Owings Mills High’s boys’ soccer team’s pursuit of a state championship ended Saturday afternoon.
The Eagles dropped a 1-0 decision to Brunswick in a Class 1A state semifinal contest at North County. The Railroaders will play another western Maryland team, Mountain Ridge, for the state title Saturday afternoon at UMBC.
Sophomore Drew Demich scored the lone goal for the Railroaders (13-5 overall) early in the first half, and goalkeeper Drew Howard clinched his eighth shutout of the season. Brunswick advanced to its first title game since 1990.
Making its fourth trip to the state semifinals, Owings Mills (9-6) played hard for 80 minutes Saturday, but left the Anne Arundel County turf empty handed. Howard stopped 12 Eagle shots.
Demich’s goal came with under three minutes remaining in the first half as an Owings Mills player tried to clear the ball out. The ball hit off of Demich’s body and the forward gathered it and sailed a shot in past Eagles goalie Daniel Pyser.
“The defender tried to clear it and the (ball) hit my body and I just ran with it and took a shot into the corner,” said Demich, who scored his 27th goal of the season.
“Demich is deadly, he is a finisher, you give him an opportunity and he will make you pay for it,” said Putnam, who holds Brunswick’s all-time scoring mark (34).
Ironically, Owings Mills coach
“We never gave up, we never conceded that they were out of it, and we did everything that I asked (out of them),” said Blumenauer.
