EAGLES BLANK FRIARS, 2-0

Chris Agorsor had a goal and assisted the other by teammate Andrew Bulls, as McDonogh goalie Tom Caso regitered his 16th shutout over defending MIAA A Conference champion Archbishop Curley.

By Joe DiBlasi

McDonogh received scores from Chris Agorsor and Andrew Bulls, a pair of All-Metro playres, and goalie Tom Caso registered his 16th shutout of the year as the Eagles vanquished defending MIAA A champ Archbishop Curley, 2-0, in a rematch of last year’s title game on Thursday.

The victory improved the Eagles to a league-leading 10-1-3 in the conference, and 16-1-3 overall, dropping the Friars to 11-3, and 18-3.

McDonogh, which earned a first-round by in the upcoming playoffs, has allowed only five goals this season although it suffered its lone loss against league rival Calvert Hall — a 3-1 loser to Loyola on Thursday.

Agorsor, who had at least three near-misses against Friars goalie John Connolly (10 saves), drove home the first goal of the day on a feed from sweeper Jake Levin 11 minutes into the first half

“I came in on the corner, and the ball came my way. I was able to deflect it to Chris, and he did the rest,” said Levin. “We were ready for this game. Curley beat us here last year, and we were up for this one.”

Caso, who is headed to Bucknell next fall, said the early goal allowed the Eagles to relax — but only a little.

“We came out and worked hard, and we got the early goal,” Caso said. “That was a big thing for us, because it allowed us to play our game.”

But the Friars almost tied the game when a shot hit the post in the first half.

“They had a breakaway, coming out of the corner of the box, and Chris Weaver chipped it toward the goal, and it hit the post,” Caso said. “They caught us on a counter, and that’s one of the things we try to work on. I came off my line and he got to the ball first, and flipped it over my head, but it did hit the post.”

Agorsor then fed Bulls 18 minutes into the second half to give the Eagles a two-goal cushion.

“Chris and Andrew seem to provide the offense, and we try to hold up the defense. We came in thinking we might have a disadvantage in the midfield,” said Levin, whose Eagles controlled that portion of the field for the most part.

“They play five guys there and we play four, but our center midfielders really stepped up today,” Levin said. “That carried the team.”

The win culminated a busy week by the Eagles, who also blanked then-third place Mount St. Joseph, 4-0, a few days earlier.

“We were very solid defensively, and if we can keep the other team from scoring, eventually Bulls and Chris will make something happen on the other end,” said McDonogh coach Steve Nichols. “Curley is a great team. They’re well coached, and we’ll probably see them again in the playoffs.”