AACS advances to MIAA B final

Airtight defense and the leadership of Garrett Masters led Annapolis Area Christian School into the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association B Conference soccer championship game with a 2-0 victory over Friends last night.

The Eagles (14-2) will play St. Paul's, a winner over Glenelg Country School, at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday for the title.

Jared Thompson tallied the first Eagles' goal with 2:32 left in the first half, and Masters scored the final goal with 31 minutes left in the second.

"We won our conference, and they (Friends) won their conference," said Masters, who moves up and down the field with his versatility. "We didn't play well the first time we played them, but did this time."

The Eagles' defense shutdown the Quakers' offense.

"I don't want to single any one out; they all played very well, definitely a team effort," Annapolis Area Christian School coach Matt Schmidt. "Good finish on Jared, good heads up on the free kick by Jared. Even the guys off the bench came in off the bench and helped out a lot."

St. Paul's beat the Eagles, 4-0, during the regular season.

"We have to our play our game to beat them," Schmidt said. "We can't get sucked in. We just can't get sucked in."

The Eagles played with composure and were very patient in scoring their goals.

"We want to keep the ball," Schmidt said. "We don't want to chase. We want to keep the ball, keep possession of it."

Friends (8-8-1) 0 0 - 0

AACS (14-2) 1 1 - 2

GOALS: AC - Thompson, Masters. ASSISTS: AC - Riding. SAVES: F - Hornig 4; AC - Butler 7. SHOTS: F - 3; AC - 6. CORNERS: F - 0; AC - 1.