OAKLAND — After more than 77 uneventful minutes in a steady rain, the ending of Southern and Allegany produced enough twists for an M. Night Shyamalan movie.
The Rams, dominating possession after Charlie Buchanan’s goal in the 12th minute but clinging to a 1-0 lead, did the seemingly impossible, conceding an equalizer with the Campers failing to muster a shot during the entire second half.
A Chris Manherz cross clipped a Southern backer, and the tying tally flicked into the net for an own goal.
But just one minute and nine seconds later, an Allegany defender, with nary a Southern player near him, committed a hand ball in the box to afford the Rams a get out of jail free card in the form of a penalty kick.
Tommy Scott buried the shot to the left of a diving Eoin Mowbray, and No. 2 Southern overcame some late-game mayhem to outlast No. 3 Allegany, 2-1, on Tuesday night and sweep the season series.
“Once you get the taste of winning, you find ways to win games,” Southern head coach Jon Price said. “Credit to Blake (Geatz). They’re much more organized. They’re getting better. You can see it.”
Southern (7-1 overall, 4-1 Western Maryland Athletic Conference) beat Allegany (4-4-1 overall, 2-3 WestMAC) by the same margin in the teams’ first meeting on Sept. 12 in Cumberland, but the Rams took a far different path this time around.
Following a competitive start, in which Allegany had the better of the possession, the final three-quarters of the match were all Southern.
Ben Lohr found a streaking Buchanan on a through ball. Mowbray came off his line for a sliding save, one of his four for the match, but Buchanan put back his own miss for a 1-0 Southern lead with 28:50 left in the first half.
The score seemed to demoralize Allegany, and the Campers didn’t attempt a shot on goal the rest of the game.
Allegany didn’t attempt a shot, on goal or otherwise, during the second half.
“Arguably our worst second half we’ve played all year,” Geatz said. “Just very uncharacteristic stuff that we’re doing. Kicking the ball long, not defending connected, not attacking connected. Just bad, really all around.
“The one time we did the philosophy and we get it wide and we cross a ball in, it leads to an own goal. And that happens when you put balls in the box.”
Geatz highlighted the performance of Kohen Madden at right center back as well as Mowbray, who helped keep Allegany in the game despite a 16-2 deficit in shots.
Southern had point blank chances with 14:30 to play on a Scott shot and with seven minutes left on a Max Fahrenschon attempt — Mowbray saved both.
Lohr had a breakaway opportunity in the 67th minute and missed wide left.
Those nearly came back to bite the Rams after their defense allowed the tying goal, but Allegany returned the favor.
Scott calmly buried the game-winner.
“Credit to Tommy for stepping up and hitting the PK,” Price said. “Those guys rally around him and wanted him to take it.”
Kade Savage, Buchanan and Grant Sweitzer also had standout performances for the Rams.
Price paid special attention to Sweitzer, whose contributions don’t always show up in the box score.
“That kid is all over the field,” he said. “For a kid that hasn’t scored a goal in the area, there is nobody that has had more impact in the game in years. The goal is coming.”
Southern keeper Jared Haskiell was tested just once, a low shot by Manherz from outside the box during the early stages, and made the save.
Southern returns to the pitch at home against Preston on Saturday at 1 p.m.
The Campers (2-0 City League) won’t have much time to lick their wounds, as they take on No. 5 Fort Hill (4-4-1, 1-1 city) on Thursday at 7 p.m. with the city championship on the line.
Allegany can clinch the title with a win. A loss opens the door for a shared crown.
“We’ve got to beat Fort Hill,” Geatz said. “At the end of the day, we’re playing for home field advantage. We have to go out and beat the teams that are ranked below us right now like Fort Hill, Northern. We have to beat the people that we should.”