Atholton Raiders
1993 record: 2-6. Coach: Carol Stevens.
Top players: Sarah Geatz, Jr., G; Rachel McQuenney, Soph., D; Melissa Goglia, Jr., D; Kathryn Glasgow, Sr., F; Shannon Carter, Jr., F; Rachel Black, Sr., M/D.
Outlook: Despite losing more than half of their starters, the Raiders should be among the county's most improved teams. For the first time since she took over six years ago, Stevens has reason to believe the Raiders might improve enough to grab a regional playoff berth. "In all our games last year, we were competitive," said Stevens. "We lost only one game by more than one goal. With so many kids going to camp this summer and running two sessions during the first week of practice, that should help us as a team to be more competitive." The Raiders return most of their strength in the defense with McQuenney, Goglia and Black back in the starting lineup. Gaetz also saw a lot of action last year. Glasgow and Carter have speed on the line, so if the midfield can provide enough offensive push, the Raiders should improve on their record.
Centennial Eagles
1993 record: 10-3-1. Coach: Gail Purcell.
Top players: Emily Ward, Sr., F; Karyn Bruns, Sr., D; Becca Armiger, Jr., G; Liz Sturm, Jr., M; Keri Jones, Sr., D; Kim May, Sr., D.
Outlook: The defending county champions lost only three seniors, so they return much of the power that took them to their regional final a year ago. One notable exception is Player of the Year Katrina Wolfe, who graduated, but the Eagles are determined to prove that they can win with this more balanced squad. Purcell expects a season that will at least match last year's. "This is the best team I've ever had," she said. "For the first time, I've got a group on attack that thinks, redirects and is hungry. This is a very competitive team." Although Purcell expects the scoring to be balanced, the top threats come from wings Ward and junior Connie Garrant. Defensively, the Eagles return a solid unit in Bruns, Jones and May as well as veteran keeper Armiger. "Last year, they depended on Katrina to the point where they let her orchestrate what went on, but this team is 11 strong and I can't say I have any holes. Because these kids know there's no one outstanding player, they're going to do it together," Purcell said.
Glenelg Gladiators
1993 record: 3-6-3. Coach: Ginger Kincaid.
Top players: Upkar Chana, Sr., M; Natalee Green, Sr., M; Jessica Horwath, Sr., G; Sheri McGready, Jr., F; Shannon Sneed, Sr., D.
Outlook: The Gladiators struggled through a rebuilding season a year ago, and after losing nine starters, they are in for another uphill climb. But this year, the Gladiators have the potential to score more goals, and that could translate into more wins. "We've been down, so we're not going to be the strongest team, but we could upset a few teams," said Kincaid. "The difference is that last year we didn't have any finishers. This year, it's just a matter of doing it when they need to." McGready should do a lot of the scoring, benefiting from an offensive push from Chana and Green in the midfield. The Gladiators plan to tighten up their game, relying on small passes rather than big hits. The only returning starters are Horwath and Sneed. Another starter, senior Erica Beall, is lost for the season with a chronic back problem.
Glenelg Country Dragons
1993 record: 3-6-2. Coach: Patti Ordonez.
DTop players: Robin Zimmerly, Sr., D; Carrie Everett, Jr., F: Allison Hoke, Sr., M; Megan Duzor, Jr., M; Heather Sutherland, Soph., G.
Outlook: Only three seniors graduated from a team that made it to the semifinals of the AIS B Division tournament before falling to eventual co-champ Oldfields last fall. The Dragons return a lot of strength in Zimmerly and Everett, who led the team in scoring with six goals. But the real cornerstone of this team should be its versatile midfield of Hoke, Duzor and junior Smita Sharma, who moves up from JV. Ordonez said the Dragons hope to make a move in the B Division, especially now that co-defending champ Park has moved up to the A Division. "The girls have been playing together for so long and they want it so bad," said Ordonez. "They know Park's out of the division, so they see they have a chance. Last year was a losing season, but they gained a lot of confidence and pulled it all together in the tournament."
Hammond Golden Bears
1993 record: 8-5. Coach: Gay Petrlik.
ATop players: Kara Stockham, Sr. D; Kalina Sliwinski, Sr., G; Erin Webb, Sr., M; Jenny Pollock, Jr., F; Heather Brown, Sr., D; Jessica Jay, Sr., M; Kelly Eberhart, Sr., F.
