Yellow Jackets sting Obezags in C semifinal

MARRIOTTSVILLE - After surrendering 10 goals to Chapelgate Christian Academy in two regular-season meetings, Key coach Brian Boyd decided to employ a different strategy when the two teams met in yesterday's Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association C Conference semifinal at Western Regional Park.

And after allowing an early goal, the switch - which involved double-teaming players on the wings to limit shots and force passes to go largely backward - couldn't have worked much better, limiting the Yellow Jackets' explosive offense to few scoring opportunities. That is until about three minutes into the second overtime when Mike Becker punched in well-placed pass from Josh Rufolo to give Chapelgate a 2-1 victory and a ticket to Monday's conference final.

"We had a game plan, and every single player executed it to perfection," Boyd said. "I could not be more proud. They have such an incredible offense."

Chapelgate showed that propensity to score quickly early when Becker pounded in a 25-yard shot 7:23 into the first. Its scoring chances largely dried up after that, thanks to the play of Key defenders Kevin Ewing, Sam Ricketts and Isaac Anthony and goalkeeper Lawrence Luu.

Key's opportunities to score also came few and far between in both the first and second halves, but the Obezags (10-9-2) broke through in the second on a goal by Maris Beigel. Beigel, who scored eight goals this season, placed a corner kick into the upper-right corner of the goal for a 1-1 deadlock.

"We were practicing corner kicks before the game, and I put one in just like that," Beigel said. "My dad told me before the game, 'If you can do that in the game, attack.' I just said that I was going to go for it."

Both teams had a chance to end the match in regulation and the first overtime, but missed instead.

Then in the second, Rufolo, from about midfield, arced a long pass to a streaking Becker, who controlled the ball in stride, beat a defender into the penalty area and then crushed a line drive shot to the right of Key backup goalie Alex DeMarco.

"Josh Rufolo put it right where I needed it, (and) I had a half step on the defender," Becker said. "I just tried to put it to the far corner."

DeMarco was one of many replacements Boyd had to use in the second half and overtime periods. Anthony and Beigel were felled by cramps, Luu was lost in the second half with a leg injury during a collision and Arran Joyce - another starter - missed the game with a broken leg.

Key (10-9-2) 0 1 0 0 - 1

Chapelgate (14-1) 1 0 0 1 - 2

GOALS: K - Beigel;.CC - Becker 2. ASSISTS: CC - Rufolo. SHOTS: K - 3. CC - 11. SAVES: K - Luu 6, DeMarco 3; CC - 2. CORNERS: K - 3; CGA - 3.