Box Score
WYE MILLS, Md.—The No. 5 Harford men's soccer team fell into a two-goal deficit in the first half as it fell, 3-0, to No. 1 Southern Maryland in a high intensity game on Wednesday afternoon on the rough terrain of Chesapeake College field, snapping a seven-game unbeaten streak.
The first half between the Fighting Owls (9-8-2) and the Hawks (19-0-1) started in much the same way as their regular season meeting, as the Hawks opened up a 1-0 lead thanks to a penalty kick by Marco Gaudio in the 16th minute, who beat Harford freshman goalie Taylor Dize (Bel Air, Md./Salem Christian) to the left.
Less than 20 minutes later, Gaudio added his second score of the day with a free kick from 30 yards out that Dize couldn't corral completely after he stopped the initial shot, the ball rolling just out of the keeper's reach into the net to give the Hawks a 2-0 lead at the 33:14 mark.
The foul that awarded Southern Maryland the free kick was one of nine that the Owls committed in the first half, compared to just four total fouls by the Hawks in the first 45:00.
Tempers continued to flare in the second half as Southern Maryland totaled 10 fouls to Harford's four to make a combined 27 fouls for the entire match between the teams, 14 for the Hawks and 13 for the Owls.
Head coach Barry Wilson picked up the first yellow card of the game after arguing one of Harford's four fouls in the second half, taking the caution at the 54:21 mark, while freshman Alex Leadore (Aberdeen, Md./Aberdeen) picked up a yellow at the 66:52 mark.
Jake Shelton added the final goal for Southern Maryland in the 80th minute after taking a cross from Shaun Kessler from the left side and beat Dize from five yards out.
Dize totaled five saves in the 90:00 while his counterpart, George Mansaray tacked on another five for the day and the Hawks held a 7-2 advantage on corner kicks while outshooting the Owls, 18-8.
Southern Maryland will go on to play the winner of the No.2 CCBC-Essex/No. 3 CCBC-Catonsville semifinal on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. in the championship game at Chesapeake College.
