Player of the Year

Sara Zuckerman, Severna Park, senior, midfield: The dazzling stickwork she displayed at her midfield position was only the start of what Zuckerman provided in an outstanding senior season that completed her three-year career at Severna Park. She was the catalyst on the Falcons' second straight Class 4A championship team, their 11th overall, finishing with four goals and 11 assists. Her uncanny field sense always had her right where she needed to be and once she gained possession of the ball, she always did something positive with it. Zuckerman, a second-team All-American last season who recently committed to James Madison University, has compiled an impressive resume since she started playing field hockey in the sixth grade. She has played in the U.S. Field Hockey Association's Futures Program since 1995 and was on two Under-19 teams representing Maryland and Delaware that won gold medals. After attending the Key School in Annapolis, Zuckerman entered Severna Park in the 10th grade. Her commitment to the game, combined with the school's rich field hockey tradition, proved a perfect match.

Coach of the Year

Laura Gerrior, South River: When Gerrior inherited a 1-13 team two seasons ago, she pledged to bring fundamentals and enthusiasm to the program. You can add stability to the list. The Seahawks went on to win five games her first season in 1997 and followed that with a breakthrough 8-4-2 campaign this year. "The biggest reward was we surpassed the .500 record we made our goal this season," she said. The Broadneck and Loch Haven University grad said her players' participation in summer leagues and the addition of assistant coach Kim McNemar played big roles in helping get things turned around. "And we still work hard on the fundamentals," she added. McNemar, a former assistant at Catonsville High, is more of an offensive coach, while Gerrior's primary focus is on defense. Aside from first-team All-County goalie Amie Ward, the Seahawks graduated their entire defense from last season, leaving Gerrior with plenty of teaching to do.

First team at a glance

Whitney Carroll, St. Mary's, senior, defense: fense: With her aggressiveness and fine game sense, the Saints' captain dominated at her position, rarely getting beaten. A former attack player, Carroll was always to the ball first and then used her crafty stickwork to start the Saints in transition.

Beth Davis, Severna Park, senior, forward: ward: Goals -- 13 in all this season -- came in a variety of ways from Davis, whose biggest attribute at her wing position was consistency. She always had her post covered, waiting on balls to come across and finishing promptly. That's how she scored the biggest goal of her career, the game-winner in the second half of the Falcons' 3-1 win over Magruder in the Class 4A final.

Jess Gaither, Severna Park, senior, midfield: field: The Falcons had seven different penalty corner plays, but option No. 1 was getting the ball to Gaither at the top of the circle. The repeat first-team All-County selection scored eight of her 15 goals this season on those situations with a hard drive that always seemed to find its way past traffic. She also added seven assists and helped control the midfield for the Falcons. Gaither scored two goals in the Falcons' 3-1 win over Magruder in the Class 4A state championship game.

Alicia Groveston, Southern, senior, midfield: field: After playing soccer as a freshman, Groveston made the switch to field hockey as a sophomore and improved with every year. A three-year starter and two-year captain, she relied on her athleticism, speed and commitment to the game to establish herself as one of the top midfielders in the county. Southern coach Carolyn Knowles said Groveston (two goals, one assist) had good hand-eye coordination and was always first to the ball.

Amanda McElwee, Broadneck, junior, midfield: field: The Bruins' two-year starter finished the season with five goals and four assists at her midfield position. Her agility, good stick skills and ability to read the game got the Bruins' offense started. Broadneck coach Phoebe Kelly said McElwee challenged herself improve every day and that was a big influence on her teammates.

Bif Moorshead, Severn, senior, defense: The Admirals' three-year starter brought finesse, agility and incredible game sense to her position. Moorshead's biggest strength was her ability to dodge opponent after opponent before sending powerful clears to get the Admirals in transition. A repeat first-team all-county selection, Moorshead also finished the season with four goals and eight assists.

Colleen Plitt, Chesapeake, senior, midfield: Plitt showed her versatility last season when she played every midfield position as a role player. This season, Chesapeake coach Jerry Taylor asked her to take over the demanding center position and she appeared right at home. Consistency was Plitt's biggest strength. With a powerful drive, she was the Cougars' go-to player on penalty corners and also played a solid defensive game.

Lindsey Schiesz, Arundel, senior, forward: With a lot of the Wildcats' offensive production from the 1997 season lost to graduation, coach Clint Gosnell was counting on Schiesz to provide a spark. She responded with a 10-goal, four-assist season to lead the Wildcats (10-5-1) to the county championship game. Blue-collar work in front of the cage -- rebounds and deflections -- paid dividends for Schiesz.

Erin Shaklee, Severna Park, junior, forward: ward: The county leader in scoring with 15 goals and eight assists, Shaklee had an uncanny knack for getting her stick on the ball in front. Whether she was redirecting shots or jumping on rebounds, the result was often goals. A two-year starter at the center front position for the Class 4A state champs, she scored three goals in a win against Broadneck and scored twice in three other Falcons wins.

