Between rain, an earthquake, a hurricane and the usual preseason interruptions, like team photos, most of the county's field hockey squads have yet to a week of solid practice, but time's up. The season begins in earnest Sept. 2, ready or not.
Based on its returning talent, Glenelg is favored as the county's top team. Coach Ginger Kincaid admits that her team can be "scary good."
The Gladiators return Player of the Year Alyssa Parker, now a senior. She was recently named to the US U-19 National Team. But Parker's not the whole show — Mary Kate Olson, also a senior, doesn't have Parker's flamboyant athleticism, but she ties opponents in knots with her stickwork and her tenacity.
Emily Russo and Morgan Philie aren't far behind Olson and Parker in talent, giving 2010 Class 2A state champions a strong returning core.
But no one will concede the county title (or any other title as a matter of fact) to Glenelg without a battle.
River Hill, which won the Class 3A state championship last fall, has dropped down to Glenelg's Class 2A region. And Marriotts Ridge, which played Glenelg tougher than the scores showed, is there as well.
It would be wrong to count Howard or Mt. Hebron out of the mix. Howard's program is up and coming and always solid Mt. Hebron is capable of spoiling any opponent's day.
Glenelg Country lost key players from its Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland B Conference 2010 championship team, but has enough talent to be competitive.
What's new?
Field hockey players must now wear protective eyewear. Lacrosse players, who have worn goggles for several years, are adjusting faster than those not used to wearing them..
There are two new varsity coaches — Jesse Larson (Atholton) and Terry Smith (Hammond). Smith coached Wilde Lake seven years, starting in the mid-1980s.
The center pass
How the teams look as the season begins:
Atholton
2010 record: 7-4 county; 10-5 overall
Top players: Juniors Kelly McQuilkin (MF) and Ellie Matthews (MF).
What you need to know: The Raiders graduated their goalkeeper and leading scorer, and have just two seniors on their squad — Lauren Berman (MF/F) and Nicole Lake (B). The team's leadership will come from McQuilkin and Matthews, two of 11 juniors on the squad. They bring with them consistency and work ethic.
Atholton's strength is "good team chemistry and (enjoying) working hard," said first-year coach Jesse Larson.
Centennial
2010: 3-8 county, 6-10
Top players: Seniors Alex Stroud (B), Caitlin Cleveland (GK), Anna Kelly (MF) and Sadie Rockefeller (MF); sophomore Margaret McLean (F).
What you need to know: Centennial is carrying a 22-player squad; 11 are seniors.
"I think I have depth. I'm very optimistic," said coach Tara Fadrowski. "The girls are driven by what they know they want from the season and the senior group is all business. They have a goal in mind and I would be very surprised if they do not reach it."
Centennial is coming off an "off" season and has some paybacks in mind.
The Eagles have a strong first group; many played and started as juniors, including defenders Stroud, Jen Swiger and Melissa Collins. McLean has moved to the forward line this season.
The Eagles also have two goalkeepers — Cleveland and Amanda Hendrix. Each has her own strength.
Glenelg
2010: 11-0, 19-1 (2A state champion)
Top players: Seniors Alyssa Parker (MF) and Mary Kate Olson (MF); junior Emily Russo (MF) and sophomore Morgan Philie (MF).
What you need to know: Glenelg returns seven starters from last year's state championship squad, but Parker (38 goals, 38 assists) will need to find a new wingman since Kayleigh Hinkle (34 goals) graduated. The Gladiators also need to replace their goalkeeper, but sophomore Amanda Hoyt played seven games in goal on varsity last year, so she will be ready.
"We're very strong in the midfield, and we have a lot of speed in the front line," said coach Ginger Kincaid.
The Gladiators have eight seniors and nine juniors on their 19-player squad.
Hammond
2010: 1-10, 2-11
Top players: Seniors Lauren Smolla (M/F), Heather LaCroix (F), Nimisha Singh (D), Sarah McClanahan (D) and Patience Williams (F/M).
What you need to know: Hammond has a team of 14 players (five seniors and nine juniors) so fitness and conditioning will be important.
"We are young and inexperienced, but we have a few leaders who have played some club ball and a few younger girls who are really developing quickly," said Terry Smith. "We have a strong work ethic and the girls want to listen and learn, so we should get better with each practice and game we play."
Smith is Hammond's third coach in five years.
Howard
2010: 8-3, 12-4
Top players: Seniors Arielle Abrams (F), Molly Ciniero (D), Alicia Grant (D/MF), Katja Randazzo (A) and Lani Sasser (G).
What you need to know: The Lions have five seniors, nine juniors and two sophomores on the squad. Randazzo is the team's top returning scorer, and Sasser split time in the goal cage last year.
"We're a solid team," said coach Kristen Vance. "We are looking forward to the competition. We have great teams in this county."
Howard will host the annual Betty Lang tournament Sept. 10. Easton, Glenelg Country School and Great Mills will be there. The Lions are also playing perennial power Bethesda-Chevy Chase in mid-October.
Long Reach
2010: 2-9, 2-11
Top players: Seniors Delaney Miller (MF/D), Nicole Grabowski (MF) and Taylor Burfeind (GK) and junior McKenzie Williams (MF/A).
What you need to know: "We're a young team and we had to pull up a few from JV but they are excited to learn how to play field hockey," said coach Rashmi Bhanot. To speed the learning curve, Long Reach had two-a-day practices during the preseason, working mostly on basics.
