BEL AIR, Md. — The Harford Fighting Owls men's soccer team closed the regular season with consecutive shutouts, defeating Hagerstown Community College 3-0 on Tuesday before earning a 1-0 road victory over CCBC Catonsville on Thursday. Harford finished the regular season 10-5-2 overall and 8-3-1 in conference play, going 6-2-2 over its last 10 matches.
The Fighting Owls now turn their attention to the NJCAA Region 20 Division II Tournament, which begins Saturday at the Harford Sports Complex. Harford will host a quarterfinal match at 4 p.m. against an opponent that is to be determined.
Harford's regular-season finale against CCBC Catonsville came down to one first-half goal, as Luis Alvarado found the back of the net in the 30th minute. The Fighting Owls controlled much of the match, finishing with a 17-2 advantage in shots and putting eight attempts on target.
Alvarado scored at the 29:37 mark to give Harford the lead, and the defense made the goal stand. Goalkeeper Fabian Sutter played all 90 minutes, while the Fighting Owls limited Catonsville to just two shots and did not allow a shot on goal.
Harford continued to generate opportunities after halftime, recording 11 shots in the second half. Catonsville goalkeeper Balmore Baires made seven saves, keeping the Cardinals within striking distance, but Harford maintained its advantage through the final whistle.
The victory followed an impressive second-half performance against Hagerstown on Tuesday, when the Fighting Owls scored three times to secure a 3-0 home win.
After a scoreless opening 45 minutes, Harford broke through early in the second half. Ari Rollison converted a penalty kick at the 48:14 mark to put the Fighting Owls ahead. Fernandinho Waidemam doubled the advantage just over five minutes later, scoring at 53:31 as Harford began to pull away.
Andile Muhlauri added the final goal in the 68th minute, finishing a sequence assisted by Isaiah Rodriguez at 67:51. The three-goal second half gave Harford the separation it needed to close out the regular-season home finale with a clean sheet.
The Fighting Owls applied consistent pressure throughout the contest, outshooting Hagerstown 29-8 and putting 14 attempts on target. Harford also held a 4-0 advantage in corner kicks, creating opportunities in both halves before converting its chances after the break.
Harford's defensive effort was equally important. Louka Chainey started in goal and played the first half before Sutter took over after halftime. The pair combined for three saves, while the back line helped limit Hagerstown to eight total shots and no goals.
The win over Hagerstown marked the beginning of Harford's two-game shutout streak, which the team extended against Catonsville two days later. The Fighting Owls have found a balance between offensive pressure and defensive discipline down the stretch, scoring four goals across the two victories without conceding.
That form has helped Harford finish the regular season on a positive note, going 6-2-2 across its final 10 matches. With the regular-season schedule complete, the team can now focus on the opportunity ahead in the Region 20 tournament.
Saturday's 4 p.m. home matchup gives the Fighting Owls a chance to build on their recent momentum in front of their home crowd. With consecutive shutouts and two victories to close the regular season, Harford enters postseason play looking to extend its run and compete for a regional championship.
