Howard County has reaffirmed its dominance in high school boys soccer. Last weekend, Hammond and Mount Hebron both won state championships at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County.
For coach Jeff Reinhol and his Hammond team, Friday?s Class 2A title had some extra meaning. It was the school?s first ever in boys soccer and a goal that Reinhol?s players had set last year before falling to Liberty in the title game.
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“They didn?t want that feeling again,” Reinhol said.
Hammond took the Class 2A title with a 3-1 win over Loch Raven, who was back in the championship round for the first time since 1977.
Loch Raven (15-5) controlled the game through the first 20 minutes until Hammond?s Mustafa Ebrahimnejad put a shot through several defenders for a 1-0 lead before halftime. Carl Cutler added a goal in the second half to give the Golden Bears (13-3-2) a two-goal cushion. Loch Raven?s Ben Davis answered to cut the lead in half, but Hammond got one more goal from Galen Enow to seal the win.
In his first year as Hammond?s coach, Reinhol knew he had a chance to get back to the final with only four players gone from the 2005 team. He will have a harder task getting back in 2007 after losing 15 current seniors.
Reinhol, who won two state titles when he played at Oakland Mills, was happy to see Mount Hebron was able to win a state title, as well.
“We are one of the dominant counties,” Reinhol said. “We are a good county for soccer. That is what we were known for when I was growing up.”
Mount Hebron (17-0-4) prevailed in Friday?s 3A championship over North Carroll, 2-1. The Panthers (14-3) took the lead early in the first half on a Andrew Hamilton goal. The Vikings? Zach Barrett tied the game in the 73rd minute, and a few minutes later, Mike Napolitano scored the game-winnerto give Mount Hebron its third state title and an undefeated season.
Hammond and Mount Hebron?s championships make 42 total for Howard County. Only Long Reach and Marriotts Ridge have not won a boys soccer title, and Marriotts Ridge was in its first season of varsity competition in 2006.
The 4A championship between Thomas Johnson and Walter Johnson is being played tonight at UMBC after Thursday?s rainout.
