No Contest: Arundel Tops Glen Burnie, 10-0

The Arundel High School varsity boys soccer team has had a level of confidence about it all season. On Tuesday afternoon, players showed that confidence is deserved as they defeated Glen Burnie High School, 10-0.

Five different Wildcat players scored at Carroll Field, as the in-county schedule begins to wind down. But the lopsided win wasn't enough to satisfy everyone.

"Holding ourselves to the normal standard that we do, we played really awful," senior forward Mike Kovach said.

Regular slow-starters, Arundel missed a few quality goal-scoring chances in the first half before the onslaught began.

"We need to start faster, no matter who we are playing," senior midfielder Corbin McCarron said.

Narrowly missing wide left of the goal and then pinging another shot of the post, Kovach broke scoreless contest with a close-range strike after 18 minutes of play.

Senior midfielder Billy Fowler doubled the lead, and a minute later, Kovach extended it to 3-0.

With seven minutes left in the first half, the Gopher defense didn't help itself as a Fowler corner kick was misplayed into the Glen Burnie goal for an own goal.

Attempting to slow the dangerous Wildcat attack, Glen Burnie held a high offside trap for most of the first half.  A well-timed run by Kovach free the senior for a one-on-one with the visitor's goalkeeper.  After a quick touch to his left, Kovach had recorded a first-half hat trick, as Arundel went up 5-0.

Switching to the giving end of the goal scoring, Kovach then found junior Ian Wood in front of goal, as the forward struck a ball inside the far post.  It was an impressive first-half showing from the Wildcats, who tallied six times in the first forty minutes.

Coach Nick Jauschnegg emptied out his bench for the second half, but unfortunately for Glen Burnie, the goals kept coming.

"I tell all my players before the season starts, 'if I can get you into the game, I promise I will get you in the game'," Jauschnegg said.  "So I try to get as many guys in as possible, when I can."

After watching the ball bounce around the Glen Burnie box, senior midfielder Dylan Smith settled and scored three minutes into the new half.

"When the subs came on, they didn't really miss a beat after the starters," senior goalkeeper Ryan Bagley said. "I'm proud of them."

Junior defender Keith Grassell made it 8-0 midway through the second half, with junior midfielder Logan McCarron recording an assist on the play.  Smith then doubled his efforts with a well-placed shot to far, low corner.

With just seconds remaining, the Arundel bench errupted with cheers as reserve forward Tom Coffin made it 10-0. The senior beat his man with a wonderful step-over move and then beat the goalkeeper to the near post with his shot.

Aside from a 10-goal performance, the Wildcats were also pleased to see senior midfield maestro Corbin McCarron return to action after missing time with a knee injury. McCarron logged a few minutes in the second half, as he tries to return to form for the last three games of the regular season.

"We didn't miss a beat while I was gone," McCarron said.

The Wildcats will host South River High School on Wednesday.  The start time will be 7 p.m. at Carroll Field, as it will be Senior Night for the Arundel players.

"Every game is going to be a dog fight from here on out," McCarron said.  "We have the ability to come out on top."