SEVERNA PARK BOYS ENTER OCTOBER UNBEATEN

Daniel Reise’s goal with 12 minutes remaining lifted the Severna Park boys soccer team to a 1-0 win over visiting South River on September 20, one highlight of a month the Falcons finished undefeated and untied as the team ran its impressive start to the season to 8-0.

Following opening-weekend wins over Archbishop Spalding and Severn over Labor Day weekend, Severna Park has not slowed down since, notching victories over Bel Air, Northern, Northeast, South River, Glen Burnie and Southern to climb to the top of the county table through the season’s midway point.

Against the defensively stingy Seahawks, who hadn’t previously allowed a goal all season, the Falcons kept pushing for the score that finally came in the 68th minute. A corner kick by Keaton Bathras was flicked onward by Scott Huntley at the near post and came to Reise, who ran through it at the back post, powerfully smashing it low past the keeper.

The goal was the first in four years in a Falcon uniform for Reise, a senior defenseman, and allowed Severna Park to capitalize on a sound defensive effort and four saves by goalie Sam Farrell to snatch the result that was there for either team’s taking late in the game. “I think it’s just, keep at it for 80 minutes, that’s the key,” said head coach Ryan Parisi, who has seen his team come away with close victories in games that have hung in the balance late into the second half. “It’s not a one-minute game or a 40-minute game. It’s a full 80 minutes. You play against a team like South River who is really well-organized and well-coached and tough defensively, so we knew we had our hands full, and we try to make good choices on the ball.”

While 8-0 suggests dominance, it’s been Severna Park’s consistency that has helped the team over its strong start. The team has scored exactly three goals in five of its eight games and two goals twice, often with different goal-scorers and multiple players recording assists. Huntley and Drew Belloff benefitted from a pair of assists by Bathras in the team’s 3-0 win over Southern on September 30, while Phil Irwin scored unassisted and Farrell and Tyler Lewin combined for a shutout.

Consistency has been achieved through depth, a fact Parisi recognized as important in digging out the close wins, as the team is able to cycle fresh legs throughout physical games and get lots of players involved.

“We know we’ve got guys who can play. We’ve got 26 guys, and at any time, anyone can go in and contribute to the game,” he said. “They train that way, and they put themselves in a position to play when their number is called.”

The depth should help keep Severna Park fresh during the stretch run of the season. The Falcons face Meade, also undefeated at 7-0 entering October (and 3-0 winners over Broadneck), in the first week of the month before clashes with Arundel, Old Mill, Chesapeake, Broadneck and North County to close the season.