Baltimore Sun’s high school Athletes of the Week (Nov. 1-7): Calvert Hall’s Rich Monath and Spalding’s Ruby DeFrees

Each week, The Baltimore Sun will recognize one high school boy and girl for their athletic achievements.

Boy Athlete of the Week: Rich Monath, Calvert Hall, soccer

The junior forward saved his season’s best work for last, scoring in double overtime to lift the No. 2 Cardinals to a 2-1 win over No. 1 McDonogh in Sunday’s Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference championship game at Anne Arundel Community College.

Monath, Calvert Hall’s leading scorer, scored both goals in the title game to finish with 15 goals and 11 assists in the Cardinals’ 22-2-1 season.

In the opening minute of the second 10-minute overtime period, Monath took a pass ahead from David Peters along the left side and slotted a right-footed shot to the far corner from 14 yards for his fourth game-winning goal of the season. Monath opened last week with an assist in the Cardinals’ 6-0 semifinal win over John Carroll on Thursday.

On Sunday, Calvert Hall captured the program’s fifth MIAA A crown and first since 2016.

No. 2 Calvert Hall boys soccer edges No. 1 McDonogh on Rich Monath’s double-overtime goal to capture MIAA A title https://t.co/QitsqOUPne
— Sun Varsity Letters (@SunVarsity) November 8, 2021

Girl Athlete of the Week: Ruby DeFrees, Spalding, field hockey

The junior goalkeeper enjoyed a 10-save performance to help lead the No. 2 Cavaliers to a 3-0 upset win over No. 1 Garrison Forest in Saturday’s Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference championship at St. Mary’s Pascal Field in Annapolis.

In avenging their only loss of the season — a 3-1 home setback to the Grizzlies on Oct. 7 — the Cavaliers (15-1) scored an early goal to set the tone with DeFrees making timely saves throughout to protect the advantage. It was Spalding’s third IAAM A crown and first since 2015.

DeFrees, who made 63 saves while allowing seven goals this season, recorded shutouts in all three playoff games and finished with 10 for the season.

She opened the playoffs with three saves in a 6-0 win over Notre Dame Prep on Oct. 28 before turning back six shots in the Cavaliers’ 2-0 win over McDonogh in Wednesday’s semifinal round.

Archbishop Spalding field hockey upsets No. 1 Garrison Forest, 3-0, for IAAM A championship https://t.co/saHGk7a4tc
— Sun Varsity Letters (@SunVarsity) November 6, 2021

Previous winners

Oct. 25-31: Benjamin Siriboury, River Hill, golf (boy); Helen Yeung, River Hill, golf (girl)

Oct. 18-24: Ty Dailey, Dulaney, cross country (boy); Samiha Foster, Reservoir, volleyball (girl)

Varsity Highlights

Weekly

Get the latest high school sports stories, photos and video from around the region.

Oct. 11-16: Jordan Fiorenza, Dundalk, football (boy); Cassi Shields, Westminster, volleyball (girl)

Oct. 4-9: Jacob Murrell, McDonogh, soccer (boy); Dani Mendez, Garrison Forest, field hockey (girl)

Sept. 27-Oct. 2: Bisi Owens, Glenelg, football (boy); Izzy Rothwell, Bryn Mawr, field hockey (girl)

Sept. 20-25: Jordy Eckman, Loyola Blakefield, soccer (boy); Elizabeth Pickett, Bel Air, cross country (girl)

Sept. 13-18: Devin Roche, Dunbar, football (boy); Maya Everett, Broadneck, field hockey (girl)

Sept. 6-11: Noah Brannock, Calvert Hall, football (boy); Mackenzie Calhoun, Glenelg, volleyball (girl)

To nominate candidates, please email Glenn Graham at ggraham@baltsun.com by 6 p.m. Sunday with details about the student-athlete’s performance from the past week.