BEL AIR, Md. — Macy Forest scored in the second overtime period to lift the Harford Community College women's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Carroll Community College in the NJCAA Region 20 Division II Tournament quarterfinal Saturday night at the Harford Sports Complex.
Forest found the net in the 104th minute, finishing a pass from Maribella Sanchez at 103:27 to send the Fighting Owls into the tournament semifinals. Harford improved to 13-1-2 overall with the win, extending its unbeaten run to 10 matches.
The Fighting Owls controlled the offensive action throughout the match, outshooting Carroll 32-8 and holding a commanding 18-3 advantage in shots on goal. Despite generating repeated scoring opportunities over 103 minutes, Harford could not break through until Forest delivered the decisive finish in the second overtime.
Harford applied pressure from the opening minutes, forcing Carroll goalkeeper Emma Jewell to make several early saves. Annabelle Lathroum put a shot on target in the seventh minute, and Lila Vincenti followed with an attempt that Jewell turned away in the 15th minute. Sydney McLaughlin also tested the Carroll goalkeeper moments later, but the Lynx continued to withstand the attack.
Hailey Cain created additional opportunities in the first half, putting multiple attempts toward the net as Harford worked to establish an early lead. Lathroum and Vincenti continued to challenge the Carroll defense, while the Fighting Owls earned four corner kicks before halftime.
Harford finished the opening 45 minutes with 14 shots, while Carroll managed four. Three of the Fighting Owls' first-half attempts were stopped by Jewell, who kept the match scoreless despite the sustained pressure.
Carroll threatened on occasion, but Harford goalkeeper Alyssa Dunnigan was steady when called upon. She made a save on Emma Zinkand's attempt in the 29th minute to help preserve the deadlock.
The teams also saw a red card apiece late in the first half and entered the second half with 10 players each.
The change in numbers did little to slow Harford's attack. Forest tested Jewell less than a minute into the second half, and the Fighting Owls continued to find shooting opportunities as Carroll struggled to contain the pressure.
Forest recorded another shot on goal in the 67th minute, followed by attempts from Cain and Allison Putkisto. Jewell continued to turn away Harford's efforts, saving shots from Putkisto, Cain and Lathroum during a sustained stretch of second-half pressure.
Harford's best opportunities continued to come in the closing minutes of regulation. Cain forced another save in the 77th minute, and Lathroum followed with a shot on target moments later. Carroll defender Sherina Jassir then made a defensive save on Cain's attempt in the 79th minute, preventing another potential Harford goal.
Forest and Lathroum each forced additional saves in the final 10 minutes, while Sanchez put a shot on target in the 87th minute. Harford outshot Carroll 14-4 in the second half and finished regulation with 28 shots, including 16 on goal, but the Lynx held firm to force overtime.
The Fighting Owls continued to press in the first 10-minute overtime period. Sanchez put another shot on target in the 99th minute, but Jewell made the save to keep Carroll's hopes alive.
Harford finally found its breakthrough in the second overtime. After Forest sent an attempt wide in the 102nd minute, Vincenti put another shot on target moments later. The sequence set the stage for the decisive play at 103:27, when Sanchez assisted Forest's game-winning goal.
Forest finished with six shots, including four on goal, while Cain led Harford with eight attempts and five shots on target. Lathroum added six shots, three on goal, and Sanchez recorded two shots on target to go with her assist.
Jewell made 16 saves for Carroll, while Dunnigan stopped all three shots she faced to secure the shutout. Harford also held a 7-1 advantage in corner kicks.
The Fighting Owls will face Anne Arundel Community College tomorrow at 6 p.m. in a Region 20 Division II semifinal at CCBC Dundalk, with CCBC Essex hosting the tournament. Harford defeated Anne Arundel 2-0 at Under Armour Stadium in Baltimore on Aug. 25.
