Rivals in the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference knew that stopping Maryvale senior midfielder Miranda Ibello was the key to beating the Lions. That's because of the Cockeysville resident's ability to dominate games with her speed and stickwork.
"It was constantly about denying her the ball," Maryvale coach Jessica Randisi said. "There was a player on her nonstop and not even paying attention to the play. And teams would double her as soon as she got into the 8-meter (area)."
Even so, trying to stop Ibello, a member of the 2015 U.S. under-19 women's lacrosse team that will play for the Federation of International Lacrosse Under-19 World Championship in Scotland in late July, is no easy task.
The 2015 Towson Times girls lacrosse Player of the Year and Johns Hopkins University recruit scored 67 goals in 16 games.
The 5-foot-6 Ibello scored six goals in four games and five in two others.
"She has a tremendous amount of speed and competitiveness about her that when she goes for a ground ball or draw control, she is winning it," St. Paul's coach Ali Jacobs said. "Couple that with her great stick skills and field vision. You try to shut her down, it's nearly impossible to do. She is that good."
Moreover, the four-year starter developed into a better passer this spring than in the past two seasons.
After dishing out 24 assists as a junior and 21 as a sophomore, she boosted her 2015 total to a eye-catching 42 feeds.
"I definitely liked getting more assists this year," said Ibello, who also won 113 draws this spring compared to 71 in 2014.. "For the U.S. team, I play low attack, so I have to do a lot of passing and scoring. So I just got better at everything. Not just individual parts. My whole game."
Randisi agrees, but the fourth-year coach was particularly impressed with how unselfish Ibello became and how she constantly looked for her teammates.
"She was more of a presence this year and definitely stepped up," Randisi said. "She could really feed the ball to someone else. She knew there were other things she could do for the team and that was making assists and creating space. And she did that."
It was never more evident than in the opening round of the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference tournament in early May when Maryvale upset Bryn Mawr, 14-13, behind the two-goal, season-high six-assist performance of Ibello.
"I would get the ball, go behind the crease, pass it and we would score," Ibello said. "It kept happening like that. That was definitely one of my strongest games and I think the team as a whole played better than we had all season."
Randisi and Ibello's teammates also appreciated the co-captain for her leadership skills.
"The players listened to everything she said," Randisi explained. "The players really respected her because of all the work she put in. She works harder than anyone I have coached. She was in the best shape I have ever seen her in this year."
Ibello, who sometimes worked out twice a day, believed she had to be more vocal as a first-time lacrosse captain.
She also served as captain this past fall for the Lions' field hockey squad in her fourth year as a starter and earned all-conference honors..
"I just felt like I had to take charge on the attack this year and help out the younger girls," said Ibello, who carried a 3.6 grade point average at Maryvale. "I definitely felt I was more vocal to get my team up or settle them down."
Jacobs like the way Ibello, a four-time All-American who was named MVP of the championship Baltimore squad in the Under Armour Underclassmen tournament last summer, handled adversity.
Maryvale went 5-11 overall and 2-9 in league play. The Lions lost to St. Paul's, 16-6, on March 28.
"It can be easy for a player of that caliber to easily get frustrated," Jacobs said. "I never really got that from her. I think she will be an amazing asset for Johns Hopkins and be an immediate impact player. The hype about her is real and warranted. She really is a special player."