PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Lisa Engel
North Carroll
Engel is a tough two-way player who had 14 goals and five assists, carried the Panthers at times, and was a big reason they made the Class 3A North region final "She leads by example and she sets the tone," North Carroll coach Denean Koontz said.
Engel's biggest attributes are her speed and great stickwork. The senior and three-year varsity player often can create scoring chances just by using her speed, which is how she scored the goal in a 1-0 victory over eventual Class 4A state finalist Westminster.
She came up with numerous key goals throughout the season. Engel scored the team's lone goal in its 2-1 loss in the region final to eventual Class 3A state champion South Carroll.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Erin Soulen
South Carroll
Soulen knew what it took to win a state title, having played on the Cavaliers' championship team in 1991.
Even though she had several top-notch players, Soulen strongly stressed a team game, and the players listened and bought into it. The passing, tough defense and great stickwork that No. 3 South Carroll (15-0-1) used all over the field was too much for most teams to overcome.
The Cavaliers won the Central Maryland Conference title, the Class 3A North region and upset then-No. 1 Fallston (the defending champion) in the state finals.
FIRST TEAM
Allie Armitage
South Carroll
A hard-working player who came up big for the Cavaliers in the playoffs, the junior finished with 10 goals and six assists and scored the game-winning goal in the Class 3A state semifinal victory over Great Mills.
Courtney Beard
North Carroll
The midfielder gave the Panthers a lot of help in defense and the transition game. The senior had great speed and quickness that sparked the team's offense and she often was all over the field.
Elyse Carloss
Westminster
Carloss was an unheralded defender who finished as one of the team's higher scorers --three goals and two assists. The senior had a pair of key defensive saves in the team's Class 4A state title game loss, helping Westminster rebound from a slow start to nearly win the championship.
Liz Fries
South Carroll
One of the county's top players, Fries was one of the area's most dangerous scorers. A sophomore, she came up with the big goals that the Cavaliers needed throughout the season -- finishing with 13 goals and eight assists -- as the team won the Class 3A state title.
Stephanie Kisic
South Carroll
She was one of the team's key players down the stretch. Her relentless work, especially in late-season games, let South Carroll pressure opponents on offense. A sophomore, she'll be one of the county's top players next year.
Bekah Krolus
Westminster
She is a skilled player whose solid stickwork helped the Owls throughout the year. The team's leading scorer with four goals and two assists, Krolus, a senior, helped the Owls make it back to the Class 4A state title game after a slow start.
Cory Hamblet
South Carroll
The South Carroll defense didn't often have to do much, but Hamblet was one of the players who helped it stay tough. Like several of her teammates, the senior often found her way to the ball, passed nicely and did whatever was necessary to push the ball toward the other goal.
Lenis Hare
Westminster
Hare, a senior, took a big role in the team's transition game, which helped the Owls make it to the Class 4A state finals and finish at 8-6-2. She finished with four assists and was an excellent passer, often helping on the team's penalty corners.
Brittany Oliver
Francis Scott Key
Oliver was Key's best defensive player, using her speed and stickwork to help the team's clearing. A senior, she rarely stopped working, always found her way to the ball and was a good passer who could spark the team's transition game.
Ali Palmer
North Carroll
She was one of the county's top defensive players. The senior was the team's top defender against corner hits and always found her way to the ball, anchoring the defense that the Panthers lived by this year.
Jessica Pickard
North Carroll
Pickard, a junior, was one of the team's top shooters, with a booming shot that the Panthers relied upon. When teams would slow Lisa Engel, Pickard often was there and scored several key goals this season. The Panthers will need her next year to replace Engel.
Abby Treworgy
South Carroll
Even though she didn't have much work at times, Treworgy came up with clutch saves when needed. The senior goalie stopped a bunch of penalty strokes during postseason play, the biggest being one that came with 1:46 left that preserved South Carroll's 2-1 victory over North Carroll in the Class 3A North region final.
Britt Woodfield
South Carroll
She is a tough, all-around player who did a lot of the dirty work that sparked the Cavaliers on offense. The senior ran down loose balls all over the field, and her great stickwork helped South Carroll at both ends.
Kerrie Wuenschel
South Carroll
Another hard-working player whose stickwork and tough play at midfield helped the Cavaliers constantly keep the ball in the opposing team's end of the field. Wuenschel, a junior, also had a clutch assist in the team's 2-1 overtime win over Fallston in the Class 3A state title game.