PERRY HALL, EASTERN TECH PLAY TO DRAW

Scoreless struggle leaves boys' soccer foes tied in division standings
by Derek Toney

For more than 85 minutes Tuesday night, Eastern Tech and Perry Hall High School's boys' soccer squads battled fiercely, befitting a matchup of the top two teams in Baltimore County's Division I. In the end, it was Mother Nature who had the final word in an 0-0 tie.

With lightning coming out of the skies around Perry Hall's stadium, both teams were pulled off the field by game officials, and the bleachers were cleared. Officials called the contest minutes later as heavy rains proceeded through the area.

The Mavericks (5-2-1 overall) and Gators (8-1-2) are each 3-0-1 in division play. Eastern Tech have three of its final four games on the road. After a slow start, Mavericks coach Peter Glaudemans said his team has made strides the last month.

"We took a couple of early season setbacks, but that was a growth opportunity for us," said Glaudemans. "It's been about teaching the new youngsters what it means to play organized soccer, what it means to be responsible with your position, and what it means to play with energy and heart."

"Everyone had their own playing style and weren't used to each other," said Mavericks senior back/midfielder Kyle Vaitkatis. "We've worked really hard at practice to get on the same page."

The defending county champ Eastern Tech was on the defensive most of the night, but senior goalie Ricky Willis (seven saves) kept his team afloat. Glaudemans said the 6-foot, one inch, 185-pound Willis is one of the most skilled goalminder he's coached.

The Maverick roster is junior-heavy with Willis, Robby Boyer, Mark Cover, Brian Pleines, Vaitkaitis, Sam Neuhauser, Bobby Jackson, David Cash and Tevin Jackson as seniors. Glaudemans believes all the players "have an opportunity to lead each other and make everyone better."

"Everyone's been pushing each other," said Vaitkatis. "We have so much depth on this team."

"We didn't expect to come with so many young players, but the underclassmen have to pick up," said Tevin , whose team has Towson, Sparrows Point and Patapsco on the road in the coming weeks. "They realize they have to raise their level of play."

Under first-year coach Danny Skelton, Perry Hall has been among the best in Baltimore County.  Against the defending county champions Mavericks, Perry Hall's defensive unit of Josh Spivey, Peter Shonk, Nick Kuklane and Phillip Saunders kept goalie Zack Kane comfortable almost the entire evening.

"We outplayed them and outhustled them," said Gators senior midfielder Matt Swiderski. "Our defense has been playing together for about five years. We have the chemistry and have been playing good, finding the net. Unfortunately, we couldn't do that tonight."

"Eastern Tech did a good job keeping the ball out of the net. We definetely had chances, and that's a matter of us being composed," said Shelton. "We need to take those opportunities early in the game to give our efforts the credit it deserves."

Kane, a junior, pointed to Shelton's influence as a reason for Perry Hall's success this fall. The Gators are confident about having success in the postseason. But first, Perry Hall needs to finish the regular season strong with Western Tech, Kenwood and Sparrows Point remaining.

"I knew I had to get these guys playing together as a team, and they've done right off the bat," said Shelton. "They're playing consistent and give me what they can every single game, that's all I can ask for."