Harford Women’s Soccer Downs Defending Region XX Champs Anne Arundel, 2-1, in Overtime

From the HCC sports desk:

BEL AIR, Md.—The Harford women’s soccer team opened the 2009 season with a thrilling, 2-1 overtime, win over defending Region XX champion Anne Arundel on Tuesday night at Harford Stadium. Freshman Erin Lynn (Fallston, Md./Fallston) notched the game-winner as she controlled a deflected ball off redshirt freshman Lyndsie Ludwig’s (Bel Air, Md./C. Milton Wright/Wilmington) cross and put it in the back of the net at the 90:51 mark.

The last time the two teams met was in the Region XX championship on November 1, 2008, which saw the Pioneers (0-1, 0-1 MDJUCO)claim the region title and advance to the district final by virtue of penalty kicks, 4-3.

The Fighting Owls (1-0, 1-0 MDJUCO) didn’t waste anytime proving that they would be a force to contend with this season, as they outshot Anne Arundel 3-1 within the first 20 minutes before freshman Alexa Carlevaro (Bel Air, Md./C. Milton Wright) controlled a deflection off a free kick by sophomore Becca Bazemore (Churchville, Md./C. Milton Wright) and booted a 40-yard high arcing shot over the head of Pioneer keeper Amy Baker to give Harford a 1-0 lead at the 21:02 mark.

The Owls would take the one goal lead into the break and would continue pelting the Anne Arundel defense with shots throughout the second half. Harford would end up outshooting the Pioneers 17-6, including 8-4 in the first and 8-2 in the second half.

Harford would control the pace for the majority of the second period before a foul with about 10 minutes left resulted in a scramble during which Jaclyn Nucci headed the ball into the net to knot the score at one goal apiece at the 80:57 mark.

That score would hold until the end of regulation, but Harford would not even give the Pioneers a chance in the extra period as they controlled the ball from the start and quickly got into the Anne Arundel zone. Ludwig would fire a cross from the far left, which Baker looked to have control of but dropped at the last second, causing a scramble which resulted in Lynn deflecting the ball into the net for the overtime game-winner.

Harford held a 5-1 advantage on corner kicks, but Baker tallied eight saves in 90:51 while Harford freshman keeper Cierra Stinson (Nottingham, Md./Mercy) managed just two.

The Fighting Owls return to action on Wednesday when they host Brookdale at 6:30 p.m. and continue a three-game homestand on Friday with Nassau at 4:00 p.m.