If the true characterization of a competitor is his ability to remain composed in the face of adversity, the boys? soccer teams at Perry Hall and Bel Air have plenty to be proud of. Both teams lost in the state playoffs Saturday at South River High School, but not without a fight.
“Only four teams can win their last game,” Bel Air coach Dominic Rose said. “We were fortunate to have the opportunity to play for that.”
Trailing 1-0, with 30 seconds left in the 3A championship game, senior forward Nick Burdick tracked down a Bethesda-Chevy Chase (12-3-2) attacker looking to put the game out of reach. The game may have been just that for Bel Air (15-4-1), but Burdick?s hustle inspired his coach.
“Unbelievable,” Rose said. “That showed the heart of the whole team.”
Burdick, who played with a sprained ankle since mid-season, was one of a handful of Bobcat seniors who put aside personal pain for the team?s run of 14-straight wins. Saturday was just another example.
“I thought maybe I could spark a little bit of a run,” Burdick said of his effort. “I got a little bit of energy in me and tried to get to it.”
It was too late for Bel Air ? playing in the second state final in program history ? to rally, culminating the careers of 14 players.
In the final game of the day, Perry Hall (17-2-3) could have folded early. Magruder (19-0) led, 4-0, at the half in an eventual 5-1 win.
“A lot of teams would have packed it in,” Gators first year coach DanielSkelton said. “But they came back out fought for each other like I?ve never seen before. I was completely inspired by it.”
Senior midfielder Patrick Mulherin suffered a potentially broken wrist in the second half, but asked Skelton to leave him in the game.
“That to me is just unbelievable,” Skelton said. “They want to fight for each other and leave it all on the field.”
Mulherin set up the Gators lone goal, finding senior forward Chris Sokolis, who cut the lead to 4-1 eight minutes into the second half with his 14th goal of the season.
Magruder, powered Saturday by Draymond Washington?s three goals, played an inspirational campaign after the death of former coach Scott Alexander in March.
“With that lifting them up all season long, its difficult to even root against them,” “You almost want to see them be successful. They are a great team and I have the utmost respect for them as a team and as a program.”
Magruder wins its second state title, having earned its first in 2001. It was Perry Hall?s third trip to the state championships, and the Gators remain in search of their first title.
River Hill claimed the eighth title in school history with a 3-2, overtime win against Loch Raven Saturday afternoon.
In the 1A state final ? the only championship without a Baltimore metro-area participant ? Pocomoke defeated Poolesville, 2-1, in overtime.
