PLAYER OF THE YEAR
* Emily Ward, Centennial -- The most explosive player in the area, Ward was a breakaway artist. With exceptional speed and stick skills, she could dart past anyone and keep firm control of the ball. "Her speed is a positive asset rather than a hindrance," said Centennial coach Gail Purcell. "In hockey, sometimes that speed is not paired with body control, but Emily encapsulates all that. Of all the kids I've ever coached, she's the fastest with the most finesse. I think she's one of the best Howard County has ever produced." Playing on the right wing, Ward proved as adept at sending the ball across to her teammates as in setting herself up to shoot. Her all-around game grew in remarkable strides after scoring just four goals last season. In just one week, Ward had a hand in nine of 10 Eagles goals. The Howard County Player of the Year and All-State first-team pick led her county league in goals (18) and total points (29). She scored or assisted on all but six of the Eagles' goals as she sparked No. 4 Centennial to a 14-1 season and its first regional championship in 12 years. Even though opposing defenses knew all about her and often marked her, they could not stop her from moving the ball down the wing. She scored three goals on breakaways in a 4-0 regional semifinal win over defending state co-champ Linganore. In the Eagles' 1-0 loss to Leonardtown in the state Class 3A semifinal, Ward was marked but still seemed to run at will, setting up most of the Eagles' 10 second-half shots. Only a great goalie performance stopped Ward from scoring. * Micul Ann Morse, Garrison Forest -- In 13 years at Garrison, Morse never has put together a team quite like this year's AIS A Division champion. The No. 3 Grizzlies pulled off a rarity in the AIS -- an undefeated season. They finished 11-0-3 with 11 shutouts and allowed only three goals -- one of them on a penalty stroke. That kind of season is practically unheard of in the AIS, where the competition is so balanced that a large percentage of the games are decided by a single goal. "Overall, this team had better stickwork and speed than any team I've ever coached," said Morse, who also guided the Grizzlies to titles in 1984, 1986 and 1988. "My 1988 team was an exceptional team, but this team was amazingly balanced. They had a heightened level of athleticism and stickwork." Most years, the Grizzlies have been notoriously slow starters because classes don't begin at the Owings Mills boarding school until two weeks after everyone else. This fall, however, Morse returned 11 players, including most of her defense from last year's 6-4-3 team, but even she couldn't have foreseen such success. "We didn't realize while it was all going on what a big deal it was," said Morse.
* Alice Puckett, Fallston -- For the past two years, no one has beaten Puckett's Cougars. But last year's squad still had some room to improve even though it went unbeaten and won the state Class 2A title. After all, the Cougars tied two games and gave up two goals. This year, the No. 2 Cougars successfully defended their state title, finished 16-0 and allowed just one goal. Although they returned a lot of players, the Cougars lost some big names and quite a few starters. Still, this year's squad played a little better in just about every aspect of the game, said Puckett, who has coached Fallston to five state titles in seven years. Most noteably, the Cougars were better on transition, better at positioning and better at passing. "These seniors have never lost, but they don't see that as a threat," said Puckett. "They play hard and they play to win. They enjoy it while they're doing it and that makes it very easy for me to do my job." Four years ago, Puckett helped start a summer hockey league in Harford County. The league benefits her team and others not only by giving the girls a chance to play more games but by introducing eighth-graders to the sport. * Laurie Better, Pikesville, Sr., defense -- The sweeper was the cornerstone of a defense that allowed only eight goals in 16 games as the No. 6 Panthers finished 15-1, won the Baltimore County championship and made their second straight appearance in the state Class 2A semifinals. A first-team All-State and first-team All-Baltimore County pick, Better had great stops and excellent defensive instincts. She stepped up in the tight games, including a season-opening 2-1 victory over Roland Park and a season-ending 2-1 loss to Elkton in the state semifinals.
* Amber Bosley, North Carroll, Sr., midfield -- Bosley scored many p,14l of the clutch goals for the Panthers (10-4-1), including two in overtime. Her biggest goal came seven minutes into overtime against Liberty in the regional final. That win sent the No. 9 Panthers to the Class 2A state semifinals, where they made a strong stand before falling to eventual champ Fallston, 1-0. Bosley also scored an overtime goal to beat Carroll County rival Francis Scott Key. With nonstop energy and enthusiasm, she had eight goals and three assists.
