Words: Parker Subasic
Photos: Sydney Beck
On November 7, our Centennial Eagles drove two and a half hours in the pouring rain to take on James M. Bennett High School in the 3A regional championship boys soccer game. Both teams came out blazing with aggressive defense and intense shots being taken.
JM Bennett scored with five minutes left in the first half, shortly after Centennial junior Hamzah Elhabashy scored with an assist from senior Nick Haskins making the score 1-1 at the end of the first half. Starting out the 2nd half, James M. Bennett quickly scored on the Eagle defense, but the high-powered Centennial offense quickly answered back with a goal from Haskins.
Toward the end of the second half, junior Matt Merkey scored making it 3-2 Eagles. Referees made a huge call to give James M. Bennett a penalty kick, which they took advantage of and tied the score 3-3. This sent the game into overtime, where neither team scored. This brought the game into double overtime.
Elhabashy drilled a dagger of a goal into the upper left corner of the goal to seal his second goal for the night as well as a win for the Eagles.
“I felt a huge adrenaline rush right after I scored, when I saw the ball hit the net I was going insane.” said Elhabashy.
The last time Centennial boys soccer won a regional championship was 21 years ago in 1996. Our Eagles will be playing for the semi-state title on Saturday, November 11 at Linganore High School.
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