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The game was a defensive battle with both goal keepers making several close range shots. Saints goal keeper Amy Chotikul, the only female goalie in the MIAA, made eight saves to give Lutheran (10-7 overall, 9-3 conference) the shut out.
Warriors junior goalie Arky Staiman made nine saves and kept Beth Tfiloh (8-6-2, 7-4-1) in the game. Staiman made point blank saves on Joe Miller and Tyler Class in the first half and kept Lutheran off the scoreboard.
The first half was like a chess match, both teams played defensively and tried to keep the ball out of the zone. Lutheran fired five shots on goal but Staiman turned them all away. Chotikul faced three shots in the first half to keep the score knotted at 0-0.
However, two minutes into the second half, freshman John Rattay took a pass from David Crotty and kicked the ball just past Staiman for the only goal of the game. As the shot went in, Rattray threw his arms up in the motion of an airplane and ran in celebration with his teammates.
"When I shot it, I thought the goalie was going to have it," said Rattray of his game winning goal. "It just rolled out and rolled right into the back [of the goal]. I was very happy."
After Rattray's goal, Lutheran turned up with defense with Alex Hiel and John Jenkinsm who cleared the ball and kept Beth Tfiloh from getting easy looks at the goal. And the shots that the Warriors did take were all stopped by Chotikul.
"They're defenders are very strong," said Beth Tfiloh head coach Marc Burkom. "I think their sweeper Alex Heil is one of the best defenders in the league."
Chotikul made numerous stops on crossing passes before Warrior players could get a head or foot on the ball.
"I couldn't do anything without my defense," the Lutheran goalie said. "It was a really intense game but it ended up really well for us."
Lutheran head coach Ed Morse said about Chotikul, "I believe if the player is good enough to play, he or she should play. When the ball is in front of her, left and right, she handles it very well. I have total confidence in her."
Morse said the team has lost a good deal of seniors from last year's squad that lost 4-1 to Chapelgate in the C conference championship.
With a tough defense, led by Heil and Jenkins and a scrappy goal keeper in Chotikul, Lutheran is looking to change last year's outcome in the finals on Saturday. The Saints will face the winner of the other semifinal match between Chapelgate Christian and Mount Carmel.
Baltimore Lutheran 1, Beth Tfiloh 0
Goal: BL--Rattray.
Assist: BL--Crotty.
Saves: BT--Staiman 9; BL--Chotikul.
Half: 0-0.
