Cougars Tie Tuscarora Titans 1-1, Down B-CC Barons, at Churchill Play Day

Pre-season scrimmages continued as Churchill hosted its annual play-day today pitting QO against two of the top programs in the area; two-time Maryland State Champs Tuscarora (2004, 2005) and Bethesda-Chevy Chase (2001, 2004).

QO and Tuscarora were well matched, both having excellent ball control and passing. The Tuscarora Titan defense was exactly that; one of prodigious size and strength, easily a head taller than each of the QO forwards. QO’s first solid opportunity came with a curving shot from Margelos that beat the keeper and struck squarely on the right pole, shaking the goal. After play that was predominantly in the center third, Clarke and Prentice had back to back attacks resulting in saved shots. QO’s defense stifled the majority of the attack with the Titans first real opportunity of a corner being turned away by a defensive header from Row. Finally 36 min in, breaking through the defense with a through ball from Latour, D'Italia passed to the back of the net putting QO up 1-0.

The first 10 minutes of the second half was played in the central third with a single threatening through ball to the #15 of the Titans, shut down by Amato. One minute later, after a QO attack that stretched the field, the Titans countered, slipped through on the left, and tied it up. An immediate response came from Dorset on restart that was deflect by the keeper across an open net. Then at least a dozen more good opportunities including a great feed from Dwyer and cross from Kurkjian, who by the way had a superb match, and Margelos's pass across the net just missing. Except for a strong attack at right that was turned away by Starnes, the Titans were on their heals. Then Tuscarora finished hard in the last 5 minutes with consecutive corners and a spectacular save by Paolini.