* Stacey Greene, Francis Scott Key, Jr., attack -- The Carroll County Player of the Year, Greene (5 feet 9) not only had a major height advantage on almost every other player in the county but she is stronger and faster and highly skilled. She already has tied the school career scoring record of 33 goals by Cindy Zale (1975-1977). Greene, who scored 14 goals and had three assists, led the Eagles (8-7) in one of the year's great comebacks. They bounced back from losing their first four games to win their Class 1A regional title.
* Julie Haire, Fallston, Sr., defense -- The defensive anchor for the two-time state Class 2A champs, Haire led a unit that had 15 shutouts in 16 games. The Cougars allowed just one goal this season and have given up only three in the last two years. The All-State second-teamer came up big in the big games, especially in a 1-0 state semifinal win over North Carroll. An experienced sweeper, she could strip the ball from almost anyone and use her strong drives to set the Cougars' attack moving.
* Emily Hickman, Bryn Mawr, Jr., midfield -- An All-State second-team pick and AIS All-Star, Hickman was the key to transition for the No. 8 Mawrtians. Her excellent stickwork and ability to change direction helped the Mawrtians to a 10-3-2 season and their first appearance in the AIS A Division tournament championship game in four years. She also scored two goals and had four assists.
* Kristy Matthai, Westminster, Sr., attack -- If she got the ball in the circle, it was almost automatic that Matthai would score. An All-State second-team pick, she lead Carroll County in scoring with 17 goals and four assists. Her offensive power helped the No. 7 Owls (11-4) outshoot Northern of Calvert County, 27-4, in a heartbreaking 2-1 loss in the state Class 4A semifinal. In all, it was a dream season for Matthai, who overcame anorexia in the 10th grade to continue her field hockey career.
* Diane Mooney, Severna Park, Sr., attack -- Mooney staged an incredible comeback after suffering a cracked sternum in a car accident in mid-September. She missed only three games, and scored two goals in her first game back. No. 1 Severna Park (16-0) benefitted most from her ability to drive through defenses and carry the ball down the left wing. The second-team All-State selection finished with 10 goals and five assists as the Falcons won their third straight state Class 4A title.
* Jaime Moyer, South Carroll, Sr., goalie -- It may be a long time before any player duplicates what Moyer did in her first field-hockey season. A fearless, natural athlete, Moyer averaged 12 saves a game and had two shutouts for the 8-5-1 Cavaliers. She simply got better with each game and even shut out North Carroll with 19 saves. In a single week, she recorded 38 saves with 19 each against North Carroll and Frederick. "She just amazed me with each game," said Cavaliers coach Stacey Stem.
* Emily Plenge, Chesapeake-AA, Sr., attack -- The Anne-Arundel County Player of the Year, Plenge led the No. 5 Cougars with 17 goals and two assists. Her forte was moving the ball quickly past the defense with her superior speed and stick skills, but she was also a smart shooter. The All-State first-teamer led the Cougars to an 11-3 season with two of their losses coming to rival Severna Park, including a shootout loss in their Class 4A regional championship game.
* Tina Schroeter, Garrison Forest, Sr., defense -- The backbone of a defense that allowed only three goals, Schroeter dominated the opposition at center back. With terrific game sense, phenomenal stickwork and great speed, the Baltimore City/County Player of the Year could stop an offense in its tracks. That kind of defense was the main reason the Grizzlies rolled up 11 shutouts en route to the AIS A Division Tournament title. An AIS All-Star, Schroeter proved instrumental in the 2-0 victory over Bryn Mawr in the championship game.
* Becky Shank, Severna Park, Jr., defense -- Falcons coach Lil Shelton called Shank one of the best defenders she's ever seen, but Shank's offense finally propelled her team into the state semifinals. The All-State first-team pick scored the game-winner in a sudden-death shootout with Chesapeake-AA in a Class 4A regional final. Shank could do it all. She scored three goals and had four assists, played dominating defense at center back and sparked the transition with great passes, especially on free hits when she connected with teammates 89 percent of the time.
* Rachel Simon, Fallston, Jr., midfield -- The Harford County Player of the Year, Simon dominated the midfield for the state Class 2A champs. With excellent stickwork and great stops, the first-team All-State selection could upset the opposition's offensive plans. With most teams preferring to carry the ball down the right side, Simon was in their way playing left link. A key to the Cougars' transition, she had deceptive moves. She also added six goals. The Baltimore Sun 1994 All-Metro field hockey teams were selected by Katherine Dunn after consultation with staff and area coaches.