McDonogh girls soccer had the better of visiting Bishop O’Connell in the most vital area Thursday — finishing off scoring chances.
The No. 1 Eagles got two goals from McKenzie Brown — one early and one late — and their defense buckled down against a persistent attack from the Knights for a 2-0 win. Zoe Lilly assisted on both goals and goalie Vivian Biggs made six stops to help secure the nonconference win.
Coming off a 2-1 season-opening loss to Pennsylvania-based Episcopal Academy on Saturday, the defending Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference champions were excited to find a winning note with league play set to start next week.
For the Eagles, it took Lilly’s playmaking, Brown’s finishing, sturdy defending and some good fortune to fend off the quality opponent from Arlington, Virginia.
“I think it’s definitely coming together very well,” Brown said. “We had the tough loss last weekend against Episcopal, but we came back this week and worked very, very hard together. We have a lot of younger players on the team and they’ve really grown. I think it’s really going to be a good year for us.”
Five minutes into play, Lilly carried the ball into the penalty area and sent a short square ball to the right for Brown, who found the lower far post from 12 yards for the quick 1-0 advantage.
For much of the first half, the Knights pressed. Audrey McKeen shot high from 12 yards. Moira Kinsella got off a shot that was defended well by Kaitlyn Chisamore. With 5:25 left in the half, Biggs dove to her right to turn away a heavy left-footed shot from McKeen with Molly Clark’s rebound chance hitting off the post.
With the second half played on more even terms, the Eagles got strong play from center back Ellie McGilvray and a couple more saves from Biggs before Brown got behind the Knights’ defense and scored to make it 2-0 with two minutes to play.
“Obviously, they had a lot of chances to tie it and it would have been interesting to see how we would have reacted if they did tie it,” McDonogh coach Harry Canellakis said. “I thought it was a super open game and we’re trying to make the game a little bit more playing through the thirds of the field whereas this was just back and forth, back and forth. So yeah, some good things and some things we need work on — typical early-season game.”
With several new starters, the tough early challenges are an ideal prep for league play. The Eagles will get another quality test when they host Pennsylvania-based Agnes Irwin at 4:30 p.m. Saturday before opening league play next week at Roland Park on Wednesday with game time set for 4 p.m.
“We have a really good out-of-conference schedule and as well as our conference — we know is so competitive. So to get prepared for making it to the championship starting off are season playing some of the best teams in the country is really good for us,” Brown said.
Goals: M — Brown 2
Assists: M — Lilly 2
Saves: BO — Morrill 2; M — Biggs 6
Half: M, 1-0
