WILMINGTON, N.C. — Utah Blitzz coach Chris Agnello admitted that he knew the Wilmington Hammerheads were a highly aggressive team coming into Sunday's D3 Semifinals.
Perhaps what he did not expect was that the play of an 18-year-old Wilmington sub would crush his team's chances at a return trip to the national finals.
Hammerhead forward Glenn Murray, playing for the suspended Anthony Maher, scored twice in the first half, as Wilmington advanced to the USL D3 soccer finals with a 3-1 win over the Blitzz on Sunday.
After he narrowly missed a cross just after play began, Murray headed in a similar pass from Tyler Hughes in the ninth minute for the game's opening salvo.
"We were expecting a tough game, and they ran at us hard," Blitzz defender Will Cummins said. "They were strong up front today and were aggressive on the attack."
Moments later, in the 11th minute, Utah defender Richie Breza went unassisted in front of the Wilmington box to punch in the equalizer.
Wilmington reclaimed the lead in the 29th minute when midfielder John Payne knocked home a strike in the upper left corner of the net. Just seconds earlier, Payne had fired from point-blank range but was rejected by goalie Mike Littman.
"They took advantage of their chances early," Breza said. "We wanted to clean up some of our sloppy play in the second half, but it didn't happen. Today was tough and it was really hot. It just wasn't our day."
Murray added the final goal for the Hammerheads just before the half when he fired a shot inside the right post out of the reach of Littman.
"Obviously any goal you score feels great, but it feels even better in a semifinal match," said Murray, who narrowly missed a third goal in the second half. "Our home turf is a great place to play for us. I wouldn't want to face us if I were the opposing team."
Murray was subbing for team-leading scorer Anthony Maher, who was ejected by red card in Wilmington's 2-1 win over the Carolina Dynamo in the quarterfinals.
Wilmington tightened up on defense in the second half and allowed few Utah chances.
The Blitzz's best scoring opportunity in the second half came at the 74th minute when Jorge Estrade drove down the right side and fired a shot right at the goal that was headed away by a Wilmington defender.
Agnello had factors that could have hindered his team's play: the oppressive late afternoon humidity, the cross-country travel when maybe he should have been at home — based on overall record, an injury to his starting goalie the day before the game.
But the Utah coach chose the most composed explanation for the loss — his team's performance.