BEL AIR, Md. - Four conference soccer teams' national title dreams are still alive after a successful region/district playoff weekend. The Harford and Anne Arundel women's teams and the CCBC Essex and Montgomery men's teams have all advanced to the 2014 NJCAA National Championships in their respective divisions.
The Harford Fighting Owls (14-3-1) will travel to Florida for the 2014 NJCAA Division I Women's Soccer National Championship after defeating Spartanburg Methodist College (18-2-0), 3-2, in the District L Championship on the road on Saturday. The Fighting Owls scored three second-half goals to rally from a 2-0 halftime defecit to advance to their fourth Division I National Tournament. Karley Bush scored her 25th goal of the season for the game-winner off an assist from Nicole Wojcik.
The Anne Arundel Pioneers (11-6-0) defeated Montgomery (7-10-1) in the Region XX/District H Championship, 2-0, on Nov. 2. Ryanne Dunlop and Victoria Mattoon netted goals in the win to send the Pioneers to the 2014 NJCAA Division III National Championship in Toms River, N.J., where they will compete with seven other teams for the national title.
The CCBC Essex Knights (18-3-0) will head to Arizona for the 2014 NJCAA Division I Men's Championship after defeating Southern Maryland (10-7-0) in the Region XX/North Central District Championship Match, 2-0. The Knights will be one of 12 teams fighting for the ultimate crown as Jake Ossie made five saves in the title match.
The Montgomery Raptors (18-2-1) defeated Anne Arundel (13-6-1) in the Region XX/District F Championship, 2-0, to advance to the NJCAA Division III National Tournament in Herkimer, N.Y. The Raptors received the No. 3 seed in the eight-team field and will fight for the national crown. They will face No. 6 Cayuga CC in the NJCAA Quarterfinals on Thursday, Nov. 13.