Julie Shank, Severna Park, senior, defense: fense: Her tireless, dominating effort in the first half of the Falcons' 3-1 win over Magruder in the state championship appropriately sums up her fine career as a three-year starter. Simply put, Shank was everywhere. Throughout the season, she overwhelmed opposing attacks with her athleticism and smart field positioning, winning nearly every challenge for the ball.

Megan Skiles, Chesapeake, senior, defense: fense: Skiles' biggest moment as a three-year starter came when her successful penalty stroke knocked out perennial state power Westminster in the region playoffs, but she is most noted for her relentless work on defense. At her center back position, Skiles played a pivotal role for the Cougars.

Caitlin Stone, Annapolis, senior, forward: Determined and aggressive are two words used to best describe Stone's work in the circle. The result was an eight-goal, eight-assist effort for the Panthers' repeat first-team all-county performer. Stone's biggest goal of the season came in the Panthers' 1-0 victory over St. Mary's.

Courtney Thornton, St. Mary's, junior, midfield: A versatile two-way player, Thornton was a steadying influence in the middle of the field and became a leader for the Saints this season. The flyer on opposing team's penalty corners, Thornton denied a lot of opportunities with her ability to jump out fast. On offense, she produced three goals and three assists.

Amie Ward, South River, senior, goalie: At 8-4-2, the Seahawks enjoyed a breakthrough season and one of the biggest reasons was the stellar play of Ward. Working with an entirely new defense, she finished the season with 105 saves, allowing just nine goals with eight shutouts. Her strongest efforts of the season came in a 0-0 tie with Arundel when she turned back 24 shots and an 18-save performance in a 3-1 loss to state champ Severna Park.

1998 All-County Field Hockey Teams

5/8

Player of the Year: Sara Zuckerman, Severna Park

Coach of the Year: Laura Gerrior, South River First Team

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

Beth Davis .. .. .. .. .. Severna Park .. . Senior .. .. ... Forward

Lindsey Schiesz .. .. ... Arundel .. .. ... Senior .. .. ... Forward

Erin Shaklee .. .. .. ... Severna Park .. . Junior .. .. ... Forward

Caitlin Stone .. .. .. .. Annapolis .. .. . Senior .. .. ... Forward

Jess Gaither .. .. .. ... Severna Park .. . Senior .. .. ... Midfield

Alicia Groveston .. .. .. Southern .. .. .. Senior .. .. ... Midfield

Amanda McElwee .. .. .. . Broadneck .. .. . Junior .. .. ... Midfield

Colleen Plitt .. .. .. .. Chesapeake .. ... Senior .. .. ... Midfield

Courtney Thornton .. .. . St. Mary's .. ... Junior .. .. ... Midfield

Sara Zuckerman .. .. .. . Severna Park .. . Senior .. .. ... Midfield

Whitney Carroll .. .. ... St. Mary's .. ... Senior .. .. ... Defense

Bif Moorshead .. .. .. .. Severn .. .. .... Senior .. .. ... Defense

Julie Shank .. .. .. .. . Severna Park .. . Senior .. .. ... Defense

Megan Skiles .. .. .. ... Chesapeake .. .. .Senior .. .. ... Defense

Amie Ward .. .. .. .. ... South River .. .. Senior .. .. ... Goalie

Second Team

Gretchen Awalt .. .. .. . St. Mary's .. ... Senior .. .. ... Forward

Nikki Barnes .. .. .. ... Severna Park .. . Soph. .. .. .. . Forward

April Ervin .. .. .. .. . Chesapeake .. .. .Senior .. .. ... Forward

Ashley Dodson .. .. .. .. Severn .. .. .. . Soph. .. .. .. . For./Mid.

Megan Atkinson .. .. .. . Broadneck .. .. . Junior .. .. ... Midfield

Becca Hopkins .. .. .. .. South River .. .. Senior .. .. ... Midfield

Katie O'Connell .. .. ... Archbishop Spalding Senior .. .. . Midfield

Kelly Adlam .. .. .. .. . Severna Park .. ..Senior .. .. ... Defense

Emily Ison .. .. .. .. .. Chesapeake .. .. .Junior .. .. ... Defense

Ashley Mays .. .. .. .. . Annapolis .. .. ..Junior .. .. ... Defense

Meg Myers .. .. .. .. ... Severn .. .. .. ..Junior .. .. ... Defense

Alaina Nutwell .. .. .. . Southern .. .. ...Soph. .. .. .... Defense

Kristen Walker .. .. .. ..Archbishop Spalding Junior .. .. . Defense

Valerie Bryant .. .. .. ..Chesapeake .. .. .Senior .. .. ... Goalie

Kim Brzuchalski .. .. .. .North County .. ..Senior .. .. ... Goalie

Team selection

The Baltimore Sun 1998 All-Anne Arundel County field hockey and volleyball teams were selected by Glenn P. Graham and Pat O'Malley, respectively, after consultation with The Sun staff and area coaches.

Pub Date: 11/25/98