Bowie High Soccer Team Crowned State Champions

by Ben Garmoe

BALTIMORE -- Bowie High School pulled out a miraculous comeback late last night, stunning Walter Johnson High School to complete an improbable run and earn the title of Maryland 4A State Champions.

Bowie Back Bonaventure Akinlosotu found the back of the net with 17 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the game at one and send the Bulldog faithful into pandemonium.

Just minutes later, in overtime, Mid/Forward Moises Lazo broke through the Walter Johnson defense and delivered the final shot of the game, sneaking a point-blank strike to the left of the Walter Johnson goalie, claiming the championship for Bowie and silencing the already shocked Wildcat fans.

Bowie High goalie Brady Mazzei was electric throughout the match, making several acrobatic saves and keeping Bowie within a goal despite constant pressure from Walter Johnson.

Chants of “we love Brady” were audible from the Bowie faithful throughout the evening, and for good reason; besides an early goal from Walter Johnson at 1:15 elapsed in the first half, Mazzei shut out the Wildcats.

Walter Johnson nearly grabbed a commanding 2-0 lead early in the first half, when a strike from near the edge of the box hit the top crossbar and ricocheted away. Bowie was on the defensive for most of the first half, but had multiple scoring chances in the closing minutes.

The pace of the second half was noticeably more aggressive, with both sides seeing multiple scoring chances go unrewarded. Finally, and with the Bulldog fans on edge as the clock crawled towards zero, Akinlosotu delivered his remarkable goal.

The match featured two soccer powerhouses, both with state championships within the past five years, and did not lack for drama or fanfare. Despite temperatures dropping below freezing, both school populations came out in full force to support their squads.