While the Loch Raven soccer program through the years has been formidable, claiming a Baltimore County-best nine state championships since the inception of a playoff system for boys in 1969 and for girls in 1989, this year’s Raiders have outdone themselves by becoming the first county tandem from Baltimore County to sweep state titles in the same year.

It’s the type of success that can’t help reflect on athletic director David Hoch, who deflects praise with the same skill Raider players maneuver on the field.

“I firmly believe that this should be all about the kids (players) and the coaches,”  he said. “Of course, I’m proud of them, win or lose. Both teams, boys and girls‚ improved throughout the season, gave a great effort and represented LRHS in the highest fashion.  And that is ultimately the greatest tribute. The actual title is just the icing on the cake, but it is a great accomplishment, one that they will carry with them throughout life.”

GIRLS

Although Loch Raven sophomore Kayla Toole didn't start the Class 1A state championship game, she finished it in style.

Suffice it to say, Toole couldn't have picked a better time to score her only goal of the season.

Championship-winning goals, such as the one Toole netted against Harford Tech on Saturday afternoon at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, don’t come along very often.

Recently sidelined by a sprained ankle for several games, Toole’s return will go down in Loch Raven lore after she scored the match’s only goal with 5:54 left in the first half to give the Raiders a stirring 1-0 victory and the program’s sixth state title and second under coach Anthony Menegatti.

"The defender was on the outside, so I just saw the middle wide open and I just went for the ball.” she said. “And I hit it in with my left foot. I was just coming off an injury, so I felt honored to be in the game."

The sequence started with a long throw-in from Kara Kleinhammer, who had two earlier shots on goal.

"I just remember telling the girls to keep moving to the ball to create space," said the junior forward. "I threw it right over the defense’s head and it bounced right to the middle. She was there to volley it in."

The Raider defense, anchored by senior goalie and University of Virginia recruit Danielle DeLisle, and teammates Samantha Eckels, Samantha Knapp, Emily Goodman and Liz Menas, made the lead stand.

It was only the second time this season the Cobras (10-4-2) were blanked.

DeLisle finished with three saves, with the toughest coming in the second half off a cross from Erica Coley that deflected off a Raider defender, forcing the keeper to dive to her left for the stop.

DeLisle confessed after the game her focus waned in the thrilling final seconds.

"I stayed focused for 55 seconds of the last minute and I saw the clock at :05, then I heard the crowd screaming and I was just like 'Wow, this is the state finals, this is great."

The Raiders (14-4-1), who had lost three overtime games and tied another, were not about to let the game go into overtime.

"I like to keep attacking at all times and keep the pressure on them," Menegatti said. "If you keep the ball away from our goal there is a better chance of them not scoring. It was a total team defense."

Midfielders Sarah Krejcik, Michaela Bird, Caleigh Banker, Carly Cannon, Christie Moyer, Laura Kaufman and Emily Sapp were crucial to Menegatti’s plan.

Loch Raven nearly extended the lead to 2-0 when Eckels sent a precision pass over the defense and the Raiders had a four-on-one break.

Krejcik emerged on the breakaway until she was taken down 3 yards short of the box.

Her ensuing direct kick was saved by Cobra keeper Brittani Lozzi.

Loch Raven's hustle was also on display 2 minutes later when Banker made a great run down the sideline to chase a pass from Kleinhammer.

"We just learned to keep going forward no matter what happened and to stay together as a team," Krejcik said.

They succeeded to the point that allowed DeLisle to sum up the team's feelings in her own words.

"It's probably the best feeling in the world, actually," she said.

BOYS

Loch Raven’s 3-2 overtime victory in the Class 1A state championship over Pocomoke Saturday afternoon at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County ended two years of frustration and beat a dynasty in one fell swoop.

The Raiders had fallen short in the last two Class 2A finals, bowing to River Hill, 3-2, in double overtime last year and to Hammond, 3-1, a year earlier.

“I have been to the final three out of the last four years and I never thought it was going to happen,” Loch Raven coach Joe Fiedler said. “I thought we were snake-bitten.”
 
Sophomore forward Jason Kim helped Loch Raven (15-4-1) bite back. He scored two goals to dash Pocomoke’s bid for a state-record fifth straight 1A championship.

Kevin Moyer also scored for the Raiders.

“The last four years, I thought we had really good tactical and technical teams,” Fiedler said. “This year, we are not as good as we have been, but this team has a niche that all my other teams haven’t had. They just find a way to grind out a win.”

Kim scored the game-winner with 32 seconds remaining in the first 10-minute overtime when Pocomoke’s Logan Becker attempted to clear the ball from in front of the goal. When he failed to do so, Kim gained possession and beat goalie  James Johnson.

“After I scored I don’t what was going on,” Kim said. “I went blank. It was so crazy.”

Fielder said he urged Kim to shoot more often this season.
 
“I guess he finally listened,” the coach said. “I think he has had only five or six (goals) all year.”

Pocomoke (14-3-1) had the better of play in the first half, testing goalie Tim Badmington and defenders Darien Moghimi, Joe Falloni, Moyer and Ryan Glorioso often.

In the 15th minute, Badmington saved Sam Byrd's shot while falling down. Becker (37 goals) was right there to hammer home the rebound, as well. Somehow,  Badmington managed to save it as he laid on the ground.

With 10:42 remaining in the first half, Pocomoke went ahead, 1-0. Byrd (18 goals, 30 assists) worked his way behind two defenders and his 15-yard shot from the right side to the upper left corner beat a sprawling Badmington (9 saves).

Loch Raven picked up its offense in the second half after not recording a shot on goal in the first half.

After Johnson stopped Seth Moses’ attempt, Loch Raven's Anthony Lee tried to pounce on the rebound until the goalie snatched it from harm’s way.

The Raiders finally broke through with 26:40 remaining when Kevin Moyer's 25-yard shot beat Yaeger, who may have been screened.

A little more than 3 minutes later, Kim put his team ahead, 2-1, after settling a bouncing ball and beating Johnson.

Pocomoke tied it with 9:03 to go on Byrd’s second goal to set up Kim’s heroics.

“I have lost two state championships,” Badmington said. “It’s unreal to win this (one).”

---

user comments (0)