PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Mark Cornes, Gilman, Sr., midfield -- When talking about Cornes, Gilman coach John Tucker says, "How he went, so went our team." Well, his team went to the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association championship game and Cornes scored a game-high four goals. And Gilman walked away with a 10-7 victory over defending champion St. Mary's. "He does all the little things that coaches love," said Tucker. "He was our hardest worker and made tremendous strides." Cornes went from being an excellent defensive middie, to becoming a speedy cutter with a hard and accurate shot." He had four goals and two assists in a win over Calvert Hall and three goals and one assist in a victory over Boys' Latin that ensured the Greyhounds of a first-round bye in the playoffs. More recently, Cornes had three goals and one assist in leading the MIAA all-stars to a 14-10 victory over the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association's team, in the 13th annual Lacrosse for Leukemia Tournament, and he won the "Fastest Shot Contest" at halftime of the first Maryland State Lacrosse Coaches Association High School Senior All-Star game last weekend with a shot that traveled 94 mph. He also had two goals and one assist in that exhibition. A three-year starter on the lacrosse team since transferring from St. Paul's after his freshman year, Cornes also started at quarterback for the Greyhounds' football team for three years. Cornes, who finished the year with 34 goals and 16 assists, will attend the University of Delaware on a lacrosse scholarship.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Dan Hart, Annapolis -- After nearly being fired as Annapolis' coach because of disagreements with parents and officials, Hart bounced back and led the Panthers to the Class 3A-4A state championship. "It's not how far you fall," says Hart. "It's how high you bounce afterward." In 18 games, Annapolis lost only to St. Mary's and Severn, giving the Panthers a 16-0 record against public school competition. Hart's "framework of coaching" is discipline, a solid work ethic ("Dan," his father once told him, "don't let anyone outwork you") and developing players who enjoy practice and are winners. "I'm stern," Hart said. "I'm hard to please." The state title crowns 24 years of coaching for Hart, who was 55-45 in eight years at Meade and is 62-26 in six years at Annapolis. In those 14 years, Hart has taken 10 teams to the playoffs. The last time Annapolis won a state title was 1987, when Hart was serving his final year as an assistant to the late Al Laramore. Hart gave credit to his assistants -- Rob Glassman, Bob Bohanan and Wayne Daniels -- and his players for rekindling his love for the sport. "I was enthusiastic for practice every single day and that was because of the kind of kids I had," said Hart, whose team averaged more than 14 goals per game while yielding less than four. "I relished going to practice and there aren't many coaches out there who can say that with a straight face. I would be stupid to think I could do this all by myself. I'm just fortunate to be in the position I was in."

FIRST TEAM AT A GLANCE

* Mike Allan, Gilman, Sr., attack -- A tremendous feeder, Allan scored 29 goals and had 39 assists this year for the Greyhounds. Coach John Tucker said Allan leads by example and will be an excellent college player. A three-year starter who also played football, Allan will attend Princeton.

* Taylor Boone, Annapolis, Sr., attack -- Selected as Anne Arundel County Player of the Year, Boone finished with 55 goals and 45 assists in leading Annapolis to the Class 3A-4A state championship. "He's the most savvy attackman I've had in 26 years of coaching," said coach Dan Hart. "He's a player." Boone plans to attend Anne Arundel Community College before transferring to Radford (Va.) University, where he'll join teammate Scott Regina, who is headed there on a partial scholarship.

* Jim Brown, St. Mary's, Sr., goalie -- Brown, who had a 67-save percentage, was the backbone of No. 2 St. Mary's, which lost to Gilman in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference championship game. Thanks in part to Brown, the Saints won four one-goal games. Coach Jim Moorhead called him the "quickest goalie and one of the best I've had in my 16

years here." Brown is headed for Loyola College.

* Matt Clune, St. Mary's, Sr., attack -- A three-year starter, Clune led the Saints in points with 46 on 24 goals and 22 assists. He was the catalyst of the offense and attracted the other team's top defenseman. "He's a tough kid," said Coach Jim Moorhead. Clune is bound for Towson State.

* Tom Coleman, Gilman, Sr., defense -- Coach John Tucker called Coleman the Greyhounds' most improved player. The 6-foot, 185-pound senior always was assigned the opponents' toughest attackman and always met the challenge -- leading a defensive unit that allowed fewer than five goals per game. A strong player and an excellent position defender, Coleman will play for Franklin & Marshall.

* Scott Diggs, Loyola, Jr., midfield -- This three-year starter and team captain was the primary faceoff man for the Dons and also added 18 goals and five assists. At 6-1 and 195 pounds, Diggs didn't shy away from contact, and his speed and strength were two of the main reasons the Dons went 12-2 and earned a berth in the MIAA semifinals.

