Player of the Year
Sarah Lindler, MercyThe junior left fullback, in her third season as a starter, epitomized the Magic's defense: smart, aggressive and consistent. Mercy finished with a 12-6-1 record, giving then-No.1 McDonogh all it could handle before falling, 1-0, in the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference semifinals. Lindler showed fine anticipation to win balls in the back and poise under pressure to help get the ball forward. The Magic played zone coverage, and Lindler was responsible for the opposing front line's strong side. She was always up to the challenge and also made timely overlap runs to make her presence felt when the team attacked.
Coach of the Year
Albert Oni, MercyUsually finishing in the middle of the pack in the demanding IAAM A Conference, the Magic turned the corner with a good mix of veterans and newcomers, along with the guidance of Oni. Without a dominating scorer in the lineup, the Magic relied on pressuring the ball everywhere on the field and producing offense off that. In finishing 12-6-1, Mercy reached the league semifinals and was close to pulling off an upset of then-No.1 McDonogh before surrendering a second-half goal in a 1-0 defeat. With a promising group of underclassmen who are well aware of Oni's system and expectations, the Magic should be a force in the coming years.
The team
Name | School | Cl. | Position |
Monika Harold | IND | So. | Forward |
Eva Koliofotis | Poly | So. | Forward |
Jordan Stenger | Mercy | Jr. | Forward |
Liza Herzog | Friends | Jr. | Midfield |
Natalie Neill | Poly | Sr. | Midfield |
Alexa Quaranta | Mercy | Fr. | Midfield |
Preslie Quaranta | Mercy | Fr. | Midfield |
Katie Ratych | Catholic | Sr. | Midfield |
Sarah Lindler | Mercy | Jr. | Defense |
Flannery McArdle | Friends | Sr. | Defense |
Mary McKay | Mercy | Sr. | Defense |
Jessica Mengele | Western | Sr. | Goalkeeper |