Fans of wide-open, offensive-oriented girls soccer were treated to just such a match Tuesday evening when Baltimore County powers Perry Hall and Hereford squared off in an early-season showdown.

Although both teams created an assortment of scoring chances, the No. 11 Gators took advantage in the second half by scoring twice to claim a 3-2 victory in the Baltimore County Division I league opener for both teams.

Meanwhile, Perry Hall’s defense buckled down enough to shut out the 14th-ranked Bulls over the final 43:08.

Senior forward Kamryn Williams was all over the offensive third of the field for Perry Hall. Her quick feints, deft touches and overall mastery of breaking down the defense were on full display — especially in the second half.

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With her defending Baltimore County champs trailing, 2-1, early in the final period, Williams settled a ball near the penalty area and then lofted it to within 10 yards of the goal where one of her shorter teammates, senior forward Maya Ajaime-Friedenberg, still managed to head the ball past Hereford junior keeper Annabelle Grenzer for the equalizer.

Three minutes later, Williams was at it again. This time she faked to her right, quickly pivoted and struck a left-footed rocket that whistled just under the crossbar near the far post for a 3-2 lead with 35 minutes remaining in regulation.

Perry Hall senior Kamryn Williams scored twice and added an assist in the 14th-ranked Gators’ 3-2 triumph over No. 11 Hereford on Tuesday afternoon in a Baltimore County girls soccer showdown.

Williams had opened the scoring in the 10th minute, converting a pass from senior forward Madeline Lehbar to give the Gators a 1-0 cushion.

Hereford senior midfielder Ainsley Yates retaliated, knotting the score with 17:53 to go in the first period with an assist from senior midfielder Lauren Orner.

With just over three minutes left in the half, Yates struck again with help from freshman forward Shanti Atkins to put the Bulls on top, 2-1.

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At halftime, Hereford coach Brad Duvall emphasized to his team that it couldn’t let Williams run wild in the second half.

After all, she had already scored once and Duvall surely remembered when Williams scored both of Perry Hall’s goals in last year’s 2-1 conquest of Hereford.

The coach told his defenders to deny Williams access to passes and “make sure you don’t leave here alone in the middle of the field — and that’s exactly what we did.”

Hereford posed a real threat to score more than twice in the first half with Yates, the Atkins sisters, senior Shari and rookie Shanti, and Orner presenting danger to Perry Hall junior keeper Serenity Jankowiak, who also corralled a ball while barely avoiding a collision with sophomore forward Aaliyah Stocks bearing down on her at full speed.

Grenzer made a similar play to blunt a long run by Perry Hall sophomore Emily Rennie, who contributed a bid for a goal on a shot that drifted wide midway through the second half.

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Meanwhile, Williams took a couple of severe-angle shots in the 77th minute, one of which Jankowiak snuffed and the other lofted over the goal.

Perry Hall coach Matt Smoot said that his team’s reaction to Hereford’s pressure defense helped the Gators’ offense to come alive.

Hereford coach Brad Duvall high-fives Perry Hall senior Xondie Neal during pregame introductions Tuesday. Neal was a key cog in the 14th-ranked Gators’ defense that shut out the No. 11 Bulls in the second half. Perry Hall prevailed, 3-2. (Nelson Coffin)

”They create a lot of chaos,” Smoot said about the Bulls’ defense. “So you have to be courageous in possession by making simple passes and switching the ball.”

He also credited senior back Xondie Neal and junior running mate Allie Cordell for holding down the fort in front of Jankowiak in the second half.

”They did a great job,” Smoot said.Naturally, Williams was happy after beating the Bulls for the second time in a row.”

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Last year was the first time we beat them in 10 years,” she said. “So today was really important.”

NO. 11 PERRY HALL 3, NO. 14 HEREFORD 2

H 2 0 — 2

PH 1 2 — 3

Goals: H-Ainsley Yates 2; PH-Kamryn Williams 2, Maya Ajaime-Friedenberg.

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Assists: H-Lauren Orner, Shanti Atkins; PH-Madeline Lehbar, Kamryn Williams.

Saves: H-Annabelle Grenzer 7; Serenity Jankowiak 7.

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