mount St. Joseph, 1-0, on senior forward Bashir Abou’s well-placed shot that tucked just inside the near post in the second half. Senior midfielder Kevin Zheng’s corner kick found sophomore midfielder Arneja Gerbaaz, who collected the ball in front of several Gael defenders and adroitly tapped it to Abou for the finish.

The Greyhounds (1-1-2, 1-3-2) followed that win with a scoreless tie against first-place Calvert Hall in front of a large gathering at Paul Angelo Russo Stadium in Towson on Friday night.

While Gilman earned more corners in the contest, the Cardinals produced several opportunities to score that ultimately were unsuccessful, including a penalty kick that Gilman junior keeper Noah Sinada turned away in the second half. 

Likewise, Calvert Hall’s Enrico DiCocco’s headlong stab saved what might have been an own goal in the 35th minuted and the sophomore goalie also pushed aside a skidding Abou offering before it found an onrushing Greyhound teammate near the far post late in the final prriod.

Still, Calvert Hall (4-0-1, 3-0-1 ) remains the only unbeaten A Conference team. The Cardinals started the week with a 2-1 verdict over Archbishop Spalding on goals by sophomore MJ Day and Mike Orsi.

With 10 points, Calvert Hall sits  atop the league table by a point over McDonogh (5-1, 3-1), which tasted defeat for the first time this season in a 2-1 setback to Archbishop Spalding (2-3, 2-3). Dom Crocetti and senior center back Eli Knight had the Cavalier goals in the victory.

"We know McDonogh is a top team and very well coached,” Spalding coach Fred Sporrer said. “My total focus was on our principles of play in possession and out of possession all week to stay organized, high tempo and high-energy team defending. The boys executed well in both phases of the game and closed out strong. Great team win.”