TC PLAYER OF THE YEAR
* Amber Clutter, South Carroll -- The two-time Player of the Year has set the standard for girls soccer in Carroll. Her 70 goals and 26 assists -- both county records -- is only the start of what she provided for the Cavaliers the past four years. She topped off her stellar career with a 17-goal, nine-assist effort this season in leading the Cavaliers to a share of the county title. "She got the name recognition for Carroll County," said South Carroll coach Jim Horn. "She was the first in the county to play in the Olympic Developmental Program and one of the first to play in club ball and really star in clubs. Other kids have seen what she's done and followed her path." Few high school players can match her all-around skills and knowledge of the game. She did a great job of creating chances by knowing where the ball needed to be next. That insight gave her teammates plenty of scoring opportunities and Clutter came away with a county-high nine assists to go along with her own strong shot. "What's nice is
when she started as a freshman, she was a pure scorer," Horn said. "What I've seen over the years is her development as a
complete player. I could put her anywhere on the field."
COACH OF THE YEAR
* Chuck Martin, Liberty -- The Lions' first-year coach found himself in a pretty good situation at the start of the season and improved on it as the year progressed. A wealth of talent returned from the 1993 squad that made a second straight state playoff appearance under former coach Lynn Stone and Martin did a great job of getting the most out of every individual. The Lions made another state playoff appearance and earned a share of the county title while winning the Central Maryland Conference outright. "It was a wonderful ride," Martin said. "It took a lot of hard work by the team. They met all the challenges and I'm very proud of the women." Martin said the team completely turned the corner with its 1-0 win over South Carroll in the two teams' second meeting of the season on Oct. 5. "After the South Carroll game, they really started to believe in themselves." Martin's ability to make adjustments throughout a game sets him apart from a lot of other coaches at the high school level. What's more impressive is how he prepared his players to be able to make the adjustments, particularly in the region playoffs. "We had a chance to experience a lot of different formations seeing [Catoctin] pack it in on us and going up against a physical Middletown team that had a lot of skill," he said. "We were able to change our tactics and adjust to what we needed to do."
FIRST TEAM AT A GLANCE
* Jamie Baier, South Carroll, Sr., D -- Baier always had the duty of covering the opponents' most potent offensive player in the middle and always seemed up to the challenge. The first-team All-Central Maryland Conference selection also did a great job distributing from stopper to get the Cavaliers offense started.
* Michelle Clawson, Liberty, Jr., D -- Clawson did it all for the Lions and was an overwhelming presence at stopper back. A repeat All-County performer and an All-Central Maryland Conference first-teamer, Clawson is equally adept with both feet, strong in the air and was the field general for the Lions. And who could forget that huge goal in Liberty's 1-0 win over South Carroll?
* Carey Epler, Liberty, Sr., D -- Epler moved back to sweeper and was a perfect fit in the Lions' state playoff run. A first-team All-Central Maryland Conference selection, she possesses great speed and is equally ineffective going to her left and right. Epler shone in the Lions' 1-0 regular-season win over previously unbeaten South Carroll.
* Natalie Hannibal, Liberty, Sr., F -- Hannibal finished the regular season with 13 goals and two assists and added a big goal against Middletown in the region playoffs. She was a tenacious forward who earned all the goals she got. She was great at coming back for the ball and was a physical presence up front for the Lions. Hannibal also earned first-team status on the All-Central Maryland Conference list.
* Melissa Martin, Liberty, Jr., M -- Martin quietly enjoyed a fine year at midfield for the Lions and got stronger as the season progressed. She has the size to win a lot of 50-50 balls in the air and on the ground and also possesses good dribbling skills and the ability to find open teammates or shoot.
* Dani Picker, South Carroll, Sr., M -- A steady influence for the Cavaliers, Picker did the little things that sometimes go unnoticed. A sturdy midfielder who created scoring opportunities with fine passing and long throws, Picker also was a strong defensive midfielder with a big presence.
* Kendra Pulis, South Carroll, Sr., G -- Pulis came back from shoulder surgery last December and didn't miss a beat, allowing just seven goals and recording eight shutouts. A well-schooled technician and tactician in goal, Pulis did a great job of directing her teammates and they played with more confidence with her back there.
* Carrie Tamburo, South Carroll, Jr., D -- A tight marker who dealt with the opponents' most dangerous outside forward, Tamburo stifled and frustrated just about everyone who came her way. Tamburo moves to the ball very well and knows what to do with it once it's collected. She also shines defensively on one-on-one situations.
* Lindsey Vosloh, South Carroll, Soph., F -- Vosloh helped the Cavaliers get off to a good start and also came up with some big goals late. She finished the season with 11 goals and one assist and took a lot of pressure off Clutter. She often bewildered defenders along the left side and was a capable finisher. She scored all three goals in a key win against Thomas Johnson late in the season.
* Shanna Ziegenfuss, Liberty, Soph., F -- The most dangerous one-on-one player in the county, Ziegenfuss often beat two and three defenders before scoring a goal. She led the Lions to a third straight state playoff appearance, scoring seven times in .. the postseason to finish with 24. She always came up big when the Lions needed her most, including game-winning goals against Middletown and Catoctin in the region playoffs and two more in the state semifinal loss to No. 2 and eventual state champion Fallston.
PICKING THE TEAMS
The Baltimore Sun 1994 All-Carrol County boys and girls soccer teams were selected by Glenn P. Graham after consultation with staff and county coaches.