BEL AIR, Md. – With a pair of early, long blasts, the No. 2 Harford men's soccer team advanced to the 2015 NJCAA Region XX Championship Game by defeating No. 3 Hagerstown, 2-1.

Just seconds into the contest, the Hawks were whistled for a foul just inside the midfield line. Sophomore Brandon Waite took the free kick from about 50 yards out and lofted the blimp over both teams' rosters and into the upper 90, over the outstretched arms of the Hagerstown 'keeper for a 1-0 lead only 50 seconds into the match.

Then, just 1:25 later, with the Fighting Owls back on the attack, Matt Carvalho took a corner and sent it down the sideline to a waiting Brandon Klepetka. The new defender also connected on a long goal into the same upper 90, this marker from about 35 yards out.

The Hawks battled back with a crowded goal off a nifty cross from Jermaine Hardy.  Trey Jackson was credited with the tally as Hardy sent the sphere towards a swarm of jerseys in front of the net, cutting the Harford deficit in half in the 41st minute.

The second-half was scoreless, but the Hawks pressured the Harford backline and goalie Justin Almquist for numerous scoring chances. Almquist made 10 saves in the postseason victory.

The Fighting Owls travel to CCBC Dundalk to face the top-seeded CCBC Essex Knights on Saturday afternoon.