It's a milestone when you score your first varsity goal.

Marriotts Ridge sophomore Maxine Brewer will probably remember hers for a long time. Not only was it a personal memento, but it also was the first goal of the game and helped lead the Mustangs to a season-opening, 2-0, win over Glenelg Sept. 5.

Brewer's goal came with 13 minutes left in the first half. Katherine Kanner settled a loose ball about 40 yards out and sent the ball to Brewer in a crowd of defenders at the top of the 18-yard box. Brewer broke through the defense, neatly sidestepped charging keeper Brooke Carey, kept herself between the ball and the Glenelg defender on her right shoulder, and walked the ball into the open net.

"It was amazing," Brewer said about both her goal and the win over Glenelg. "It's a perfect start."

This is Marriotts Ridge's third season fielding a varsity team. Because of the way the county schedule is designed, the Mustangs have played Glenelg just once before, in their first varsity season, and Glenelg won that matchup. Glenelg is the defending Class 1A state champ.

The Mustangs' second goal came just three minutes before halftime, when Alexandra Price's free kick 15 yards inside the midfield line took a big bounce and floated over Carey's head and into the net.

"Both of those goals were (due to) simple mistakes" that are typical of very young teams, said Glenelg coach Dean Sheridan, who lost eight starters to graduation.

Glenelg had many opportunities in the second half. Alex Collier and Rachel McCarriher had strong shots and Dymond Paige's shot ricocheted off the crossbar late in the game, but Marriotts Ridge keeper Samantha Olson handled everything that came her way. She had a lot of help from sweeper Marissa Goon.

"Marissa and Samantha are my anchors in the back," Mustang coach Robin Grey said.

Glenelg defender Ellie Axenfeld said she was disappointed but not overly concerned about the loss. "We are a young team, and we'll be fine. We want to peak about mid October," in time for the playoffs.

Like Olson, Carey, a freshman in her first varsity game, had an impressive outing.

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