Hat Trick

On a night when the Washington County Northstars donated a defibrillator to charity, they got an offensive jolt of energy to defeat Thomas Johnson 8-0 in a prep hockey game at the Hagerstown Ice & Sports Complex on Monday. Mikhail Gardner earned his second shutout of the season, stopping all 20 of Thomas Johnson’s shots on goal. Despite a 1-4 record, the Patriots played with tenacity through the first two periods. Goalie Devin Shields, a freshman, stopped eight of Washington County’s nine shots on goal in the first period, only allowing a wrister in front of the net by Zach Kimmel which was assisted by Kevin McCormack.

The Washington County Northstars played Noah's Ark hockey on Thursday. They unleashed a storm of offense and scored goals two by two. Sean Kreps scored a hat trick and added an assist as the Northstars scored all their goals in their first 22 shots in an 8-1 victory over Montgomery Blair in the quarterfinals of the Maryland Student Hockey League Class 1A playoffs. Six of Washington County's eight goals were scored in sets of two, seconds apart. The Northstars did all their scoring in a 25-minute span and led 8-0 after two periods.

By CURT HORNBECKER / Staff Correspondent photo: RICHARD T. MEAGHER / staff photographer CLEAR SPRING - Mike Tesla called it "the hat trick of hat tricks. " But for Chris Mills, it was just another night on the pitch. Mills, a senior midfielder, scored his third straight hat trick in sparking South Hagerstown to a 5-0 soccer victory over Clear Spring Tuesday night in the regular-season finale for both teams. cont. from sports page All three of Mills' goals came within a 15-minute span, but it was his first, in the 63rd minute, that broke the spirit - if not the back - of the Blazers.

The saying goes, "Slow and steady wins the race. " For St. Maria Goretti's girls soccer team, the quick strikes do the job just fine. Erin Ryan got a hat trick, including two goals on breakaways off long passes, and No. 6 Goretti held off a patient and steady attack from No. 7 Smithsburg for a wild 3-2 victory Friday to kick off homecoming weekend. Smithsburg (9-5) outshot the Gaels 23-15 and controlled most of the field with its short passing game. But when the Gaels got to the ball, they sent it downfield to Ryan in a hurry.

Senior midfielder Jon Widmyer wanted to make sure that St. Maria Goretti would win the Apple Valley League boys soccer championship and he did just that by coming through with a hat trick. Widmyer's three goals led the No. 5 Gaels to a 5-2 victory over No. 4 Martinsburg on Tuesday afternoon to clinch the title. "It feels great," Widmyer said. "We have a lot of seniors on the team. It was one of our goals at the beginning of the season to win the league championship. Now, we are going to try to win the state championship for the Maryland private schools.

Karen Flores scored the game-winning goal for Northwood with 1.6 seconds remaining to lift the Gladiators over South Hagerstown 9-8 in the first round of the Maryland Class 3A-2A West girls lacrosse playoffs Wednesday night. “(Flores) is a competitive student-athlete. She plays with heart and she's talented and quick,” Northwood coach Carlos Montalvan said. “She's not the tallest one on the field, but she's a game-time player.” Flores's game-winning goal, which gave Northwood (3-10)

BOYS SOCCER BOONSBORO -- Michael Baer scored the tying and eventual winning goal -- both on penalty kicks -- as North Hagerstown rebounded from a 2-1 halftime deficit to defeat Boonsboro 5-3 in a nonconference match on Tuesday. Charlie Brasher, Andreas Grahn, and Roland Wilson each scored a goal, while Wilson and Jeff Smith had an assist each for the Hubs (2-1). Shane Lowery scored twice, Keith Welch added a goal and an assist and Kenny Kopp had an assist for Boonsboro.

Local roundup - Goretti girls remain unbeaten GIRLS SOCCER INWOOD, W.Va. - Bobbie Johnson scored a hat trick, while Erin Ryan and Meggan McGill each scored twice to lead St. Maria Goretti to an 8-1 win over Musselman in an Apple Valley League match on Wednesday. Colleen McGarity also scored for the Gaels (4-0, 3-0). Ryan, McGill, Marrett Diamond and Shannon Murray had assists. Kathryn Kennard had the only goal for Musselman, which was outshot, 24-2.

andrewm@herald-mail.com CLEAR SPRING - North Hagerstown is the defending Washington County champ, Williamsport the last MVAL champ and Smithsburg the reigning Maryland Class 1A West champ. "It says something about Washington County," Williamsport coach Stan Stouffer said. While what exactly will be said about this boys soccer season is far from being determined, the 2003 county crown is already up for grabs, as the Washington County Boys Soccer Tournament kicked off Friday evening.