by Laura Bradley

Armed with the knowledge that it was the only MIAA C Conference team to defeat top-seeded Chapelgate Christian during the regular season, Mount Carmel entered yesterday's C Conference soccer semifinal with confidence.  The host Yellowjackets, however, started fast and parlayed two early goals into a 4-0 win and a return trip to the C Conference Championship Game.

Not wanting to repeat the results of the last Mount Carmel-Chapelgate meeting (an overtime victory for the Cougars), the Yellowjackets came out with one of their strongest starts of the season, pulling ahead with two goals in the first fifteen minutes.

Assisted by sophomore Mike Becker off a corner kick, Sam Orlando took advantage of an early scoring opportunity by volleying the ball into the corner.  Fouled minutes later, Alex McCurry set up to take a free kick, but he chose to make a short tap to Becker, who sent the ball home for a goal of his own.

Senior Chris Carlson and sophomore Sam Orlando took control of loose balls in the midfield, and Mike Lovaas and Jeff Yahiro kept the Yellowjackets out of danger by the goal.  Though Mount Carmel keeper Mike Kramabitter was tough in the Cougar net, making twelve saves, Chapelgate continued to move ahead after the break.

Orlando opened the half, scoring his second goal with a low shot off a pass by Lovaas. Becker then participated in his third goal of the game, as he crossed a pass to his brother Jim, who converted a shot from directly in front of the goal.

Mount Carmel was able to take shots on second-half keeper Steve Handy (six saves), but was unable to counter the determined Yellowjacket offense.

"This was the best we've played in a while," said Lovaas, a senior defensive
leader.  "We got the ball wide and we played really, really hard. On Saturday, if we play with the same effort; if we play the same way as today; we've got a good chance."

Chapelgate (17-3 overall) will face rival Baltimore Lutheran (10-7) in the  C Conference title game, which will get underway at 9:00 am on the turf at Calvert Hall.  The Yellowjackets won two one goal matches between the schools this year – 1-0 on Oct. 2 and 2-1 on Oct. 25.  Chapelgate, which last won the conference championship in 2005, will be shooting for its fifth MIAA title.

Lutheran, which earned the second seed in the C Conference, advanced to the title game with a 1-0 semifinal victory over Beth Tfiloh, on Tuesday.  The Saints will be shooting for their second C Conference Championship.  They won their first in 2001.


Chapelgate Christian 4, Mount Carmel 0
Goals: CC-S. Orlando 2, J. Becker, M. Becker.
Assists: CC-M. Becker 2, M. Lovaas, A. McCurry.
Saves: CC-M. Siggins 2, S. Handy 6. MC-M. Kramabitter 12.