LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. – Maryville's late-season run of success was finally halted Saturday when top-seeded Covenant scored late to clip the visiting Scots 2-1.
Covenant's winning goal came in the 75th minute on a goal by Whitt Tisdale. It was Tisdale's eighth of the season and snapped a 1-1 tie forged by Maryville early in the second period.
Craig McIlwraith did the honors for Maryville, striking less than two minutes into the second half. The Maryville Scots earned a free kick just outside the penalty area, and McIlwraith drilled the placement for his fifth goal of the season and third goal in the last four matches.
The Georgia senior ended his Maryville career with 15 goals and 20 assists for an even 50 points. This year's five goals match his career high set back in his rookie campaign of 2021. His 16 points on five goals and six assists are a career high.
Covenant opened the scoring with a goal by Luke Laughlin in the second minute of play. It was Laughlin's fifth goal of the season and was assisted by Kade Theunissen.
McIlwraith fired two of Maryville's six shots in the match, which ended with Covenant holding a 21-6 edge in that department. Corner kicks favored the home side 17-1.
Maryville's 2024 campaign ends at 7-9-3 after the Scots advanced to the conference tournament semifinals for the 10th time in the last 11 seasons. The team's 4-1-1 stretch drive put Maryville in position to challenge for a place in the conference final.
Covenant improves to 12-3-3 and moves on to host that league championship match next Saturday. The opponent is second-seeded Belhaven, which defeated Asbury 4-1 Saturday in Mississippi.
