Avetrani, Knights Punch Ticket to Region XX Finals

By Jordan Ganzermiller

DUNDALK, Md. -- Javier Avetrani scored the game's only goal for the Knights last night in a 1-0 win over Harford Community College at CCBC Dundalk Stadium to secure a spot for CCBC Essex in the NJCAA Region XX Division I Men's Soccer Championship.

The Knights (14-5) will play Frederick Community College in the finals on Saturday at CCBC Dundalk. Game time is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

Avetrani (Oakland Mills) now has eight goals this season to go along with seven assists.

CCBC Essex received a first round bye as a result of earning the No. 1 seed.

Last night's win was especially sweet, as the Knights avenged an earlier season loss to the Fighting Owls, which prevented them from winning the Maryland JUCO Athletic Conference title outright.

Even though the Knights had an underwhelming first half, they still dominated the chances.

In the 5^th minute, freshman Nehemiah Crawford (Baltimore City College) beat three defenders and took a left-footed shot that went right to the keeper.

Then in the 26^th minute, sophomore Kiarash Livani (Solna) played a cross from deep in the Fighting Owls' box to freshman Gaige Robinson (Perry Hall) who unleashed a shot from the top of the box that sailed over the cross bar.

Harford (8-9-1) got a chance of its own in the 31^st minute when a striker took a shot from the top of the box.

Luckily for the Knights, experienced sophomore goalkeeper Trevor Brookhart (Liberty) saved the shot with ease.

In the 34^th minute, Livani had a chance to break a scoreless tie.

Sophomore co-captain Yassine Iguidre (Dundalk) played a cross that fell in front of Livani at the far post. Livani volleyed the ball, but the shot went well wide.

In the 43^rd minute, Avetrani finally broke the deadlock.

Sophomore Storm Robinson (Our Lady of Mount Carmel) received a pass and touched the ball to Avetrani, who hit a left-footed half-volley from the top of the box into the lower left-hand corner.

"We definitely could work on our finishing," said Avetrani. "But I think every team can do that. We'll try to improve it for [Saturday against Frederick]."

All the poor play shown in the first half was gone and the Knights came out in the second half looking refreshed.

The Fighting Owls had a chance to level the score in the 54^th, but failed to capitalize.

A free kick was awarded by the referee and taken quickly.

Fighting Owls' sophomore Corey Johnson jumped from eight yards out, but did not get a good touch on the ball and it sailed well high and wide of the goal.

Avetrani almost claimed a second goal in the 63^rd minute.

He unleashed a laser from 25 yards out that beat the goalie but went just over the crossbar.

In the 76^th minute, the Fighting Owls once again could not capitalize on a great scoring opportunity.

A through ball was played to the Fighting Owls' leading scorer Jerry Washington.

Washington's tough-angled shot flew right into the hands of Brookhart.

Avetrani had another opportunity in the 78^th minute when Storm Robinson won a free kick just outside the box.

Avetrani took the free kick from about 20 yards out. He curled it over the wall, but it did not have enough pace to beat goalkeeper Tanner Peterson.

In the 85^th minute, Avetrani had yet another shot on goal.

A cross rolled across the box to Avetrani, who took a right-footed shot to the top left-hand corner.

However, Paterson was already moving towards that post so it ended up being an easy save for the freshman.

Just like the Knights' last regular season game, Avetrani received most of the chances and quite often found the ball at his feet.

"It's working out well," said Avetrani. "I'm just finding the ball more and more, and it's been feeling better as we've been going through the season."

The Knights will look to continue its run as they play Frederick this Saturday in the Region XX Finals.

The game will be played at CCBC Dundalk – hosted by CCBC Catonsville – and kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.