One of the closest races in all of fall sports gets underway tonight when South River’s field hockey team travels to Broadneck for a 7 p.m. match on the turf. If this is anything like last season among the top Anne Arundel County teams, it will be a tight-as-a-drum race to the finish for those two and Severna Park.

A year ago, South River went undefeated through the regular season and Broadneck lost only to South River. That put the two in the Anne Arundel County title game where Broadneck avenged its loss to the Seahawks with a 2-1 victory that gave the Bruins their first county crown.

This race isn’t just big as far as the county goes. All three teams are in the same region and only one can advance to the Class 4A state semifinals. Last season, Severna Park got the last laugh and the biggest prize.

The Falcons, which had lost to Broadneck and South River during the regular season, ousted both from the regional playoffs -- Broadneck, 4-1, and South River, in a shootout -- and then went on to win their 18th state championship.

This year's county title contenders might not be decided until the final day of the regular season, Oct. 17, when Severna Park plays at South River. The Falcons play host to Broadneck on Sept. 29. Then, they will start all over again later in October for a berth in the state final four.

- Katherine Dunn