Despite giving up its first two goals of the season, the McDonogh boys’ soccer team countered with an abundance of its own offense to turn back No. 12 Loch Raven, 5-2, on Tuesday.
McDonogh coach Steve Nichols felt his Eagles (4-0) had a couple of chances to score early in the game, but it was Loch Raven (0-2) which was the first to put points on the board, seeing Jordan Sachs lace a goal for the 1-0 lead.
“We have been playing these guys for years now,” Nichols explained. “We have a very good soccer team. We’re not a very athletic, physical, big, strong team, and, the sloppier the game gets, the harder it is for us to play. It kind of happened to us and we just have to work through it.”
McDonogh worked through it quickly as it was able to rally for three goals before the end of the first half, taking a 3-1 lead to the break.
After being dominated for a majority of the second half, Loch Raven was able to tack another score on the board, this time from Darian Moghimi, and suddenly it was within one score. McDonogh, however, add two more goals in just two minutes, capping off the 5-2 win.
“In my 17 years here, I don’t think we have won a game in which we gave up two goals,” Nichols recalled. “We are usually a very disciplined team defensively. I think the last three years we have given up five goals, six goals and six goals the entire season. This team is very different. We are probably one of the most high powered attack teams in the country.”
Scorers for the Eagles included Mike Gamble, Malcolm Harris and Kyle DeVinney, all scoring single goals, while Julian Griggs laced two on the night.
Assists were seen from McDonogh’s Matt Shinsky, George Campbell, Griggs and Gamble, with Shinksy having part in two assists, and seven saves from Eagle goalie Matt Shanchez.
Both Brady Badmigton and Brett Van Cutsem combined for 12 saves in the Raider goal.
The Raiders, which lost their opener to Archbishop Curley, will head to Perry hall on Wednesday, in search of their first win of 2010, while undefeated McDonogh takes on Malvern Prep of Pennsylvania in the Adidas Tournament on Friday.
“We were 3-0 coming into today and haven’t given up a goal,” Nichols said. “To go down one and recover to make it 3-1, and extend it to 5-2 from 3-2, we showed a lot of great heart and perseverance. I hope we can grow up from that.”
No. 2 McDonogh 5, No. 12 Loch Raven 2
| 1 | 2 | F | |
| McDonogh | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Loch Raven | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Goals: McD-Julian Griggs (2), Mike Gamble, Malcolm Harris, Kyle DeVinney; LR-Jordan Sachs, Darian Moghimi.
Assists: McD-Matt Shinsky (2), Julian Griggs, Mike Gamble, George Campbell.
Saves: McD-Matt Sanchez 7; LR-Brady Badmigton 6, Brett Van Cutsem 6.
