Player of the Year

Sarah Warner, Hereford, senior, midfield: No player meant more to her team this year than Warner. The center of everything the No. 11 Bulls have done for the past three years, Warner capped a splendid career by leading a young Bulls team (14-3-1) to their third straight Baltimore County championship, their third regional title and their first state crown in 20 years. A veteran of the U.S. Field Hockey Association's Olympic Development-style Future's Program and a regional All-American last year, Warner's game was comparable to that of the top private school players. She used her excellent stick skills and speed to move the ball quickly and easily through the midfield. At center mid, Warner was an exceptional defensive player and the key to the Bulls' transition. Not much got past her, but she could get past just about anyone. She also scored two goals and had 12 assists, mostly as an integral part of the Bulls' offensive corners. Perhaps her best assets were her ability to anticipate the action and her exceptional patience in setting up the next play. In addition to her skills and her contributions to each game, Warner has had a larger effect on the Bulls' program, one that could last much longer than her three years on the varsity. "Sarah jump-started this program," said Bulls coach Tammy Mundie. "What she's able to do on the field made the other kids envious and they wanted to step up to that level. They see her flying by two, three, four defenders and they think, 'Wow, how does she do that?' and they want to do that." A Junior Olympian and former member of the 16-and-under national team, Warner is headed for Western Maryland College where she plans to study pre-med. Named second-team all-state, Warner will play for the Central Penn Sharks club team at the USFHA's annual Hockey Festival in Palm Beach, Fla., this weekend.

Coach of the Year

Carol Samuels, Friends: In early September, Samuels was not too optimistic about the coming season. She had expected a large group of returning players, but that number quickly began to dwindle. One defected to the tennis team, another to volleyball. A third moved away. A fourth opted to coach the lower school team. A fifth had a stress fracture in her foot. That left three starters back on the field. "I didn't know if I had 11 players to put out there, because they were so inexperienced," said Samuels, "but they went to work proving me wrong." Unranked to start the season, the Quakers quickly emerged as a team to contend with. They rose to No. 5, posted a 15-4-2 season and reached the Association of Independent Schools A Division tournament semifinals, where they outplayed No. 1 Roland Park but suffered a 1-0 loss. In 16 years of coaching varsity hockey at Friends, Samuels has always had outstanding defensive teams and this one was no exception. The Quakers posted 14 shutouts and allowed just nine goals. And they had the attack to match, scoring 36 goals. Samuels credits middle school coach Judy Turnbaugh, JV coach Anne McGinty and assistant varsity coach Amie Wilmer with helping to build this team, but she molded the finished product. "What I try to do every season is to get the kids to understand their roles, so they don't have to try to be all-world. I match what they're able to do with what we need to do on the field, so the puzzle fits together." The Boston-area native and Ursinus graduate, who is in her 20th year at Friends, guided the Quakers to AIS titles in 1985, 1987 and 1991.

First team at a glance

Jen Ahn, Bryn Mawr, junior, midfield: A second-team pick last year, Ahn enjoyed an exceptional season at left link. The Futures veteran was a complete player, excelling on attack and defense. With her stick skills and speed, she moved the ball quickly and contributed nine goals for the AIS A Division co-champion and No. 3 Mawrtians (15-1-5). Her anticipation and defensive positioning also made her tough to beat. Ahn was named first-team all-state.

Lauren Aumiller, Notre Dame Prep, senior, forward: nior, forward: The Pirates' top player did a little bit of everything this season after being a second-team pick last year. She led NDP (8-8-1) in scoring and also contributed defensively, especially as the rusher on corners. An exceptional athlete with a powerful shot, she scored six goals and also added four assists. Selected for Team Maryland and to the second team All-State, Aumiller has signed early to play lacrosse at Virginia.

Laura Birx, Bryn Mawr, senior, defense: The top field player in the area's stingiest defense, Birx helped the Mawrtians post 18 shutouts. They did not allow a goal through their first 14 games and only two teams scored against them. Birx's exceptional speed and fiestiness enabled her to interfere with almost everything the opposing attack tried. She could change the direction of the game with her speed.

Katie Coyne, Bryn Mawr, junior, goalie: After transferring from Towson, Coyne had an immediate impact on AIS competition. She posted a 94 percent save rate against shots placed on goal, allowing just four goals against 71 shots. She also stopped seven of nine penalty strokes including four of six in a shootout win over eventual state champ Bethesda-Chevy Chase. Technically sound with incredible quickness, Coyne had exceptional ability to recover and repel multiple shots.

Gretchen Crook, Roland Park, senior, goalie: An exceptional leader in the cage, Crook allowed only eight goals as the No. 1 Reds (22-0-2) faced the area's toughest competition including three eventual state champs. Crook, who was a second-team selection last year, posted a 92 percent save rate against shots on goal and notched 16 shutouts. Quick and technically solid, Crook made 96 saves for the AIS A Division tournament co-champs. A second-team all-state pick, Crook will play for Team Maryland.

Maron Deering, Friends, senior, midfield: A second-teamer last year, the Quakers' right link has been known for the most powerful drive in the AIS, but she emerged as a more well-rounded player this season. As an attack-minded link, Deering was often the spark in transition. She also scored 10 goals -- all on corners -- and added three assists. In addition to her physical strength and powerful stick, she also emerged as a team leader.