Outlook: The Bears lost some exceptional seniors, including All-County picks Bethany Thompson, Becca Meyer and Amanda Williams, but they return a host of solid seniors. Brown, who missed last season with an injury, should give the Bears' offense a spark from center halfback. With Stockham at sweeper and the aggressive Sliwinski in the goal, the Bears have a steady defense. Pollock is the top returning scorer with four goals, but Petrlik expects more balance on the line -- as well as everywhere else. "Last year, we had real superstars who moved through everyone," said Petrlik, who lost a strong line of left-side players. "We're not going to be one-sided this year. We can move the ball down the left or down the middle, and we have some creativity."
Howard Lions
1993 record: 3-7. Coach: Pat Becker.
Top players: Laura Foerster, Sr., F; Erica Hensley, Jr., M; Christina Kramer, Sr., G; Karen Phillips, Jr., F/M; Julie Breen, Jr., M.
Outlook: Becker worked wonders with the Lions lacrosse team last spring and she will try to do the same with a young hockey team. "It's a rebuilding year, but boy, this is a group that really wants to build," said Becker, who coached hockey at the Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore before moving to Howard last year. As in lacrosse, Becker spends a lot of time working on the basics. The defense is a bit suspect early, but Becker said Kramer could make up for some of the mistakes that are sure to arise with such a young group. "They're inexperienced, but their work ethic is terrific. They're serious about what they're doing. We're striving for a winning season, but it's hard to tell in field hockey. You could score five goals and have a winning season," said Becker, whose team plays its home games at Waterloo Elementary School.
Mount Hebron Vikings
1993 record: 5-7. Coach: Jeannette Ireland.
Top players: Katie Marks, Sr., M; Bridget Goss, Jr., M; Soo Kim, Sr., D; Amber Fanta, Sr., M; Kelly Dodson, Soph., F; Laura Prendergast, Jr., F.
Outlook: What the Vikings needed more than anything this season was a boost in confidence. They got it Tuesday with a 2-0 win over perennial powerhouse Middletown. Prendergast scored both goals in the second half and sophomore goalie Jessica Cruttenden made five saves. If the Vikings can keep up that kind of effort, they could make a big move in the county. The Vikings still have some tough non-league games remaining, including Linganore, Bel Air and McDonogh, and that first win could help a lot. The Vikings have plenty of line players -- so many that Ireland has had to convert some of them to fill out the rest of her lineup. Even though they have the skills and despite the win, most of those who made the switch still have a lot to learn about defense. That could leave some holes, especially in the midfield although the defense is rebuilding, too, around returnee Soo at center halfback. The Vikings are young, and it might take them a while to play well consistently.
Oakland Mills Scorpions
1993 record: 4-8-1. Coach: Chris Marsiglia.
Top players: Katy Ellis, Sr., M; Mandy Weidner, Sr., D; Nicole Cousin, Sr., M; Kim Arnold, Sr., D; Carolyn Schultz, Jr., D; Anne Ryder, Jr., F.
Outlook: Last year, the Scorpions had only three seniors, and this year's team looks much more experienced. However, the Scorpions lost their defensive cornerstone in two-time All-Metro keeper Kelly Naylor. Still, they return some strength in Weidner, Arnold and Schultz, who know they will have to step up their games because they don't have Naylor to rely on. A battle to fill Naylor's shoes is still ongoing between senior Jennie Saffle and sophomore Melissa Hampshire. High on Marsiglia's list of improvements this year is scoring, and if the Scorpions answer, they could jump to .500 or better. "It's not just a matter of the forwards doing more scoring," said Marsiglia. "The whole team has to move as a wave and there can't be any gaps. I've seen them do that. This is a very finesse team. They're trying to pass and do some nice things."
Wilde Lake Wildecats
1993 record: 8-5-1. Coach: Karen Doerrler.
Top players: Melissa Anderson, Sr., D; Krista Entrop, Sr., G; Alex Roe, Jr., M; Anna Levy, Sr., F; Katie Troutman, Fresh., F; Ebony Evans, Jr., D.
Outlook: Graduation took a higher toll on the Wildecats than any other team in the county. They lost 11 seniors and nine starters from a team that turned in a sensational season, finishing second in the county and going all the way to the Class 1A regional final. This year, the Wildecats have their work cut out for them. The two remaining starters -- sweeper Anderson, an All-County pick, and keeper Entrop -- are both on defense where Evans and junior Dana Carson will join them. There are no proven scorers although Levy did see time last season. Troutman, junior Lisa McQuillan and sophomore Carrie Colton will start on the line, but they'll need some push from midfielders like Roe and junior Jen Friedman. "We're trying to develop team unity," said Doerrler, last year's Howard County Coach of the Year. "As far as winning and losing, I can't predict. We're still learning."