Before the season began, Glenelg Country School coach Jessica McAdams said that this was not a rebuilding season for her team but rather a remodeling one. The Dragons won last year's Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland B Conference regular season and tournament titles but graduated the scoring punch from that squad.

After a 3-1 loss to Mount de Sales on Sept. 26, McAdams insisted remodeling is still the appropriate word.

"I feel like the pieces are there. We just haven't been able to make the connection" on the offensive transition, she said.

Allie Pickens put Glenelg Country on the scoreboard first when she dribbled left to right across the goal mouth before taking a shot. It was her first goal of the season.

Kayley Jones tied the game midway through the first half.

"When we tied the game our mood definitely went up," Mount de Sales forward Julianna Shearer said. "We definitely intensified our game play."

The Sailors kept Glenelg Country deep in its own territory through much of the first half.

"I definitely felt they were more aggressive than we were today," McAdams said.

"I have a very attacking mentality team," Sailors coach Mary Gentner said. "That attack mentality, talking and teamwork have been our theme since the second we stepped on the field" at the beginning of the season.

Shearer, the Sailors' leading scorer, popped in two goals in quick succession early in the second half to give her team a 3-1 lead. "The goalie was on the ground both times and I jumped over and shot it in," she said.

"We had that little period where we fell apart," Pickens said. "I think those five minutes of letdown cost us the game."

Down by two goals, Glenelg Country fought back but couldn't score. "We kept getting corners but just couldn't finish," Pickens said.

Twice in the second half, Nicole Rieu put shots in the cage, but both times the ball wasn't touched in the circle by one of her teammates, so the goals were disallowed.

"The opportunities were there," McAdams said.

Glenelg Country "is an awesome team. Their stickwork is outstanding," Gentner said. Two weeks ago her squad beat the Dragons, 1-0, in overtime.

"I think in our (IAAM) B bracket, it's a dogfight. There are so many good teams," she added.

The loss dropped Glenelg Country to 1-2-1 in conference play and 1-5-1 overall, but McAdams isn't discouraged.

"It's unfortunate for our two seniors. We are a young team, but everyone makes the playoffs. We need to keep working so that when it's our time, we'll be ready," she said. "I definitely feel like there is so much talent here. It's just waiting for the pieces to connect."