Walker's winner propels Eagles | Maryland Gazette (HometownGlenBurnie.com)

For the second time this season, Northeast senior midfielder Russell Walker saw an opening.

And for the second time, he cashed in.

Walker scored the game-winning goal from approximately 12 yards out, straightaway, leading the Eagles to a 13-12 overtime victory over Old Mill in a thrilling affair on Senior Night in Pasadena on Thursday.

Walker had scored a similar game-winner in overtime against Annapolis earlier this season.

"I was just playing my heart out," Walker said. "We had their guy drawn out, so I just saw a lane, and I took it."

The win, coupled with Annapolis' loss to Southern last night, clinches at least the fourth seed and a home playoff game in the upcoming 2A-3A East Region playoffs for the Eagles (9-5 overall, 9-2 in the county).

"I know our kids, and I know they are better in transition," said Northeast coach Walt Blahut. "There's a lot of times when, as a coach, you want to call a timeout, but sometimes it's better to just let them go. We switched formations to a dodge-and-carry and it just opened up for (Walker). He realized, went to the goal and scored."

The Eagles seemingly had the game wrapped up in regulation, carrying a 12-10 lead with 55 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter after senior midfielder Ron Hartman scored an unassisted goal that closed a two-minute-long possession.

Old Mill (6-8, 5-6) won the ensuing faceoff, and, during a scuffle for a loose ball in front of Northeast goalie Pat Berry, the Patriots' Drew Cyrus flung the ball under the crossbar with 22 seconds to go.

The Patriots won the next faceoff, and attackman Scott Connolly ran down the left wing before finding an unmarked Cyrus at the right post. He put his shot by Berry, scoring a shocking goal with eight seconds left that sent the game to overtime.

"I couldn't believe it," said Northeast senior attackman Corbin Voelker. "I thought we had that game in the bag. But we never gave up, and we just kept going."

Voelker scored a game-high four

Less than a minute later, Northeast senior attackman Mark Donahey rided and intercepted a backwards pass intended for Old Mill keeper Taylor Bresnahan. Donahey found a cutting Walker, who ran down the middle and scored at the 3:17 mark, giving the Eagles a one-goal edge.

"Our seniors have stepped up all year," Blahut said. "They have all taken turns scoring critical goals. In crunch time they persevere and come through."

At the onset of the contest, both teams took turns dominating play.

The Patriots scored the game's first two goals less than five minutes into the first quarter, but they then went on a scoring drought over the next 15:43, in which time the Eagles tallied five scores.

During the final 4:55 of the second quarter, Old Mill's Jay Clark, Justin Ward, and Connolly each scored unassisted goals to tie the game at the half.

Old Mill opened a two-goal, 8-6 edge with 8:15 left in the third quarter, when Davius Dupree scored on a long straightaway shot.

The Patriots' lead fluctuated between one and two until Northeast junior attackman Donovan Lange scored on a goal assisted by Hartman with 7:39 to go in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 9-9.

Cyrus put Old Mill ahead by a goal after taking a pass from behind the net by Ward and stuffing it home, only to have Voelker tie the game with his fourth tally.

Connolly and Cyrus each netted hat tricks for the Patriots, and Ward added two goals and two assists.

Lange scored three times for the Eagles, and Hartman scored twice and assisted on two other goals.

Bresnahan and Berry each stopped 15 shots in net.

Northeast finishes in a three-way tie for second in the county standings with Broadneck and South River. Each will each have two county losses, but, by virtue of tiebreakers, both head-to-head and total wins, the Eagles cannot earn a spot in the county championship, Blahut said.

Old Mill (6-8) 2 3 4 3 0 - 12

Northeast (9-5) 3 2 2 5 1 - 13

GOALS: OM - Connolly 3, Cyrus 3, Ward 2, Clark 2, Dupree, T. Sillaman; NE - Voelker 4, Lange 3, Walker 2, Hartman 2, Donahey 2. ASSISTS: OM - Ward 2, Connolly; NE - Hartman 2, Lange, Tibbs, Donahey. SAVES: OM - Bresnahan 15; NE - Berry 15. SHOTS: OM - 37; NE - 37. GROUND BALLS: OM - 44; NE - 39. FACEOFFS: OM - 18; NE - 9.