A state championship can be uplifting for a school and the surrounding community. But two state titles in one sport in the same year?
Sparrows Point High is looking at that possibility as the boys soccer team has already reached the Class 1A state final (vs. Pocomoke) with a 2-0 win over Clear Spring in the semifinals. Now, it?s up to the girls soccer team, which will face defending 1A state champ Smithsburg in a 1A state semifinal tonight at 5 p.m. at Broadneck.
Should the Pointers win, they would face the winner of Snow Hill-Perryville, scheduled to begin upon completion of the Sparrows Point-Smithsburg game.
Loch Raven also had dual-title aspirations, but Parkside ruined those hopes with a 1-0 win over the girls team in the 2A state semifinals. The Loch Raven boys, fresh off a 1-0 win over Queen Anne?s, will battle Hammond for the 2A crown.
Towson also had an opportunity to place both soccer programs in state finals, but were turned away in both cases after winning the boys and girls 3A North Region titles. The Generals can thank Howard County, as River Hill defeated the girls, 5-0, and Mount Hebron eliminated the boys, 2-1, in the state semifinals.
Mount Hebron?s boys will battle North Carroll, while the River Hill girls face Bethesda-Chevy Chase, which advanced on penalty kicks.
Baltimore area schools were shut out of the 4A state finals, as the girls championship features Leonardtown and Quince Orchard, while the boys title match will be between Thomas Johnson and Walter Johnson.
Pocomoke (Worcester Co.) is the lone defending state champion boys team left in the tournament. On the girls side, three of the four defending champions were ousted in their respective regional finals. Smithsburg, the defending 1A girls champ, is the lone remaining 2005 champion. Ironically, Smithsburg must also beat Sparrows Point to keep the dream alive.
The state championship games are set for Nov. 16 through 18 at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County. Specific game times and dates have yet to be announced.
