Glenelg Country School's season did not begin on a high note. The Dragons lost four of their first five games. The fifth game was scoreless overtime tie.

Thoughout it all, coach Jessica McAdams insisted that it was just a matter of rearranging the returning pieces of the 2010 team that won the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland B Conference title.

What the 2011 squad lacked early in the season was scoring punch and transition play, but it's all coming together now.

Thanks to a 2-0 win over John Carroll on Tuesday, Glenelg Country has advanced to the B Conference semifinals where undefeated Maryvale awaits.

"We're facing Maryvale for the third year in a row" in the playoffs, McAdams said. The game will be played Thursday at 3:45 p.m. at a site to be announced. Maryvale has been playing on off-campus sites this year.

Glenelg Country did not have its best game against Maryvale during the regular season. In fact, the 4-1 loss was probably the low point.

"But I think that was kind of the beginning of our turnaround," McAdams said.

The Dragons won five of their next six games and tied another 1-1, in overtime.

"Losing the seniors last year, everyone was like, what's going to happen? So our heads were down at the beginning, but once we saw what we could do everyone became closer … We became a field hockey family," said Hannah Harbold, who scored a goal and had an assist against John Carroll.

Both of Glenelg Country's goals came in the first half.

"Nicole Rieu brought the ball up the right side and crossed it all the way through the middle (of the circle). It went past the goalie and I tapped it in. I pushed it too hard and almost fell in the goal cage myself," Harbold said.

Allie Pickens produced the Dragons' second goal on a corner play that began with Mallory Pappas inserting to Harbold who pushed the ball to Pickens at the top of the circle.

"Allie took one hit and scored. It was beautiful," Harbold said.

"Allie had a fantastic game," said McAdams. "And Hannah Harbold stepped up. She's playing more as a forward and has a nose for the goal."

Rieu, Amy Keth and Pappas were central to the midfield transition for the Dragons. Pappas, Kevyn Jorgenson, Sarah Myers, Ellen Moxley and keeper Sarah Bates (three saves) did their share of preventing John Carroll scoring opportunities.

McAdams said a non-league contest, a 2-0 loss to McDonogh, has played an important role in sharpening her team for the playoffs.

"We want to go as far as we can, but looking towad next season, I'm happy with how much we have improved from the beginning of the season," McAdams said.

Glenelg Country 2, John Carroll 0

Goals: GCS – Hannah Harbold, Allie Pickens. JC – none.

Assists: GCS – Nicole Rieu, Hannah Harbold.

Saves: GCS – Sarah Bates 3. JC – Jess Krolewski 8.

Halftime: Glenelg Country, 2-0.