Severna Park Boy's Soccer Advances to State Semifinals

The Severna Park boy's soccer team are headed back to the Maryland state semifinals. An early goal from and another from Alex Moore to cap the game and push the Falcons past Leonardtown, 2-0.

With a solid effort all around, no.1 Severna Park was able to neutralize the visiting Raiders, the no. 2 seed, and capture the Maryland class 4A East championship. It is the second year in a row that Severna Park have held that title, after defeating Broadneck in last years region final.

"I thought we just played really well as a team," Zito said, who scored just three minutes into the game.

An early corner kick for the Falcons came to the near post, where the midfield captain was there to meet it with his head for the finish.

"That execution early in the game really lifted our spirits and really gave everyone a lot of confidence for the whole 80 minutes," Severna Park coach Roy Dunshee said.

The Falcons put up nine shots to Leonardtowns one in the first half, but only had Zito's header to show for it.

Second half action saw goalie Jon Neseth work to punch away a couple Leonardtown efforts, as an early corner gave the Falcon defense a bit of a scare.

Neseth would later bobble an opponent's header, falling on the ball as it flirted with crossing the goal line. The linesman ruled that ball never completely crossed the line.

At the 17:25 mark in the second half, Moore would send the Falcon faithful to their feet. Attacking from the end line, with little angle to shoot, Moore curled a spectacular shot to the far upper corner of the goal. 

"He's hitting his stride at the right time," Dunshee said about Moore's performance toward the end of the season.

The Leonardtown defense was left helpless to the shot, as their deficit doubled to 2-0.

"It feels good. I'm a senior, so last game on this field. Good to have two seniors score tonight as our last game on the field," Moore said. "We're just clicking. Everything is coming together really well. I think we got a shot at [a state championship]. We just have to give all we got the last few games."

Severna Park will now face High Point on Saturday, in the state semifinal game. The game will be held at Richard Montgomery High School, with the game time yet to be determined.

"Everything. Defense, offense, it all clicked today. That's what we need and we got it done," Zito said.

Severna Park 1 1 - 2

Leonardtown 0 0 - 0