Bel Air, Md. -- The Harford Fighting Owls used a spirited second-half surge to capture their fourth consecutive NJCAA Region 20 Division I Women's Soccer Tournament Championship, defeating the Hagerstown Hawks 3-1 on Saturday afternoon in front of a home crowd. With the win, Harford improves to 10-8-2 overall and moves on the NJCAA East District Championship.
Hagerstown opened the scoring in the 11th minute when Angie Ayala-Luna converted to give the Hawks an early 1-0 lead. The Fighting Owls wasted little time, responding less than two minutes later, as
Emily Ovelman (Homeschool) netted the equalizer to level the match and shift momentum back to Harford heading into halftime.
From there, Harford settled into its rhythm. The Fighting Owls out-shot Hagerstown 9–8 and held a 3-0 advantage in corner kicks, showing their ability to sustain attacking pressure.
The defense remained poised throughout, and goalkeeper
Emma Zegers (Bel Air) — who entered at halftime — made four key saves in the second half to keep the match tight before the decisive breakthrough.
That breakthrough came late, and it came fast. In the 82nd minute, Ovelman struck again to give Harford a 2-1 lead. Just 45 seconds later, she completed her hat trick, sealing the 3-1 advantage and sending the Harford faithful into celebration.
Ovelman finished with three goals on three shots on goal, delivering one of the most memorable individual performances of the postseason. She also earn a spot on the All-Tournament team, along with
Lila Vincenti (Havre de Grace),
Maribella Sanchez (Harford Tech),
Aubrey Heise (North Harford) and
Alli Bierman (Harford Tech).
Harford's back line and midfield also played pivotal roles, with players like
Candace Kobus (North Harford),
Noelle Buckman (Homeschool), Bierman and Sanchez sustaining possession and shutting down Hagerstown's transition attempts.
The team's depth and discipline were evident as the Fighting Owls controlled the final minutes to secure the championship.
The atmosphere matched the moment, as more than 500 fans packed Harford Stadium to witness the program secure its fourth straight Region 20 title. The victory highlighted not just Harford's talent, but its resilience and game management in high-pressure situations.
With the Region 20 Championship secured, the Fighting Owls now advance to the NJCAA East District Championship this Friday at 1 p.m., where they will travel to face the Monroe University Mustangs. The winner earns a berth in the NJCAA Division I Women's Soccer National Championship Tournament.