Carey Fetting-Smith, Bryn Mawr, sophomore, midfield: more, midfield: This Futures veteran played well beyond her years at center midfield. An excellent all-around player, her stickwork and ability to dodge were perhaps her greatest assets. A nose for the goal helped her score six goals and add eight assists. A Junior Olympian last summer and member of the 16-and-under national team, Fetting-Smith was named second-team all-state.

Betsy Gaines, Roland Park, senior, midfield: field: One of the Reds' critical transition players, Gaines clogged up the middle of the field. She wouldn't allow the ball to move quickly through, and if someone did beat her, she could recover quickly and usually get the ball back. Her terrific vision and field sense helped her be an exceptional passer. She also scored eight goals and had 13 assists. Named second-team all-state, Gaines has signed early to play lacrosse at North Carolina.

Allison Higgins, Roland Park, sophomore, forward: This youngster proved up to the difficult assignment of left wing. Her exceptional stick skills and a great reverse hit enabled her to move the ball quickly down the left side and cross it to her teammates. She also proved she could finish, contributing 17 goals and six assists. She tied for the Reds' scoring lead.

Jenny Landsman, St. Paul's, junior, forward: ward: A repeat first-teamer, Landsman was one of the most explosive attack players in the AIS. The Futures veteran has speed and an incredible shot, but she controlled the ball and dodged better this year, enabling her to set up plays as well as finish them for the No. 6 Gators (11-4-4). She contributed eight goals and seven assists. The first-team all-state selection will play for Team Maryland.

Molly O'Connor, Friends, senior, defense: A second-team All-Metro pick last year, O'Connor was the defensive half of one of the area's strongest midfield tandems (with Maron Deering). The left link was especially effective as the rusher against the opposition's penalty corners as the Quakers allowed only four goals against 52 corners. Great timing and quickness made O'Connor an excellent marker and she was able to shut out some of the AIS's top scorers.

Hilary Polk-Williams, St. Paul's, senior, midfield: Excellent stickwork and great control made Polk-Williams an exceptional defensive midfielder. On the left side, she orchestrated much of the Gators' transition game. She also scored a goal and added seven assists. A first-team all-state pick, the Futures veteran will play for the New Jersey club team the Thoroughbreds at the Hockey Festival.

Elizabeth Ryan, Roland Park, senior, forward: ward: An All-Metro first-teamer last year, Ryan continued to provide the spark for the Reds' offense. Tied for the scoring lead on a balanced line, Ryan contributed nine goals and 14 assists. Skilled and determined, Ryan had a knack for anticipating the action and being in position to make great deflections and one-touch passes. A two-time All-State first-teamer, Ryan signed early to play lacrosse at Georgetown.

Edith Swain, Friends, senior, defense: At sweeper, Swain was the anchor of a defense that allowed only nine goals all season and posted 14 shutouts. Her excellent defensive instincts, quick stick and good positioning made her difficult to beat in the back. Swain was a key to the Quakers' excellent defense against corners as they allowed only four goals against 52 corners. Swain also scored one goal on a penalty stroke.

Marianna Waters, Garrison Forest, senior, defense: An exceptional marker for the No. 10 Grizzlies (7-3-5), Waters excelled at center halfback. Her speed, quickness and stick skills made her hard to beat and she controlled the middle. Physically strong and mentally focused, Waters upset most of her opponents' corners and was one of the reasons the Grizzlies allowed just six goals all season.

'

The second team

Name .. .. .. .. .. .. .. School .. .. .. ..Class .. .. .. ..Position

Lori Baran .. .. .. .. .. Perry Hall .. ... Junior .. .. ... Forward

Caroline Cox .. .. .. ... Garrison Forest . Junior .. .. ... Forward

Shannon Kron .. .. .. ... Maryvale .. .. .. Junior .. .. ... Forward

Jessica McAdams .. .. ... Bryn Mawr .. .. . Senior .. .. ... Forward

Kristin Sudina .. .. .. . Roland Park .. .. Senior .. .. ... Forward

Stasia Thomas .. .. .. .. Roland Park .. .. Senior .. .. ... Forward

Lindsay Buchanan .. .. .. Towson .. .. .. . Senior .. .. ... Midfield

Erin Coberth .. .. .. ... Catonsville .. .. Junior .. .. ... Midfield

Megan Gauvey-Kern .. .. . Park .. .. .. ... Senior .. .. ... Midfield

Alison Polk-Williams .. . St. Paul's .. ... Senior .. .. ... Midfield

Kris Miller .. .. .. .. . Notre Dame Prep . Soph. .. .. .. . Defense

Kelly Noon .. .. .. .. .. Bryn Mawr .. .. . Soph. .. .. .. . Defense

Amy Price .. .. .. .. ... Bryn Mawr .. .. . Junior .. .. ... Defense

Kelsey Twist .. .. .. ... Roland Park .. .. Soph. .. .. .. . Defense

Catie Corbin .. .. .. ... Garrison Forest . Junior .. .. ... Goalie

Lindsey Presser .. .. ... Pikesville .. ... Senior .. .. ... Goalie

Team selection

The Baltimore Sun 1998 All Baltimore City-County field hockey and volleyball teams were selected by Katherine Dunn after consultation with The Sun staff and area coaches.

Pub Date: 11/25/98