Martinelli Helps Vikings Escape With Win

Mount Hebron senior Justin Martinelli was still panting as he walked away from the trophy-hoisting and team picture. He had just scored the winning goal in double overtime to beat host Centennial, 9-8, in the Howard County boys' lacrosse title game last night, and he could barely manage a smile.

"I hate dog piles," Martinelli said. "I couldn't breathe down there. Absolutely hate them."

Martinelli sprinted away from his teammates after his goal with 1 minute 44 seconds to play in the second extra session. It was the Vikings' sixth shot of that possession.

"It had to go in sometime," Martinelli said.

The defending 3A/2A state champion Vikings avenged an 8-7 overtime loss to Centennial on April 13 and will enter the region playoffs having proved they are still the favorites to repeat in a balanced field.

Martinelli had good reason to be tired. It was his third game back from a deep bruise in his left quadriceps that caused him to miss a month and a half of the season. The midfielder didn't leave the field yesterday, however, opting to switch to attack to catch his breath during the game.

But when the Vikings (10-5, 12-1) were in dire need of a goal, they knew where to turn. Martinelli, who will play lacrosse at the University of Delaware next season, also scored in overtime against North Harford to send Mount Hebron to the state final last year.

"He has it," first-year Mount Hebron coach Mike McCarthy said. "He's really only about 50 percent out there. But good things happen when he has the ball."

Mount Hebron took a 3-0 lead during which junior Marc Saxton scored 23 seconds into the game, and senior Bobby Cooke added another goal 31 seconds later. But Centennial (12-3, 11-2) closed the first half on a 6-2 run that started and ended on acrobatic goals from sophomore Shane Jaeger.

"It was reminiscent of the last game, and to be honest I was a little scared," Saxton said.

Down two goals in the fourth quarter, Saxton scored with 2:02 left in regulation, and sophomore Harrison Chaires netted the tying goal with 1:36 left. Once Martinelli scored his second goal of the game, equipment flew into the air, and the chase was on.

"I'm still catching my breath," Martinelli said.

Mount Hebron 9, Centennial 8 Not So Fast: Centennial thought it had scored the winning goal with 6.5 seconds left in the first overtime when senior Michael Englehart stuffed a long pass into the net, but he was called for a crease violation as the Eagles stormed onto the field. Stingy: Eagles goalie Eric Jordans kept Centennial in the game with 19 saves, including two point blank in overtime. Mount Hebron goalie Billy McNamara finished with 20 saves, and neither team scored for more than 12 minutes during the second half.