BEL AIR, Md. - After almost 100 minutes of scoreless soccer, Harford's Patrick Maher sent the home crowd home happy and kept the Fighting Owl men's soccer team (10-2-1, 8-0-1) undefeated and in first place in conference play with his dazzling effort in the box against Prince George's (8-3-1, 5-2-1) on Saturday.

Maher and Gabe Kuhn teamed up to stun Prince George's 1-0 as time was running out in the first extra period. Kuhn lofted the ball over the PG defense to a waiting Maher about 20 yards out. Maher was double covered, but squeaked away to the goalie's right side, took an extra touch and blasted the ball to the far side of the net, hitting the post and ricocheting into the back of the net with 20.4 seconds remaining.

The Fighting Owl bench erupted and sprinted onto the field to celebrate the team's stay atop the MD JUCO standings. Harford and Essex remain the final two undefeated teams in conference play, but Harford's 8-0-1 record is a game and a half better than the Knight's 6-0-2 mark. The two top teams played to a 2-2 deadlock in early September at Essex.

Despite Maher's brilliant goal, Andrew Bodt was the star of the contest, making seven tantilizing saves, including the save of the year late in the first overtime period. Prince George's had the numbers in front of the net, and Harford couldn't clear the ball. PG's Koffi Wevi rifled off a shot that seemed destined to end the contest, but Bodt dove and kicked the ball away setting up a corner attempt for Prince George's. The Harford defense clamped down and turned momentum the other way, setting up the game winner moments later.

The contest was even though out, with both defenses and goalies standing tall. PG held the slight advantage in shots, 18-17, while Harford totaled 10 corner kicks to PG's five. Hermann Tomebe made five saves for Prince George's.

The first-place Fighting Owls return to action at home on Tuesday against Hagerstown in the 'Flight Night: Battle of the Birds' rivalry's second contest of the year. Action gets underway at 6 p.m.