Atholton Raiders
1997 record: 3-13-1 overall, 0-8-1 county
Coach: Wendell Thomas
Classification: Class 2A
Top players: Erin Lipple, Sr., D; Aleah Zinalabedini, Sr., F; Samantha Belin, Sr., M; Jessica Obst, Soph., G/F.
Outlook: "I think we'll be competitive," said Thomas. But with only four returning starters -- Lipple, Zinalabedini, Obst and senior defender Meghan Bailey -- and mostly young players, it might take some time. "How quickly we come together as a team will determine how well we do," said Thomas, who has five sophomores on the team and hopes to bring up five more from the JV this week. Zinalabedini and Belin, who played field hockey last year, will be captains.
Centennial Eagles
1997 record: 8-6-1 overall, 6-3 county
Coach: Mike Senisi
Classification: Class 2A
Top players: Stacie Tokasz, Sr., M; Mandy Zachmann, Sr., D; Alexia Vogler, Sr., M/D; Jane Williams, Sr., F
Outlook: "We've put an emphasis on dedicating ourselves to each other and the program," Senisi said. "We've been working real hard, and everybody has a real positive attitude. We should be competitive if we stay healthy." Tokasz, Zachmann, Vogler and Williams give the Eagles a solid base, and players such as sophomore forward Ashley Evans, junior midfielder/defender Allison Woods, senior midfielder Kim Paulus, senior defender Paige Heller and sophomore defender Carolyn Schmid also will contribute. Sophomores Erica Neiman, who played varsity last season, and Emily Williams, up from JV, will compete to start at goalkeeper. Emily is Jane's sister. Centennial returns its top two scorers -- Williams and Evans -- and Senisi is very pleased with the approach his players are taking.
Chapelgate Christian Flames
1997 record: 2-15-1 overall; 0-13-1 league
Coach: Sarah Crown
Classification: Independent
Top players: Meghan Price, Sr., D; Tori Mariner, Sr., D; Courtney Holley, Soph., D; Katie Ordakowsky, Sr., M; Jenny Kotting, Soph., F.
Outlook: The Flames have a new coach (Crown was an assistant last fall) and a new classification (independent) after a winless Catholic B League campaign last year. Crown said the program is in the "developmental stage" but that this year's team is "very committed and learning quickly." She added: "I'm very excited. I feel very good about what we have." The Flames return four starters -- Price, Mariner, Kotting and Lydia Moges -- on a team that has three seniors, one junior and the rest (13) sophomores and freshmen. Two of those freshmen expected to contribute are forward Susie Both and midfielder Amanda King.
Glenelg Gladiators
1997 record: 8-7-4 overall, 3-4-2 county
Coach: Mike Williams
Classification: Class 1A
Top players: Jamie Epperlein, Sr., G; Kelly Renfro, Jr., M; Christa Vent, Sr., F; Stephanie Howell, Jr., F; Lori Tvarkunas, Sr., D
Outlook: After winning the state Class 1A-2A state last fall, Williams is sure of one thing: "Nobody is going to take us lightly anymore," he said. Nine players who started the state final against Hereford are back, and two more players who have starting experience also return. First-team All-County goalkeeper Epperlein, who made 201 saves last fall, leads the defense. In front of her will be Tvarkunas, a stopper, along with three junior defenders -- Bibi Warfield, Amanda Strandquist and Layne Buckler. The Gladiators return their top three scorers from last year -- Howell (nine goals, two assists), Renfro (four goals, seven assists) and Vent (seven goals, three assists). Williams is looking for good things from sophomore midfielder Katie Kirley. "I expect to be very competitive," said Williams, whose team lost its last regular-season game before winning five straight and the championship. "They're athletic and have good speed. It's also the deepest team I've had." Williams is carrying 19 players (four seniors, 10 juniors, four sophomores and one freshman).
Hammond Golden Bears
1997 record: 8-8 overall, 6-3 county
Coach: Peter Di Marco
Classification: Class 1A
Top players: Lindsey Mitchell, Sr., G; Lauren Traber, Sr., D; Monica Serianni, Sr., M; Michelle Jenkins, Sr., F; Martha Bielefeld, Jr., M; Meg Tilley, Jr., M
Outlook: Mitchell is one of the county's top goalkeepers, and Traber, seniors Brita Grothe and Kelly Workman and sophomore Sarah Walker provide a solid defense in front of her. The Golden Bears will carry 21 players, and 12 of them are seniors. "This should be a good year for us," Di Marco said. "We have experience, and we're playing with confidence." Inconsistent play hurt Hammond last year, something that Di Marco is well aware of. "We need to maintain a certain degree of consistency to be taken seriously," said Di Marco, whose team handed county-champion River Hill its only loss of the season, 2-1, in overtime. Part of the Golden Bears' inconsistency last year was a lack of scoring.
Howard Lions
1997 record: 5-10 overall, 2-7 county
Coach: Dave Guetler
Classification: Class 2A
Top players: Jevne Reid, Sr., F/M; Amy Rappaport, Jr., M/D.
Outlook: The graduation of two first-team All-County players and some injuries has hurt, but Guetler is optimistic the team will improve as the season moves on. "Right now we just have to learn to play together as a team," Guetler said. "We're pretty young, and we're rebuilding. I think we'll be as good as our supporting players." Junior defender Rebecka Brasso is injured and not playing, and junior midfielder Kristin Hughes has been limited by a sprained ankle. Guetler is hoping to have both players healthy when the Lions begin their county schedule. New to the team is Shentya Abrams, a junior forward who has good speed. Sophomores up from the JV who will contribute are: midfielders Katie McNulty and Denise Whalen, defender Stephanie Wagner and goalie Sarah Aefsky. Aefsky and senior Katie Dunn will share goaltending duties. Other players that should contribute are senior forward Deanna Jones, junior midfielder Emily Riedel, senior defender Elissa Adams and junior defender Tiffany Spang. Reid had 13 goals and three assists last year; Rappaport three goals and eight assists.