* Spencer Ford, Towson, Sr., midfield -- This highly skilled three-year starter scored 54 goals and 39 assists this season, helping the sixth-ranked Generals claim their third straight Class 1A-2A state championship while extending their winning streak to 44 games. "He's been the backbone of our club offensively and ground-ball wise for the last three years," said Towson coach Randy Dase. Ford plans to attend Towson State.

* Scott Hochstadt, Boys' Latin, Jr., attack -- A varsity player since his freshman year, Hochstadt (6-1, 175) had 26 goals and 17 assists this season. His versatility enabled Lakers coach Bob Shriver to move him freely from attack to midfield. Shriver said Hochstadt, who also plays on the football and basketball teams, "works and plays as hard as any player Boys' Latin has ever had."

* Joe Keenan, St. Mary's, Sr., defense -- A 6-foot, 195-pound defenseman, Keenan "knows how to hit and does, to the point of being intimidating," said Coach Jim Moorhead. A Saints tri-captain, Keenan usually was assigned to the opponent's best attackman. He will attend North Carolina.

* Todd Vizcarrondo, St. Mary's, Sr., midfield -- A tri-captain, Vizcarrondo led the Saints with 30 goals and nine assists. He excelled in one-on-one situations and was adept at creating scoring opportunities for teammates. "He has the ability to get up and down the field quickly," said Moorhead. Vizcarrondo will play for Loyola College.

* David Winegrad, Annapolis, Sr., defense -- He was nicknamed "Hoover" by teammates because of his ability to scoop up ground balls -- a team-high 136. He has the ability to strip the ball from even the best offensive players. Carrying a 4.0 grade-point average as well as his lacrosse stick, Winegrad is headed for Virginia.

* Brian Zeller, Loyola, Jr., midfield -- A pure shooter, Zeller finished the year with 18 goals and five assists. He scored four goals in a win over St. Paul's and scored at least one goal in every game. "He was our most consistent scorer," said coach Joe McFadden. "He can shoot on the run, standing still, right-handed or left-handed and is a strong defensive player."

* Karl Zeller, Loyola, Sr., defense -- This C. Markland Kelly Award winner was the most feared and most respected defenseman in the MIAA A Conference. Not one to avoid contact, Zeller used his 6-1, 205-pound frame to deliver bone-jarring checks. "He's one of the best defensive players we've ever had at Loyola," Coach McFadden said of the three-year starter, a cousin of Brian Zeller. "He's a great kid off the field with a nasty attitude for throwing checks on the field." He's headed for Virginia.

FINAL POLL

No. School .. .. .. .. .. ..Record .. .. .. ..Pts

1. Gilman .. .. .. .. .. .. .16-2 .. .. .. ...105

2. St. Mary's .. .. .. .. ...12-3 .. .. .. .. .98

3. Loyola .. .. .. .. .. .. .12-2 .. .. .. .. .91

4. Boys' Latin .. .. .. .. ..15-4 .. .. .. .. .84

5. St. Paul's .. .. .. .. .. .8-6 .. .. .. .. .77

6. Towson .. .. .. .. .. .. .15-0 .. .. .. .. .64

7. Calvert Hall .. .. .. .. ..7-7 .. .. .. .. .62

8. Annapolis .. .. .. .. .. .16-2 .. .. .. .. .60

9. Centennial .. .. .. .. ...14-3 .. .. .. .. .39

10. North Harford .. .. .. ..13-5 .. .. .. .. .33

11. Perry Hall .. .. .. .. ..12-4 .. .. .. .. .26

12. Arundel .. .. .. .. .. ..13-3 .. .. .. ....25

13. Mount St. Joseph .. ... ..4-9 .. .. .. .. .24

14. Fallston .. .. .. .. .. .12-1 .. .. .. .. .16

15. Oakland Mills .. .. .. ..13-4 .. .. .. .. .15

Others receiving votes: Severna Park (11-4, 6); Dulaney (10-4, 4); Glenelg (10-5, 3); C. Milton Wright (9-5, 2); John Carroll (12-3, 2); Mount Hebron (4-5, 2); North County (9-6, 2).

Poll members: Randy Dase (Towson); Paul Shea (North County); Carl Greenberg (C. M. Wright); Dan Ross (Howard); Mitch Whiteley (St. Paul's); Lem Satterfield (Baltimore Sun); Steven Kivinski (Baltimore Sun).

PICKING THE TEAM

The Baltimore Sun 1994 All-Metro Boys Lacrosse Team was selected by Steven Kivinski and Marc Bouchard after consultation with staff writers and area coaches.