Calvert Hall threatens, but McDonogh survives

On Tuesday afternoon at Calvert Hall, the Loyola Dons scored three quick goals in the first twenty minutes of play against before the host Cardinals battled back to defeat the Dons in overtime 4-3.  On Thursday afternoon, the top-ranked McDonogh Eagles (9-1, 4-0) came to Paul Angelo Russo Stadium in Towson, and coach Steve Nichols’ Eagles raced out to a 2-0 lead in the first twenty minutes of play on goals by Mike Gamble and Julian Griggs.

Once again, the No. 18 Cardinals mounted a comeback.  This time, however, it came up short as McDonogh escaped with a 2-1 MIAA A Conference soccer victory.

Gamble scored on a feed from Kyle DeVinney at 23:57 and three minutes later Julian Griggs found the net with Gamble getting the assist.

When John Tune put the Cardinals (3-1, 2-1) on the board at 18:24, to close the Eagle lead to one, the Calvert Hall faithful were sensing a repeat of Tuesday’s epic win over Loyola.

McDonogh came into Thursday’s fray without a loss in the MIAA A Conference, but coach Andy Moore’s team stepped up the intensity after Tune scored.

McDonogh hung on despite heavy pressure form the Cardinals in the last eight minutes of the game.

“They battled; they played really hard,” said Nichols.  “Our two goals were very professional, like goals in combination, and the finishing was good.”

Griggs also praised Calvert Hall.

“They are a very good competition; they’re very tough, very physical. and they didn’t give up,” said Griggs. “They put us under a lot of pressure at the end of the game.”

Eagle centerback Matt Shinsky agreed.

“They definitely pressured us a lot, but we held them off,” stated Shinsky.  “It’s always tough at Calvert Hall; they always come out flying against us. They beat us here last year.”

Moore was philosophical.

“We had some geat chances in the last  ten to fifteen minutes,” said the Cardinal coach. “I liked the way our kids played; they hung in there again.”

Both Zach Wenger and Brayan Ruiz nearly tied the game for the Hall near the end, but the McDonogh defense, lead by Shinsky and keeper Mat Sanchez held on.  Sanchez finished with eight saves, while Calvert Hall keeper Jihn Dillon had nine.

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