The 2014-15 school year produced memorable moments, special teams and fine performances from both players and coaches in the high school sports beats I cover. This week, I'm going to take a look at each of the three seasons -- boys and girls soccer in the fall; boys basketball in the winter and boys lacrosse this spring.
First, here's a recap of the boys and girls soccer seasons.
Most dominant team
The McDonogh girls soccer team enjoyed a perfect 15-0 season to capture the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference championship, going wire-to-wire as the metro area's top-ranked team and also finishing No. 1 in Top Drawer Soccer's Fab 50 national poll.
In claiming their second straight league title, the Eagles dominated the competition until getting a significant push from Notre Dame Prep in the title game. After 100 minutes of scoreless play, they earned the win in penalty kicks by a 4-2 margin.
The Eagles also had the area's most dominant player -- boy or girl -- in junior forward Bridgette Andrzejewski, who scored 32 goals and added 11 assists. She was named All-Metro Player of the Year; National Player of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America; and Gatorade Maryland Player of the Year.
Fellow junior Kia Rankin, an All-Metro first-team forward, gave the Eagles an incredible one-two punch and a strong midfield and organized defense played big in their perfect season.
Biggest surprise
In the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference title game, the McDonogh boys were primed to match the girls team with a perfect season as well, but Loyola Blakefield had other plans.
The Dons had lost to the Eagles both times during the regular season, but were not deterred when the game that counted most took place.
While most teams were content on sitting back against the powerful Eagles, the Dons stayed aggressive and grew more and more confident with each passing minute. Ryan Conrad provided the offense with two goals as Loyola (16-4-3) claimed a stunning, 2-0, win for their second crown in three years.
McDonogh came into the game with a 19-0 mark and ranked No. 1 in the country.
Team on the rise
The Sparrows Point girls finally claimed their first Class 1A state championship in 2013, but reached even higher ground in 2014.
Not only did the Pointers (16-1) repeat as state champs, but they also claimed their first Baltimore County championship.
As one of the smallest schools in Baltimore County, they had a knack for coming up big time and time over. After knocking off defending county champion Catonsville, a perennial Class 4A power, with a 3-1 win during the regular season, Sparrows Point beat the Comets a second time in the title game.
Junior forward Jamie Shifflett, an All-Metro first-team pick, scored the only goals in both the county and state title games. She'll return with a strong nucleus as the Pointers have more big plans next season.
Finest coaching job
River Hill girls coach Brian Song has guided the Hawks to six Class 3A state championships and the past three in his 10 years at the helm.
This year was most likely his most impressive work. The Hawks (17-2) were significantly tested in the state tournament, battling against quality competition and other factors out of the team's control. But he always had them ready for whatever came.
In the state semifinals against hungry Bel Air, his halftime adjustments played big in turning a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 win.
Getting to the title game proved a burden -- unsuspecting inclement weather and traffic kept the Hawks from getting to Loyola's Ridley Athletic Complex until 30 minutes before game time -- but they weren't fazed.
River Hill scored twice in the first seven minutes against Linganore and ended up with a 2-1 win.