Falcon Boys Stumped By South River

When South River pipped Severna Park to the Anne Arundel County Public Schools tournament championship on penalty kicks October 19, the thought was that the team could trade the county title for advancing past the Seahawks in the upcoming regional rematch.

After all, the Falcons won the county championship in overtime over South River in 2023, only to see the Seahawks win the rematch a week later in the region semifinals on their way to winning it all.

This time, there would be no script-flip, though, as South River took that rematch, ending the Falcons’ promising season at 11-2-2.

South River bounced Severna Park from the playoffs for the second straight season, winning 3-1 at Severna Park on October 26.

The Seahawks took a 1-0 lead into halftime and doubled the advantage 15 minutes into the second half. Stephen Bacho weaved through the defense and scored a few minutes later to bring the Falcons within a goal, but they couldn’t get any closer and gave up the third on the counterattack late on.

In the county championship game, Christopher von Diezelski buried a shot from just outside the penalty area 10 minutes in to give the Falcons the lead. But a long free-kick goal tied the game for South River and rounded out the scoring.

In the shootout, Severna Park’s first penalty kick cannoned off the left post and out. The other nine shots went in, giving South River a 5-4 shootout win and the county championship.

With the season ending, the Falcons will bid farewell to 12 seniors: von Diezeleki, Dimitri Bordone, Daniel Nikitin, Parker John, Jason Blain, Samuel Blake, Cole Earhart, Tully Espinola, Eneko Allen, Theodore Skopp and Jake Sobocinski, as well as goalkeeper Matt Schisler, who missed the season due to injury.