Athletic teams at Archbishop Curley High School, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout the current school year, were briefly known as the Green Hornets before adapting Friars as their mascot in honor of the Franciscan Friars who administer the school. Incorporating that piece of history into the school’s Homecoming festivities, on Saturday, Curley’s soccer team dawned throwback green and white jerseys, emblazoned with the name Green Hornets, as they rallied for a critical, 2-1, overtime victory over visiting John Carroll.
John Carroll got an early 1-0 lead and held it deep into the second half, before PJ Kozier headed home an equalizing goal, with an assist from Dan Oxendine. The contest soon shifted to overtime with an energized Curley team beginning to swarm the Patriot goal.
The pressure paid off with another great opportunity for Kozier, who netted the game winner with another header, this time off a feed from Tiger Wittman, to propel Curley to the win.
A John Carroll victory would have elevated the Patriots (2-8, 2-7) into a three-way tie with Curley and Loyola for the final two playoff spots in the MIAA A Conference. Instead, the Friars (5-7-1, 4-5) moved into sole possession of fifth place with 12 points. Loyola, which lost to Calvert Hall on Saturday, remains in sixth with nine points, followed by John Carroll’s six points.
The playoff quest will continue this week for both teams. Curley has three games starting with a home game against Archbishop Spalding on Tuesday. The Friars then travel to Mount St. Joseph on Thursday and Loyola on Friday. The following week, the Friars will close their regular season with a home game against against Loyola and a rematch with John Carroll, in Bel Air.
Prior to its next meeting with Curley, John Carroll will host Loyola on Tuesday, and visit McDonogh (Thursday), St. Joe (Friday) and Calvert Hall (Oct. 26).
