Perry Hall girls soccer was searching hard for a jump-start to its season against Baltimore County rival Hereford on Thursday, with neither team’s defense budging as the second half reached the midway point.
By then, it was apparent that something extra would be required for a breakthrough. The visiting Gators found their resolve.
Junior forward Autumn Rorie was able to shake a defender in the right corner, gaining just enough time and space to send a cross to the far post. Senior midfielder Reese Pinnell made a timely run and precise finish from eight yards.
The game-changing connection — Pinnell’s goal came with 20:10 to play — lifted No. 15 Perry Hall to a sturdy 2-0 win over the No. 14 Bulls in the Baltimore County opener for both teams. With 4:43 left, Katelyn Price scored to cap the road victory.
Perry Hall, which was blanked by ranked private school powers Maryvale Prep and Mercy to open the season, goes to 1-2, handing Hereford (2-1) its first loss.
The first goal of the season proved worth the wait for the Gators.
“It’s a great feeling, especially knowing how hard we’ve worked for this,” Pinnell said. “We went scoreless in our first two games, so finally getting that goal was a great feeling and it was a great team goal for it to be our first of the season.”
Rorie, who fended off a defender for five seconds before a decisive cut got her the needed space, was equally excited.
“When I was under pressure in the corner, I just tried to shake her off a little bit and once I got her on that final turn, I just let loose,” she said. “I was just really happy to see Reese in there to get that goal.”
The Gators controlled play for big chunks of the game, stringing together passes with their patented possession game. They put six shots on Hereford freshman goalie Annie Stutz before Pinnell was able to get the first one past her.
The Bulls had fewer opportunities but two quality ones after settling into the first half. In the 14th minute, Bella DeSantis served in a corner kick to the far post that found Ana Laura Tosi, but Perry Hall goalie Joyce Robinson was well positioned to make the save. Five minutes later, Bulls standout Shanti Atkins had a quick turn from 12 yards that Robinson made a fine reaction save on.
After the two losses, Perry Hall coach Matt Smoot didn’t change any tactics. Instead, he asked his players to change their mentality.
Mission accomplished.
“We feel on paper we have the skill that we need, but we need to lock in a little more, focus more and play braver soccer,” he said. “This is huge for us. Coming off two losses against two good teams and then to come back against Hereford, who looked great in the preseason and are always dangerous, I’m just super proud of how the girls came out. I feel their mentality is now in the right place and I think we’ll be more dangerous moving forward.”
Now it’s the Bulls’ turn to respond to their first taste of adversity. Coach Brad Duvall simply said that the better team won Thursday.
“We got beat everywhere,” he said. “We were ill-prepared for their pace and we got to work a little harder. They’re really talented, really skilled and do a good job of moving and working for each other and we didn’t. Hopefully, we can figure out how we need to be available for each other more and play better soccer.”
Hereford will next host Gerstell Academy at 5:30 p.m. Monday in a nonconference game. Perry Hall hosts Winters Mill at 5:30 Wednesday.
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Goals: PH — Pinnell, Price
Assists: PH — Rorie, Colon
Saves: PH — Robinson 4; H — Stutz 7
Half: 0-0