Player of the Year
Marissa Schuchat, McDonogh, senior, midfield: The No. 1 player on the No. 1-ranked team, Schuchat sparked the Eagles (22-5-1) to a season-ending 12-game winning streak capped with the Catholic League A Division tournament championship. The area's most skilled, savvy player scored 28 goals and added 19 assists, but that was only the tip of her contribution. Driven to succeed, no one worked harder. At center midfield, she proved the consummate team player and the Eagles' transition catalyst. Speedy and exceptionally quick, Schuchat displayed ability to maneuver through defenses to get a shot for herself or set up a teammate. More than any other factor, her quick, accurate passing drove McDonogh's success. She finished with a 92 percent pass-completion rate. Of the 330 passes she made, only 28 went to defenders. Other statistics were as strong. On 50-50 balls and one-on-one situations, Schuchat won 387 balls and lost 92. She also scored eight game-winning goals, including one in perhaps the season's most exciting game, a double-overtime victory that nipped then-No. 1 and unbeaten John Carroll, 4-3. "She's a big-time player," said McDonogh coach Maurice Boylan Jr. "She came up big for us all year long. Everything we did went through her. She was calm and cool, poised under pressure. She's the kind of player who can adjust to what the other team gives her." A regional Olympic Development Program selection for three years, Schuchat was a first-team All-Metro pick last year and is a two-time All-State first teamer. Although she had yet to make a college decision, she is being recruited by many top-notch Division I schools.
Coach of the Year
Mark Deaton, Notre Dame Prep: In his first season at the Pirates' helm, Deaton primed the team for a run at the Catholic League A Division title. Last fall, the Pirates had one sensational week, but this year, they contended in every game. At the beginning of the season, when Deaton and his team set their goals, winning was not one of them. He simply wanted to forge unity within a team that mixed five freshmen with veterans. With that unity, the wins came. The No. 7-ranked Pirates finished 15-4-0, losing only to teams ranked No. 1 or No. 2 at the time of the match. They lost to eventual champ and No. 1 McDonogh in the tournament semifinals after beating the Eagles during the regular season. They ranked among the Catholic League leaders in offense with 48 goals and among the leaders in defense, posting eight shutouts and allowing 11 goals. Deaton, a 15-year veteran of coaching rec, travel, club and high school teams, took over the Pirates varsity after amassing a 19-2-4 record and a co-championship in two years with the JV. His only previous varsity coaching experience came at Eastern Tech in 1994. Deaton's quiet sideline demeanor meshed perfectly with his basic coaching strategy. "I like to keep things simple," said Deaton, a math teacher. "I don't like things real complicated. I like to make things clear, but I want them to own the games. The games are theirs. I want them to be creative and instinctive, and when things get out of hand, I remind them of the structure of the game and bring them back into that."
First team at a glance
Brandy Ault, Institute of Notre Dame, senior, striker: A second-team All-Metro pick last year, Ault played all over the field for the inexperienced Indians (4-7). She proved a formidable opponent at striker, midfielder or sweeper. One of the Catholic League's top strikers, she scored 11 goals and had 10 assists, but she wasn't getting the ball enough up top, so she was moved back to provide stability and create offense from the midfield. With great speed and skills and exceptional ability in the air, Ault was named first-team All-State.
Jesse Eckerl, Mercy, senior, defense: One of the area's premier marking backs, Eckerl was a second-team pick last year. She shut out some of the Catholic League's top strikers, including McDonogh's Lisa Zanti (in one of two meetings), Institute of Notre Dame's Brandy Ault, and Hereford's Melissa Mueller. A driven, tenacious, mentally tough defender for the No. 9 Magic (13-4-3), Eckerl was patient when necessary, but she also could hound an opponent.
Rachel Engle, McDonogh, junior, midfield: A pulled hamstring slowed Engle early on, but she emerged as a money ball-player at the end. In the Catholic League Tournament, she contributed to seven of the Eagles' eight goals. Engle scored three of her six goals and had four of her eight assists during the final week as the Eagles won the tournament and reclaimed the No. 1 ranking. She scored both goals in the 2-0 title-game victory over St. Mary's. A major midfield ball winner, Engle won 83 percent of the loose balls she challenged for.
Ashley Froman, Loch Raven, senior, midfield: field: The central cog in the Raiders' drive to the Baltimore County championship and the state semifinals, Froman ranked among the area's most versatile players. She started in the midfield but often moved up to provide scoring power. The first-team All-State selection scored 18 goals and added 14 assists to lead the Raiders (14-4-1) in scoring. With excellent foot skills and composure, Froman was always a threat to strike or to make a perfect pass to a teammate.
