Coach of the Year

Laurie Donnelly, Wilde Lake: From 1994 through 1996, the Wildecats won a total of eight games. This year, Wilde Lake came close to its first winning season since 1993, finishing 7-8. "I feel like we accomplished a lot as far as physical endurance and physical readiness for games," said Donnelly, who coached the Wildecats' JV team for two years before taking over the varsity program this year. "I especially worked on a team concept, where the team is important and it doesn't matter if you play a certain amount of minutes or you score a certain amount of goals. I'm very proud that all of them were able to, in the long run, overcome the individualism that's taken place the past few years." Donnelly also stressed fundamentals, and it paid off as the team continued to improve. "We lost our first game of the year to Catonsville, 3-1, and lost to them again in the playoffs, 1-0," Donnelly said. "Their coach was remarkably impressed with the amount of improvement we had made during the season." The Wildecats, who defeated eventual state champion Fallston, 1-0, early in the season, "accomplished a lot," Donnelly said. "We made a lot of improvement this season, but there's still work to be done." Donnelly, who played basketball and lacrosse at the University of Maryland and officiated high school and college field hockey for 20 years, expects between 15 and 20 players to attend a summer camp. "The enthusiasm is there." Donnelly said. "I think we're on a roll in the right direction."

Player of the Year

Liz Kurpe, Centennial, senior, midfield: "Liz got it done for us," said Centennial coach Gail Purcell. "She came through for us in some big games, offensively and defensively." Kurpe finished with four goals and three assists. Two of her goals were game-winners in overtime -- against Hammond and, on a penalty stroke, against River Hill. Defensively, she often marked the opponent's top player. "She always came through for us," Purcell said. "She was a spark for us, and she could also get her teammates motivated to step up." Kurpe has "very refined stick skills," said Purcell, that allowed her to do many things on the field. "She was an initiator on transition. She could redirect or carry, whichever she needed to do." A member of the Futures program, Kurpe, along with teammate Melissa Dugan, coached a field hockey middle school team. She also works during the summer for the Howard County Department of Recreation on its field hockey camp staff.

First team at a glance

Lorin Cahill, Howard, senior, forward: Cahill improved considerably from a year ago. "Her good stick skills along with her speed made her hard to defend. And she is very aggressive," said Howard coach Lisa Crecher. Cahill always had the speed, but this year improved her skills to become more of a threat. "She was a different player," Brecher said. "She was more confident and was so much more effective." A team captain, Cahill led the Lions' attack with 10 goals.

Katie Jeschke, Mount Hebron, junior, forward: ward: A repeat first-team selection, Jeschke had a Howard County-high 16 goals and added two assists. "She has good stick skills and is a great finisher in the circle," said Mount Hebron coach Jeannette Ireland. Jeschke, a receiver on penalty corners, has a strong, accurate shot and her solid stickwork allows her to control the ball and dribble through defenses.

Kristen Lorch, Long Reach, senior, forward: ward: A fierce competitor, Lorch led the Lightning attack with 11 goals and eight assists. "Her biggest assets are her strength and speed, and her really, really hard shots," said Long Reach coach Kelly Snyder. Lorch, who scored three goals in a playoff victory over Howard, was a good role model for the younger players on the forward line, said Snyder.

Jessica Manzone, Centennial, senior, forward: ward: A three-year starter, Manzone led the Eagles with nine goals and three assists. She scored twice against Glenelg and Oakland Mills. "She initiated the attack in the circle," said coach Gail Purcell, who added that Manzone was good scoring off transition as well as a rebound off the goalie's pad. Another strength is Manzone's vision. "She sees the field very well," Purcell said. "She can find the open person and distribute the ball."

Mandy Schroeder, Hammond, senior, forward: ward: "She scored key goals at key times," said Hammond coach Gay Petrlik. "We've been waiting for her to do that and she did this year." Schroeder led the team in goals with nine, and added five assists. "She came into her own in shooting this year," Petrlik said. A good leader, Schroeder has "excellent drives into the circle."

Heather Doyle, River Hill, senior, midfield: What sets Doyle apart? "Her tenacity," said River Hill coach Martha Henderson. "She just doesn't give up." Doyle, who had one goal and two assists, worked hard during the off-season, and it paid off. "She came back with more skills and was a smarter hockey player," said Henderson, who added that Doyle is a bright student, who "uses her intelligence to help her on the field. She's a very smart player."

Melissa Dugan, Centennial, senior, midfield: field: Though Centennial coach Gail Purcell calls Dugan "tenacious," the three-year starter kept things calm for the Eagles. "She settles the team down," Purcell said. Dugan was vocal when she needed to be, but led mostly by her play on the field. A captain, Dugan finished with six goals and five assists. "She directs the attack once we get past midfield," Purcell said. Dugan plays indoors, and participates in the Futures program. She and teammate Liz Kurpe coach a county middle school team.

Jessica Garvey, Hammond, senior, midfield: field: Garvey loves to play, and it shows. "She has exceptional stickwork due to her intense play year-round," said coach Gay Petrlik. "She can't get enough of it." Petrlik said Garvey "is very creative with her stickwork" and her good speed allows her to bring the ball up field effectively. Garvey had four goals -- including the game-winner in overtime against River Hill -- and one assist.

