As the fall season winds down toward county championships that begin next week, close races aren’t uncommon. But perhaps the closest has been in Baltimore County field hockey’s Heron Division, the stronger of the county’s two divisions.

Of 10 games involving two of the top five teams in the division -- including two games that don’t officially count toward the division standings -- none has been decided by more than a single goal.

Hereford, Towson, Catonsville, Dulaney and Loch Raven have played one nailbiter after another this fall. Of their 10 games, four went to penalty-stroke shootouts, one was decided in overtime and the other five were one-goal games.

Unfortunately, only two can advance to the county championship game.

No. 9 Hereford is certainly in after sweeping all four of the others and going unbeaten in the division with just one game left. The second spot is still up for grabs.

Defending county champ and No. 10 Towson is in good position, currently standing second with its only division loss to Hereford. However, two division games remain for the Generals -- one of them with Catonsville on Friday.

With two division losses each, Catonsville and Dulaney are still in the running. In addition to Towson, the Comets also have Loch Raven to play on Saturday. The Raiders, with three division losses are out of the race by the closest of margins -- all of their losses came in shootouts.

-- Katherine Dunn