MPSSAA 1A Soccer State Championships

1A Boys

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Pikesville won its first state title in boys soccer by topping Pocomoke 1-0.

The goal came less than 30 seconds into the game when Dennis Nazarov ripped a left footed effort that got past Pocomoke goalkeeper Ethan Peterson. Benjamin Romalis picked up the assist.

It almost got worse for Pocomoke a few minutes later when Nazarov broke free in the box and fired a shot which forced Peterson to parry the ball over the bar.

Pocomoke's first good chance fell to Yurii Larmore in the second half when he fired the ball over the bar from close range. Noah Brittingham kept up the pressure for Pocomoke with a long range effort that just went over the crossbar.

Jared Hancock got behind the Pikesville defense and centered the ball for John Ring, but the Panthers' goalkeeper Alex Mikler expertly came off his line to smother the danger.

Pocomoke continued to pour the pressure on as the Warriors began to run out of time to equalize. The Warriors had a nice run of play that put one of their forwards in on goal, but Ori Rattner broke up the play for Pikesville.

The Pikesville defense stood strong as Mikler, Rattner, Tamer Boumater and Matthew Eisenberg all had excellent games for the Panthers.

1A Girls

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Sparrows Point used two goals from sophomore Julie Lynch to win its fourth consecutive MPSSAA 1A state title by coming from behind to beat Patterson Mill 2-1.

It was a cagey start by both teams as neither wanted to concede an early goal. The first real chance of the game fell to Sparrows Point when Lynch got in behind the Patterson Mill defense. Lynch was closed down by a Husky defender, who managed to muscle her off the ball.

A few moments later, a free kick by Cassie Brouse was mishandled by Patterson Mill goalkeeper Marie Claire Cicenia, but the ball went out of bounds for a corner kick.

Patterson Mill's first great chance came with 25 minutes left in the first half when Katherine Eckart burst down the right wing and got a shot away, but it hit the side netting of the goal.

Sparrows Point's best chance in the first half came with 7:30 left in the first half when Alayna Jerome received the ball unmarked in the box, but her shot was parried on a diving save by Cicenia.

Patterson Mill scored just before the stroke of halftime off a corner kick by Marissa Lapinsky. Annie Wysong won the ball in the box and fired it into the Sparrows Point net.

There was no scoring in the second half until the 20:41 mark when Lynch found the net from 25 yards out to tie the game at 1-1.

A penalty for Sparrows Point was awarded with 8:11 left in the game for a challenge on Jerome in the box. Lynch stepped up and slotted the ball in off the right post to give the Pointers their first lead of the game.

Patterson Mill had a great chance to equalize when Kaley Thompson got free of her marker in the Sparrows Point box, but her left footed shot went wide of the target. It would be the Huskies final chance of the game.

Sparrows Point finishes the year 17-1, while Patterson Mill ends 2016 with a 17-3 mark.
November 19th, 2016By: Wick Eisenberg

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