FROSTBURG — To end a 14-0 regular season, No. 1 Mountain Ridge defeated No. 2 Southern 2-0 on Saturday after scoring two goals after halftime. In addition to the 2008 and 2014 teams, both of which were coached by Tim Nightengale, this is Mountain Ridge’s third consecutive unbeaten and untied regular slate.
The team is the eleventh to accomplish the feat in the history of the area. In a state championship season, no local team has ever won all of its games. The Allegany team from last year and the George Bishields-coached Mount Savage club from 1989 lost in the championship game.
With an 8-0 record and the top seed in the Class 1A West Region I playoffs, the win also guaranteed Mountain Ridge the Western Maryland Athletic Conference title.
After finishing second in the conference, Southern (11-2 overall, 6-2 WestMAC) will receive the second seed in the playoffs. With 35:56 left on Saturday, Charlie Simpson scored a goal off an assist from Elijah Cooper to end a scoreless draw.
With 15:59 remaining, Ryan Piasecki scored a goal with Simpson’s help to make it 2-0. Jared Haskiell of Southern and Ashton Reuschel of Mountain Ridge both finished with four saves. Mountain Ridge had a 2-0 advantage on corner kicks and outshot Southern 9–7.
The JV game was won 1-0 by the Miners (9-1-3). Tanner Austin assisted Bex Litton in scoring. The Rams had more corner kicks (4-1) and shots (7-3). Keaton McKinnie of Southern made one save, while Miners keeper Carver Robeston made four.
On either Friday or Saturday, Mountain Ridge and Southern are given a bye to the regional semifinals. The Miners will host the winner between fourth-seeded Fort Hill and fifth-seeded Northern, while the Rams will host third-seeded Allegany.
Grace 3, Calvary 1
HAGERSTOWN — At North Hagerstown High on Saturday, Calvary lost to the top-seeded Grace Academy in the Mason-Dixon Christian Conference championship game. In the 51st minute, Blake Dwire was fouled in the box, giving Sammy Scritchfield a penalty kick, tying the score for the Eagles (15-4-1).
To tie the score at one, the striker hammered the shot into the bottom left corner of the goal. In the 63rd minute, Carson Feeser scored the game-winning goal from 20 yards out on a free kick. In the 68th minute, he scored a hat trick after dribbling past a defender and putting the ball in the corner.
Feeser’s unassisted goal from the top of the 18-yard area in the 35th minute gave Grace a 1-0 lead at halftime. Calvary had a 16–12 shooting and 5–4 corner kick edge at the end. Peyton Poland of Calvary made nine saves, while Lawson Aikens of Grace made eleven.
Prior to the game, the MDCC announced the All-Conference teams. Scritchfield was named Player of the Year, Elijah Ziler and Riley O’Brien were chosen for the second team, and Gerald Mihailovich and Scritchfield were named to the first team from Calvary. Three Eagles—O’Brien, Scritchfield, and Mihailovich—were selected to the All-Tournament team.
On October 23–25, Calvary and Grace will travel to Xenia, Ohio, to compete in the NCSAA national tournament, which brings together the nation’s best Christian schools.
Allegany 5 Keyser 1 No. 3
CUMBERLAND — No. 3 Allegany easily defeated Keyser on Saturday for its third consecutive victory to close up the regular season, and Chris Manherz recorded a hat trick.
Two goals from Manherz, with help from Ryan Mitchell and Cade Crawford, gave Allegany (8-5-1) a 2-0 lead at the interval. After halftime, the Campers added goals from Noah Simmons, Manherz, and Lincoln Isom, while Steven Ness provided an assist. Keyser’s goal was scored by Jarrod McElwain.
Allegany was ahead 13-0 in corner kicks and 30-3 in shots. Eoin Mowbray of Allegany made one save, while Caleb Blacka made twelve for the Tornado. On Thursday, Allegany defeated Northern 3-1.
The Campers’ goals came from Manherz and Ryan Thomassy, with Cole Ricker providing an assist. Northern scored an own goal as well. Peyton Yoder scored the Huskies’ only goal after Brayden Upole assisted.
Williamsport 4 Bishop Walsh 2
CUMBERLAND — Bishop Walsh lost 4-2 to Williamsport on Saturday at Stephen F. Paul Stadium’s Rowan Field after failing to maintain a 2-0 advantage.
At 15:23 of the first half, Jackson Miller gave Bishop Walsh the lead after being assisted by Ofek Cohen-Inbar. At 12:30, David DiNola added a goal on a free kick to give them a 2-0 lead. In the first half, Williamsport rallied to score two goals.
Reid Bowman assisted Nate Bowman in scoring at 3:39, while Bowman’s second assist at 1:50 was scored by Brody Ribis. At 13:32 of the second half, Williamsport’s Nate Bowman scored with a Will Wright assist. At 7:38, Wyatt Yonker scored without assistance.