Men's Soccer Fends Off Catonsville

ARNOLD, Md. – Ethan Belcher scored in the 79^th minute to lift the Anne Arundel Community College men's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over visiting CCBC Catonsville Tuesday afternoon at Siegert Field. The Riverhawks improve to 3-1-3 overall after winning their first Division II Region 20 game.

Eli Belcher scored the game's first goal in the 23^rd minute. Off of Belcher's corner kick, back Dominic Breeden got several swipes at the ball before his final shot careened off the post directly onto Eli Belcher's foot for a one-timer.

Things got heated in the 31^st minute after a jersey pull at midfield led to a minor fracas. Three yellow cards were shown and the game settled down for the remainder of the half.

Catonsville evened the score in the 53^rd minute with a penalty shot goal from Mike Miranda. Miranda had been carrying the ball toward the AACC net when he was stripped of the ball and fell down a few steps later in the box resulting in a penalty kick. 

A cross from Jose Rodriguez bounced off two Riverhawks heads before careening over to Charlie Meehan, who was crashing toward the far post. Meehan quickly redirected the ball to the middle for Ethan Belcher to tap in.

In the 72^nd minute it looked like Catonsville had taken the lead after the ball came out of the Riverhawks' keeper Jayeim Blakes's hands and a Cardinal player shot the ball into the net. The linesman, however, whistled the player as offside and the goal didn't count.

AACC's Daevon Lionel preserved the lead in the 80^th minute. After the ball slipped out of the hands Blake, Lionel slid across the face of the goal to prevent the Cardinals' ensuing shot from crossing the line.

AACC held a 16-8 advantage in shots and led, 6-2, in corners. Blake finished the game with two saves.

The Riverhawks are back in action on Sunday, September 24 in a 1 p.m. NJCAA Region 20 game at Frederick.