Jamie Hupp, McDonogh, sophomore, defense: fense: At left back, Hupp put up exceptional possession statistics. On 50-50 balls and in one-on-one situations, she won the ball 355 times and lost it only 46 for an 89 percent average. She had a knack for winning the ball and quickly shielding it with her body. Even tempered, poised and skilled with great defensive instincts, Hupp also jump started the offense from the flank. She was given honorable mention All-State.
Allison Merkle, Catholic, senior, midfield: Twice an All-Metro first teamer, Merkle shouldered a huge load for the young Cubs (6-9-3). She started out in the goal and made some terrific saves to keep the Cubs in games, but her young teammates could not score goals without her transition skills. Merkle finished with 12 goals and six assists, and the Cubs won six of their last nine games. A dominating presence with exceptional skills, Merkle was named first-team All-State.
Melissa Mueller, Hereford, senior, striker: A second-team All-Metro pick last year, Mueller continued to drive the No. 10 Bulls' attack. She finished with 25 goals and 12 assists as the Bulls (14-4-0) reached the county title game and the regional final. A fearless attacker able to deceive opponents, Mueller had solid foot skills and excellent speed. She proved able to find the net even when marked tightly. A first-team All-State selection, Mueller scored two goals and had an assist in the All-State game and was named Most Valuable Player.
Courtney Outen, Perry Hall, senior, defense: fense: The Gators' sweeper anchored a defense that allowed only nine goals all season and notched 10 shutouts. A strong leader with good speed and excellent defensive instincts, Outen allowed few players past her. Excellent one-on-one, she could also jump-start the offense. In the No. 12 Gators' (11-3-1) state-semifinal, sudden-death shootout loss to eventual champ Wootton, Outen assisted on the goal in the final 1: 10 that forced overtime.
Megan Schwartz, Notre Dame Prep, junior, striker: ior, striker: The Pirates offensive leader, Schwartz shared the team lead in scoring with 12 goals despite drawing constant attention from opposing defenses. Her exceptional speed combined with good ball skills made her one of the Catholic League's top breakaway threats. An unselfish player and a creative playmaker, Schwartz adjusted well to a more team-oriented attack and emerged as a team leader. She was a second-team All-City/County pick last year.
Theresa Sherry, Bryn Mawr, junior, striker: er: The top player in the Catholic League B Division, Sherry led the Mawrtians (15-1-2) to an unbeaten league season and the tournament crown. A dominating striker with good speed and excellent moves, she became more of a play-maker this year but still put up strong numbers. Sherry contributed to more than half of the Mawrtians' offense with 39 goals and 10 assists. She scored three goals five times, including the 4-1 title-game victory over Maryvale.
Lindsay Sproul, Franklin, junior, defense: A second-team All-City/County pick last year, Sproul excelled at sweeper but could play anywhere down the middle. She showed off superb skills and game savvy, making good decisions in the back as the Indians (8-5-0) posted four shutouts and had three one-goals games. When she moved forward, Sproul was an offensive catalyst. She could finish, contributing eight goals and five assists. She was honorable mention All-State.
Jessie Steck, Mercy, senior, defense: A second-team All-City/County pick as a striker last year, Steck moved to sweeper and didn't skip a beat. She was the rock in a defense that notched 11 shutouts and allowed just 12 goals. Steck combined her speed and skill with an excellent field vision and understanding of the game. Perhaps her greatest asset was her timing. She knew exactly when to wait and when to go after the ball. Steck also took all the goal kicks and fee kicks and contributed two goals and two assists.
Lauren Stone, Notre Dame Prep, freshman, goalkeeper: man, goalkeeper: Stone played with surprising poise for such a youngster, never allowing more than two goals in a game despite facing top competition. She posted seven shutouts and six one-goal games while making 106 saves and allowing just 11 goals. Her best efforts came against the top two Catholic League teams, McDonogh (18 saves) and John Carroll (21 saves). Stone showed excellent diving and tipping skills along with sure and steady hands.
Lisa Zanti, McDonogh, junior, striker: A first-team All-Metro pick last year, Zanti continued to rank among the area's most potent strikers with 39 goals and 17 assists. Her combination of speed, moves, tenacity and creativity made her the Catholic League's most feared striker. A money ball player, Zanti scored eight game-winners and assisted on three others. She was nearly unstoppable one-on-one, beating 232 of the 274 opponents she faced. For a second straight year, Zanti was named first-team All-State.
Team selection
The Baltimore Sun 1998 All Baltimore City-Baltimore County boys and girls soccer teams were selected by Lem Satterfield and Katherine Dunn, respectively, after consultation with The Sun staff and area coaches.
Pub Date: 11/26/98