"They're a really good group of girls. They are motivated to win and score," Bhanot said. "We're off to a good start."
Long Reach opens its season Sept. 3 in the Paint Branch tournament.
Marriotts Ridge
2010: 8-3, 10-4
Top players: Seniors Bri Hanlon (F), Molly Fleming (F), Anne Zabel (MF) and Amanda DiFerdinando (D), and juniors Nicole Leaf (F), Katie Nelson (D) and Brooke Sharbaugh (MF).
What you need to know: Marriotts Ridge lost 11 seniors but has a core of returning players and new talent to the varsity that should keep the team near the top of the standings. "Most of the girls are multi-sport athletes so they are bringing their field knowledge from soccer, lacrosse and basketball to the table," said coach Stacie Gado. "In addition, they have been playing in the off season and getting used to playing together. We are once again looking to be a top contender in the county."
Hanlon (eight goals) returns as the Mustangs' top scorer but she's going to need some help to make the offense a real threat.
Mt. Hebron
2010: 9-2, 10-4-1
Top players: Seniors Kelly Jones (MF), Katie Schaaf (D), Victoria Yun (F) and Emily Bishop (F).
What you need to know: The Vikings graduated a good chunk of their offense and their outstanding goalkeeper, Morgan Culler. Those will be big holes to fill.
"We clearly have some weak, weak areas but the girls are very focused to improve," said coach Jeannette Ireland. "We need to get better as a team and they recognize that."
Mt. Hebron's four seniors are providing the leadership and impetus to that improvement, pushing each other, and their teammates, and showing that had work pays off.
The Vikings have two goalkeepers this year — juniors Maddy Fisher and Allison Seitz.
Oakland Mills
2010: 4-7, 6-8
Top players: senior Miranda Neely (MF) and juniors Megan Minarcin (F) and Emma Brand (MF).
What you need to know: Oakland Mills graduated six key players from a team that posted the school's best county record in over 20 years. "We're young and new, but we are building, staying positive and working hard," said coach Nikki Trunzo.
The Scorpions are thin on numbers. Between varsity and JV there are 24 players, but Trunzo hopes to recruit more when students return to class this week.
"We want more young girls to join; we want to get a feeder program going," Trunzo said. "We definitely want to win some in-county game and maybe win a playoff game. Those are still our goals."
Reservoir
2010: 5-6, 8-7
Top players: Senior Megan Maloney (F/MF), Katie Westermeyer (MF), Anna Lee (B), Alexa Spearman (F) and Laura Brothman (F).
What you need to know: In an effort to punch up its scoring, Reservoir has made some adjustments — Maloney, who spent most of last year on the midline, and Brothman, a defender in the past, are moving to the forward line where their speed and tireless determination will be an asset.
There have been other changes, too. Olivia Lynch takes over the goalkeeper position and Shayna Tiller will be a staple on the defensive line.
"This team is full of great personality and character," said coach Melissa Frye. "They are responsible young ladies that are making the team their own. … We definitely have to do a little re-organizing and some girls are changing positions, but they all do so with a happy heart. It is our goal to work harder than every team that we meet this year."
With nine seniors and seven juniors, the Gators are not without experience.
River Hill
2010: 8-3, 15-4 (Class 3A state champion)
Top players: Seniors Nina Collins (F), Pauline Shih (MF) and Katie Woolls (D) and junior Kat Varga (F).
What you need to know: River Hill returns all but four starters from its 2010 Class 3A state championship team. The Hawks have dropped down a classification this year and Glenelg and Marriotts Ridge serve as potential roadblocks to a trip back to the state final four. Collins (16 goals) and Varga (14) give River Hill a nice scoring punch.
"We return all our starting defense except our goalie, and we have good team chemistry," said coach Shelly Chamness.
River Hill has 10 seniors and 11 juniors on its squad.
Wilde Lake
2010: 0-11, 0-13
Top players: Seniors DiDi Ertenu (GK) and Ciera Boyd (B) and junior Cathy Zhu (MF).
What you need to know: Anchoring the defense on a team that didn't score a goal in 2010, Ertenu earned second team all-county honors. "She had a great year last year and I am excited to see what she can do this year," said coach Lindsey Startt.
Boyd has the stick skills to work the ball out of the backfield and Zhu will help the Wildecats at the midfield.
Lack of numbers is often an issue for Wilde Lake, but there are 15 players on the team this fall, including five seniors and seven juniors.
And, at playday, the Wildecats showed that they can score.
Glenelg Country School
2010: 11-0, 16-4-1 (IAAM B Conference champion)
Top players: Seniors Allie Pickens (MF); juniors Sarah Bates (GK), Amy Keth (MF), Nicole Rieu (MF), Hannah Harbold (MF) and Kevyn Jorgenson (D), and sophomores Mallory Pappas (D) and Hannah Veater (F).
What you need to know: The Dragons graduated a group of seniors who were a presence both on and off the field. Included among them were the team's top two scorers — Claire McAuliffe (19 goals) and Sam Weinstein (14). This year's team only has two seniors — Pickens and Marisa Jack. There are nine juniors, including Bates, who is a Futures Elite player.
"I don't feel like this is a rebuilding season, I feel like it's a remodeling season," said coach Jessica McAdams. "All the pieces are there. We're trying something new and I see this as a two-year investment."
McAdams is working with a small squad. The varsity has just two subs and the JV has none.