Westminster goalie Lindsey Nichols defends against a free position attempt by North Carroll's Jamie Tomlinson in her Owls' 13-7 victory on Friday.
Westminster's Amber Nichols scores one of her two goals in Friday's 13-7 victory over North Carroll
by Lem Satterfield
In the hours that preceded Westminster's playoff game opposite Carroll County rival North Carroll, Friday's heavy downpours had soaked the artificial surface that belonged to McDaniel College -- site of their matchup.
Although the rains stopped before the contest began, the deluge continued in the form of an unstoppable Westminster offense which was simply too powerful for their rivals in a 13-7, Class 4A-3A West Regional victory.
Alissa Semones had three each in goals and assists, Ashley Rohrbach scored once and assisted on three other goals, and Kelly Murkey scored three times for the Owls, who had assists on all but four of their goals.
Jocelyn Jamison scored twice with an assist, Amber Nichols had two goals, and Beth Jancuska (one goal, two assist) and Julie Wolfinger (one goal) also contributed as the Owls pulled away after having faced early deficits of 1-0, and, 2-1, and after having been tied at 1-1, and, 2-2.
After leading, 7-3, at intermission, the Owls scored six of the first seven goals of the second half for seperate leads of, 11-3, and, 13-4, with 13:43, and, 4:37, respectively, remaining in the game.
Down, 1-0, and, 2-1, at the game's respective marks of 19:19, and, 18:39, the Owls responded, effectively, to each situation.
In succession, Murkey buried a pass from Jancuska at 18:57, and then fired in a goal off of another feed from Semones at 10:49, with the latter sparking a run of five, unanswered goals for a lead of 6-2 with 2:42 left in the first half.
Rohrbach, Murkey and Nichols all scored during that run, with assists from Wolfinger, and Rohrbach.
The Panthers were within, 6-3, before Semones made it 7-3 with a goal off of a pass from Jancuska with 35 seconds left in the first half.
The Owls' largest lead -- 13-4 -- resulted from excellent communication between Rohrbach and Nichols.
Rohrbach fed Nichols from behind the goal -- a maneuver she completed after having cut down the middle of the field and in front of the crease.