BEL AIR, Md. - On sophomore night inside Harford Stadium, it was the Fighting Owls' high-scoring, speedy freshman forward who stole the show in the final minutes to give Harford (8-6-1, 5-5-1) a 2-1 victory over Southern Maryland (9-6-0, 7-3-0) on Monday. Jacob Duarte's breakaway tally in the game's 88th minute turned a 1-1 stalemate into jubilation for the home team.

Duarte raced toward the ball on the far side of the field with two defenders chasing. No. 31 turned on the after burners, leaving the defenders in his dust and sent a sharp ball into the lower far corner past a diving keeper for the victory. It was the freshman's seventh game-winning goal of the season.

After a scoreless opening frame, Harford took a 1-0 lead in the second half when Patrick Meagher connected on a penalty kick in the game's 48th minute. Meagher, who has scored four goals in the past six contests, was taken down in the right corner of the box on his first scoring attempt of the night.

In the 63rd minute, after a Harford foul about 35 yards out, the Hawks converted on a free kick after a few rebounds to knot the game at 1-1. Duarte's 11th goall of the year broke the 1-1 tie.

Freshman Andrew Bodt made six saves to improve to 2-0-0 on the season.

The Fighting Owls travel to Frederick on Thursday for their final tuneup before the Region XX Tournament. If the tournament were to start today, Harford would receive the No. 4 seed and host No. 5 Catonsville on Oct. 23 in the Region XX Opening Round. A win on Thursday would guarantee that scenario.