Laura Buchanan, Glenelg, senior, defense: Glenelg coach Ginger Kincaid moved Buchanan from sweeper to center halfback this year and "built the defense around her." Buchanan is a strong defender, but her value to the Gladiators went beyond that. She was a leader, and her defensive teammates "really looked up to her," Kincaid said. "She played with a lot of discomfort [leg, knee injuries] knowing the defense depended on her."

Meghan McDonald, Centennial, senior, defense: fense: "If I had to pick one player who created the success for my team, it would be Meghan," said coach Gail Purcell, whose team earned the school's seventh county title, going 9-0. "She was aware of everything that needed to be done on the field. She was my field general." A second-team selection last year, McDonald also contributed offensively, scoring four goals and adding two assists. "She was the heart and soul of my team," Purcell said.

Tammi Slater, Mount Hebron, senior, defense: fense: A co-captain, Slater often guarded the opponent's top scorer. "She is very good at marking in the circle and stepping to the ball," said Mount Hebron coach Jeannette Ireland. Slater, a second-team pick last year, has good stick stills, and was effective because she is good at denying her opponent the ball.

Stephanie Yezek, Hammond, senior, defense: fense: The left-handed Yezek often was asked to guard the opponent's top scorer. Yezek has good skills, but it is her speed that makes her so valuable to the Golden Bears' defense. "She has exceptional speed," said coach Gay Petrlik, "and she broke up a lot of fast-break situations."

Donna Boccuzzi, Centennial, junior, goalie: Boccuzzi thought about quitting field hockey last winter, but fortunately for her and her team, coach Gail Purcell convinced her to stay. "She really stepped up," Purcell said. "She improved tremendously in terms of being a leader on the field." Boccuzzi had nine shutouts and a 90.6 save percentage. "She's very good under pressure," said Purcell. "In fact, I think she's better when she's being threatened. She enjoys the challenge."

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1998 All-County Field Hockey Teams

Player of the Year: Liz Kurpe, Centennial, Senior

Coach of the Year: Laurie Donnelly, Wilde Lake First Team

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

Lorin Cahill .. .. .. ... Howard .. .. .... Senior .. .. ... Forward

Katie Jeschke .. .. .. .. Mount Hebron .. . Junior .. .. ... Forward

Kristen Lorch .. .. .. .. Long Reach .. ... Senior .. .. ... Forward

Jessica Manzone .. .. ... Centennial .. ... Senior .. .. ... Forward

Mandy Schroeder .. .. ... Hammond .. .. ... Senior .. .. ... Forward

Heather Doyle .. .. .. .. River Hill .. ... Senior .. .. ... Midfield

Melissa Dugan .. .. .. .. Centennial .. ... Senior .. .. ... Midfield

Jessica Garvey .. .. .. . Hammond .. .. ... Senior .. .. ... Midfield

Liz Kurpe .. .. .. .. ... Centennial .. ... Senior .. .. ... Midfield

Laura Buchanan .. .. .. . Glenelg .. .. ... Senior .. .. ... Defense

Meghan McDonald .. .. . . Centennial .. ... Senior .. .. ... Defense

Tammi Slater .. .. .. ... Mount Hebron .. . Senior .. .. ... Defense

Stephanie Yezek .. .. ... Hammond .. .. ... Senior .. .. ... Defense

Donna Boccuzzi .. .. .. . Centennial .. ... Junior .. .. ... Goalie

Second Team

Julie Bergin .. .. .. ... Wilde Lake .. ... Junior .. .. ... Forward

Krystin Brown .. .. .. .. Glenelg .. .. ... Senior .. .. ... Forward

Dawn Christensen .. .. .. Oakland Mills ... Senior .. .. ... Forward

Ali Privitera .. .. .. .. River Hill .. ... Senior .. .. ... Forward

Polly Purcell .. .. .. .. Mount Hebron .. . Junior .. .. ... Forward

Bridgette Burkhardt .. .. Long Reach .. ... Junior .. .. ... Midfield

Jessica Burkhardt .. .. . Long Reach .. ... Junior .. .. ... Midfield

Liz Eberhart .. .. .. ... Mount Hebron .. . Junior .. .. ... Midfield

Christina Braganza .. ... Hammond .. .. ... Senior .. .. ... Defense

Dana Rupprecht .. .. .. . River Hill .. ... Senior .. .. ... Defense

Tara Molesky .. .. .. ... Centennial .. ... Junior .. .. ... Defense

Rachel Harris .. .. ... . Hammond .. .. ... Senior .. .. ... Defense

Katelyn Hoffman .. .. ... Mount Hebron .. . Junior .. .. ... Goalie

Jay Lance .. .. .. .. ... Long Reach .. ... Junior .. .. ... Goalie

Shannon Sullivan .. .. .. Atholton .. .. .. Senior .. .. ... Goalie

Team selection

The Baltimore Sun 1998 All-Howard County field hockey and volleyball teams were selected by Stan Rappaport after consultation with The Sun staff and area coaches.

Pub Date: 11/25/98