Jen Wright led the offense and defense in the final moments of No. 1 River Hill's shootout victory over Thomas Johnson last night in a Class 3A girls soccer state semifinal at North Carroll.
Wright scored the final penalty kick for the defending state champion Hawks (17-0), then stopped Brittany Wilson's shot to preserve the 7-6 shootout win over the Patriots (15-3-1).
River Hill will meet Bel Air, which defeated Northern-Calvert in the other semifinal, in next week's title game at UMBC.
Thomas Johnson controlled most of the first half, but River Hill provided most of the offense in the second half and in the overtimes, including several near misses.
No. 6 Bel Air 4, Northern-Calvert 1: The Bobcats (16-2) got two goals from leading scorer Colby Bugda on the way to the victory over the Patriots (11-4-1) in the other semifinal at North Carroll.
Bel Air will play in the state finals for the first time next week against River Hill at UMBC.
The Bobcats took the lead 21:50 into the game when Bugda took a cross from midfielder Megan Baitch and lifted it over the head of Northern keeper Brianna Jones. The shot dropped between Jones and the crossbar.
The Bobcats added to their lead midway through the second half, when Kim Cooper scored on a partial breakaway after a misplayed header by a Northern sweeper.- Mike Frainie
Class 4A
No. 2 Severna Park 2, Wootton 1, OT: Lauren Mitchell scored in the final minute of the first overtime at Walt Whitman to lift the No. 2 Falcons over the Patriots and into the state title game for the second time in three years.
Mitchell also had an assist for the Falcons (18-1), who are one win away from their first state championship since 1995. Severna Park will meet Eleanor Roosevelt, a 2-1 winner last night over Parkville, for the state title next week at UMBC.
Severna Park, which also worked overtime to beat Arundel in the 4A East final, took a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute when Shannon Haddaway tipped in a cross from the left corner by Mitchell.
Wootton (15-1), which outshot Severna Park 20-9, tied the score on a goal by Jessica DeStefano in the 68th minute.
In the overtime, Mitchell dribbled through two defenders and beat keeper Carly Rosin with a shot from 10 yards out.
Eleanor Roosevelt 2, No. 10 Parkville 1, OT: The Knights' bid for a second straight trip to the state title game was denied when the Raiders' Guin Granite converted a corner kick in the final two minutes of overtime at Whitman.
Parkville (12-4-1), which lost to Westminster in the state title game last year, jumped ahead in the eighth minute on a goal by Carin Reider. Roosevelt (15-1) answered 12 minutes later when Alison Divens scored off a corner kick.
In the overtime, Divens lofted a corner kick from the left corner toward the far post, and Granite pushed it past Parkville keeper Heather Rock from 5 yards out.- Bo Smolka
