Knights Beat NoVa 30-10, Move on to Region XX Final

CCBC Essex will move on to Saturday's Region XX tournament final after a resounding 30-10 semifinal victory yesterday against Northern Virginia.

In the end, the game was a blow out, but it did not begin that way.

After Essex took an early 3-0 lead, NoVa came storming back and with 2:53 remaining in the first quarter, Northern Virginia's Zach Hart scored to tie the game at four.

Apparently that was all the motivation the Knights (12-2) needed as it closed out the first quarter with three unanswered goals from freshman defenseman Sid Ewell (Carlisle), and sophomore attackmen Julian Jackson (Wilson) and Cameron Stone (Foothills) to take a 7-4 lead after one.

The Knights defense clamped down the rest of the way and they outscored Northern Virginia (4-9) 23-7 over the final three quarters.

Freshman middie Cole Rainier (The Calverton School) led the Knights in scoring with three goals and six assists. He now has 69 points this season on 32 goals and 37 assists.

Stone had a team-high five goals and added two assists. Jackson scored four and had one helper.

Freshman attacker Brendan Nolan (Fallston) tallied four goals and now has 25 in 14 games this season.

Freshmen attackers Will Manganiello (Penncrest) and DeAngelo Watkins (Decatur) and sophomore attacker Dylan Bruce (Sehome-Belllingham) each had two goals.

The Knights now prepare to meet Anne Arundel in tomorrow's Region XX final. Essex defeated the Pioneers 11-4 on April 15.

Game time is 1:00 p.m. at Harford Community College.