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Once the playoffs start, every team is fighting to extend its season for just one more game. Both the Einstein and Seneca Valley boys soccer teams showed that hard-nosed desperation Friday night.
The Titans (2-9-1) advanced to the 3A West Region quarterfinals with their 2-0 victory over the Screaming Eagles (1-11-1). The intensity of the single-elimination playoff was certainly felt by both teams. From the first whistle, players banged into each other, rarely shying away from contact.
In the first half, the defenses allowed almost no clean shot attempts. Seneca had the best opportunity to score, but Titans goalie Michael Giglio tracked down a free kick that bounced off the crossbar to end the threat.
Einstein would not score until the 65th minute, when Alec Anderson ran onto a long free kick from Jason Carceros. Just 4 minutes later, Nebiyu Mohammed knocked in a corner kick that bounced fortuitously onto his waiting foot, icing the game.
The playoff intensity turned to jubilation; Mohammed celebrated his goal with a midfield flip. After the final whistle, the players even tried to pull off the classic pour-water-over-the-coach's-head to celebrate the win, but Einstein coach Matt Kopacka escaped just in the nick of time.
A year ago, Einstein got a bye into the 3A West quarterfinals but lost its only playoff game to Watkins Mill, 2-0. The No. 6 seed, the Titans next play third-seeded Tuscarora next week.
Watkins Mill 3, Urbana 2, 7-6 PK
After two overtime periods in the Class 3A West Region first round, freshman striker Obed Agyei banged home the Wolverines' seventh penalty kick, while the Hawks missed on the other end, ending the game.
Agyei also scored with just over 15 minutes remaining in regulation, tying the game at two. Freshman striker Williams Youngia, in his first game with the Wolverines, also tallied a goal and an assist.
"This kid is 6-foot-2, he's just huge," said Watkins Mill coach Jeff Heckert. "Him and Obed were just playing off each other so well."
The Wolverines face No. 1-seed Bethesda-Chevy Chase Tuesday in a rematch of last year's 3A West Region Final. The Barons won that game in penalty kicks.
— Staff writer Dan Greenberg contributed to this article
