GIRLS SOCCER: Mustangs Win Region

Paul Austin was in a rush to leave after Tuesday's 3A North regional final and it had nothing to do with his team's play.

The C. Milton Wright head coach was on his way to Bible study. And thanks to senior Megan Will, Austin has something else to pray for when he gets there—a state championship.

Will got behind North Harford's back line in the 66th minute and beat Hawks senior goalie Haley Ford for the match's only goal, sending the Mustangs into the state semifinals.

"They were winning the midfield early on and we really stepped it up," Austin said. "We made some adjustments, put some people in some different spots based on matchups. … We just kept plugging away and knew we would get opportunities."

Will's chance came nearly 40 yards from the goal as the second half wound down. The senior had no one in front of her but Ford, who came well outside the box to block Will's shot. She did so, but could not recover before Will touched the rebound and sent it in the goal from about 30 yards out.

"The goalie came out and this year we've been working a lot on keeping pressure on the ball," Will said. "It just hit back off the goalie and the ball was right there and I was able to kick it in."

North Harford head coach Tom Berg did not blame his goalie for her decision.

"Our goalkeeper played exceptional tonight. She made one little mistake and it really hurt her. But I'm not sure she should've stayed back either. She stays back the girl walks it in," Berg said. "She made the play she had to try to make."

The muddy, bumpy pitch was the cause of sloppy play in the midfield, limiting both teams' looks on goal. It was the Hawks, though, who got the first scoring chance.

Junior Haley Jones got a clean look in the first minute of the match, but her rolling strike was easily handled by Mustangs goalie Jenna Bowen. About seven minutes later, Jones put another hard shot toward the left side of the goal, but directly at Bowen.

The Mustangs looked poised to take a 1–0 lead in the 18th minute when Kathryn Brown got her head on a corner kick, but sent it off the top of the cross bar.

The Mustangs would have a few more chances in front of the goal throughout the first half and the beginning of the second until Will finally beat the resilient Jones.

"I thought they wore us down a little bit, they had a little more depth than we did. … They have a little more speed," Berg said. "Except for that one lucky bounce, I think we might still be playing."

Now C. Milton Wright will face the winner of Huntingtown and Northern (Calvert County) in Saturday's state semifinal match at Community College of Baltimore County Essex.

"We got to stay grounded, we've approached it one game at a time," Austin said. "We have to play our game and play to our strength and hopefully come out with a win."

Will was excited just to have an opportunity to keep playing.

"I haven't been able to play this far in my high school career so to be able to come out here and be regional champs and then move on is going to be really exciting," Will said. "We really need to stay focused as a team and keep doing what we're doing and I think the outcome will be good."

Saying a prayer with her coach might not hurt either.

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