Long Reach Lightning
1997 record: 5-10 overall, 2-7 county
Coach: Jennifer Peduzzi
Classification: Class 2A
Top players: Allison West, Soph., M; Kai Freeman, Jr., M; Lisa Tucker, Jr. D
Outlook: The third-year Lightning improved by five wins last year, and Peduzzi is optimistic that better things are approaching. "We're looking to improve our record. The girls know they can do it," Peduzzi said. "The motivation is there. The skills are there. It's just a matter of putting it together and working as a team." West, who moves from defender to the midfield this season, and returning starter Dana Lowry, a senior defender, will be captains. Shannon Pusey, a sophomore forward, also is expected to contribute.
Mount Hebron Vikings
1997 record: 8-7 overall, 4-5 county
Coach: Jonathan Davis
Classification: Class 2A
Top players: Becca Ferrell, Sr., D; Becky Purtell, Sr., D; Katie Elliott, Jr., M/F; Annie Collins, Jr., D; Julie Broden, Jr., M/F; Julie Napolitano, Fr., M
Outlook: After a disappointing season last year, Davis has reason to be optimistic. The addition of Napolitano, a national 14-under pool player, gives the Vikings a solid center-midfielder who can score and make everyone around her better. With Elliott, a first-team all-county selection, and the speedster Broden on the wings, Mount Hebron will have one of the top offenses in the county. "Everyone is crashing the goal a lot better. I think we're going to score a lot of goals," said Davis. The Vikings' will start freshman Kaitlin Porter in goal, but Davis is confident the defense in front of her will make it easier. Ferrell, the sweeper, and Purtell, a four-year varsity player and stopper, will key the defense. Collins has moved back from midfield and is now a marking back. "I think our starting 11 is better than last year, but we're not as deep," said Davis, who should also get help up front from senior center-forward Megan Moulding.
Oakland Mills Scorpions
1997 record: 12-5-1 overall, 7-2 county
Coach: Steve Matters
Classification: Class 1A
Top players: Kate Anderson, Sr., D; Molly Sunderdick, Jr., M; Lezzette Pearsall, Sr., G.
Outlook: The Scorpions lost six starters, and returning senior midfielder Lan Gardner, who had an operation in June to repair an anterior cruciate ligament injury, seems unlikely to play this season. Still, Matters, who has directed his team to four straight region titles, isn't about to give up. "We'll show up," he said. "We have some athletes, so we'll see. Can we win the county title? Well, that remains to be seen. We have some potential, but it's potential at this point. Anderson, a first-team All-County selection, and Sunderdick (five goals, five assists last season), are strong players. Pearsall was injured last year and didn't play. Nicole Petro, who took Pearsall's place last year, returns for her -- junior year. Other players that will help the Scorpions are: senior defender Syrita Simpkins, sophomore midfielder Tori Parris, junior defender Stephanie Amponsah, sophomore $ forward/midfielder Rachel Clinton and junior defender Heather Romich.
River Hill Hawks
1997 record: 15-2-1 overall, 8-1 county
Coach: Joan Kelso Smedley
Classification: Class 2A
Top players: Natalie Klisas, Jr., M/D; Mary Pattillo, Sr., D; Krista Killian, Sr., M; Karla Killian, Sr., D; Leilani Ho, Sr., F
Outlook: The county, region and state champion has another strong team, but the graduation of co-Player of the Year Kathy Gaertner (nine goals, 15 assists) and first-team All-County Caitlin Bair (13 goals, seven assists) left a void at midfield. "We have a really solid group, it's just a matter of putting the pieces together," said first-year coach Smedley, the Hawks' JV coach the last two seasons. "We have to put the right girl at the right position." Also gone from last year is goalkeeper Megan Wright, but Smedley is confident that Megan's sister, Jen, a sophomore goalie who played JV last year, will step right in. As far as repeating last year's success, Smedley said: "They're a good team and can do anything they set their mind to." Krista Killian (seven goals, nine assists) is the leading returning scorer. Also expected to contribute offensively will be junior Kerry Brown and sophomores Rashida Walcott, Maria Masciantonio and Shannon Jackson. "This team has a good mixture," said Smedley, a Wilde Lake graduate who played at the University of Maryland.
Wilde Lake Wildecats
1997 record: 9-6-1 overall, 5-3-1 county
Coach: Marcy Leonard
Classification: Class 3A
Top players: Monica Tiburzi, Sr., M; Sarah Schwartz, Sr. M; Jessie Rochford, Sr. D; Emily Timm, Sr., F; Katie Kurcz, Jr., D.
Outlook: Leonard, who coached the Wildecats' JV the last four years, said she has "a very balanced team. There are no stars, no one go-to player. We like to say that everyone is a go-to player." The Wildecats, who graduate All-County players Amanada and Abby Berman and Bridget White, have only four seniors. Leonard has new faces up top and at midfield, but the defense is pretty well set. Rochford, Kurcz and Lizzie Richman are returning defensive starters. Offensively, Timm, forward Carla Pistorio and sophomore center midfielder Jackie Taubman are expected to make solid contributions. Juniors Edna Dash and Bryanna Herring will share goaltending duties. "This is a real exciting team to watch, and a real exciting team to work with," Leonard said.
Girls Top 15
Rank School
1. McDonogh
2. Mercy
3. Liberty
4. John Carroll
5. Severna Park
6. St. Mary's
7. Fallston
8. Hereford
9. Arundel
10. Catholic
11. South River
12. River Hill
13. Chesapeake-AA
14. Centennial
15. Loch Raven
Pub Date: 9/03/98