Aberdeen
Head coach: Matt Roberts (fifth season)
2010 record: 5-6-1
Top returning players: Liz Fitch, Jr. (Mid); Kayla Gardner, Jr. (D); Leah Hardin, So. (Mid); Becca Lewis, So. (M); Samara Miller, Jr. (Mid); Morgan Tildon, Jr. (F)
Key newcomers: Faith Edmonson, So. (F); Abby Kraus, Sr. (D)
Outlook: Coach Roberts described the 2011 edition of the Eagles as, “young, but talented.”
“If we stay healthy, we should be able to compete,” Roberts said. “our focus is to continue to grow as a team and get better as the season progresses.”
Bel Air
Head coach: Josh Clemmer (fifth season)
2010 record: 11-5
Top returning players: Teresa Berg, Jr. (Mid); Allie Bredder, Sr. (D); Brooke Lorber, Jr. (F); Emily Rosenberger, Sr. (GK)
Key newcomers: Taylor Hensley, So. (Mid); Shannon Williams, Fr. (Mid)
Outlook: The reigning Class 2A East champ, Bel Air hopes to battle for an upper division title, and possibly more, this year.
“Bel Air is returning a strong core of players from our regional championship team,” coach Clemmer said. “With another year of growth, we expect to compete for the UCBAC’s Chesapeake Conference championship, as well as a state championship. Since our school will move up in classification, from 2A to 3A, we expect to face more balanced competition come playoff time, but some of our most difficult opponents in our region exist within Harford County.”
C. Milton Wright
Head coach: Paul Austin (12th season)
2010 record: 16-2-1
Top returning players: Liz Burgee, Jr. (Mid); Jess Canami, Sr. (Mid); Megan Frailer, Jr. (F); Angela Kuhn, Jr. (Mid); Abby Smucker, Jr. (D)
Key newcomers: NA (not available)
Outlook: Harford County’s most successful squad last year, despite having one of the youngest rosters, the 2010 Mustangs advanced to the 3A state semifinals after winning the UCBAC championship. This season’s team is youthful as well, but the CMW girls hope to stay atop the pack.
“The 2011 squad is young, with only three seniors and 10 underclassmen,” coach Austin said. “The team returns five starters, possesses great overall team speed, and has a talent level that runs deep. One of the keys will be who plays in the net and wins a very competitive battle for the goalkeeper position. With a strong out-of-conference schedule, the Mustangs will find out a lot about themselves early in the season with games against River Hill, Urbana, John Carroll, Institute of Notre Dame, Maryvale and Bryn Mawr.”
Edgewood
Head coach: Mike Friskey
2010 record: NA
Top returning players: Ladae Boykin, So. (F); Autumn Henning, Sr. (D); Morgan Kaseman, Jr. (Mid); Natalee Olah, Sr. (F)
Key newcomers: Nasia Denegal, So. (GK); Alyssa Rankin, Fr. (Mid); Caitlin Rankin, Fr. (GK)
Outlook: Of his team’s 2011 campaign, coach Friskey simply said: “This year’s team will be small, and young, but talented. Leadership and motivation will dictate our record.”
Fallston
Head coach: Mark Hannahs (fifth season)
2010 record: 11-4-1
Top returning players: Paulina Christ, Sr. (Mid); Maggie Clough, Sr. (Mid); Alayna Epstein, Sr. (F); Sam Gasior, Jr. (D); Jayme Harmon, Jr. (Mid); Erica Henry, Sr. (D); Katie Lahatte, Sr. (D); Katie Mitchell, Sr. (D); Heather Summers, Sr. (Mid); Marissa Walker, Jr. (Mid); Brianna Worthington, Sr. (F)
Key newcomers: Brooke Nigrin, So. (F); Kayla Reilly, So. (GK); Beth Walton, So. (Mid)
Outlook: “I have 15 seniors this year so the team is very mature,” coach Hannahs said. “The senior group, when they were freshman, went undefeated at the junior varsity level that year. I have a good mix of juniors and sophomores that will also see the field. This team has a lot of interchangeable parts, which will allow me to substitute frequently, and keep the team fresh. Hopefully this will help come playoff time. We have a very tough out-of-conference schedule with Notre Dame Prep, Good Counsel, Roland Park, Marriotts Ridge, Hereford and John Carroll. At Fallston, we always like to play this tough schedule to prepare us for the UCBAC schedule. The seniors feel that they were not able to go as far as they wanted last year with the loss to a good Bel Air team in the playoffs. They have set their sights on getting to state tournament at UMBC again this year, and have been practicing very hard in the preseason. We always have one goal here at Fallston, and that is a state championship. Hopefully we can fulfill that goal.”
Harford Tech
Head coach: Matt Berg (fifth season)
2010 record: 7-6-1
Top returning players: Brittany Bowman, Jr. (D); Katie Doleschal, Sr. (Mid); Emily Edmunds, Sr. (D); Jamie Hoban, Sr. (F); Cierra Singleton, Jr. (Mid)
Key newcomers: Megan Doleschal, So. (D); Sarah North, So. (Mid); Julie Ransone, So. (GK); Dana Waskiewicz, So. (F)
Outlook: “We graduated 13 seniors this past year, so we are a young team, but one with solid potential,” coach Berg said. “The trick at Harford Tech is always to get the team to play as one, since none of the players grow up playing on the same club or rec teams, and are spread pretty evenly throughout the county. I really feel great about the leadership on the team this year with my four seniors, and I like the attitudes of the younger players trying to make their mark and earn playing time on the field. This should be a positive and productive season for Harford Tech girls soccer.
Havre de Grace
Head coach: Randy Cypher (first season)
2010 record: 0-13
Top returning players: Ceili Haring, Sr. (D); Kaitlyn Husfelt, Sr. (GK); Kelsey McRoberts, Sr. (Mid); Emily Schall, Sr. (D)
Key newcomers: NA
Outlook: The only place to go is up for the Warriors, who went without a victory in 2010.
“With taking over a program that has not had much success in the past few years, going back to basic of hard work and structure is a must,” coach Cypher said. “With only four returning seniors, the team is going to have to rely on a large junior class of players to be the supporting cast. I believe that a solid foundation of structure in their game, a change in their mind set, and a change back to the winning ways is something that these players can embrace and have pride in. I believe with these players, winning is possible and it will happen.”
John Carroll
Head coach: Gary Lynch (14th season)
2010 record: 13-3-3
Top returning players: Erica Bodt, Sr. (D); Sophie Centi, So. (Mid, D); Jordan Clarke, Jr. (Mid); Olivia DiFonso, Jr. (F, Mid); Shelby Foit, Sr. (Mid, D); Becky Hottle, Jr. (D); Gina Maiorana, Sr. (GK); Leah Pace, Sr. (F); Nicole Wojcik, Jr. (Mid); Kiana Wright, Jr. (D)
Key newcomers: Kara Klages, Fr. (D, Mid); Caroline Sdanowich, Fr. (Mid, D)
Outlook: “This season offers both a challenge and opportunity for the Patriots side,” coach Lynch said. “Some of the challenges are: To be able to compete in the IAAM, and also the rest of their schedule facing four of ESPN’s top-50 high school girls soccer teams. One-third of the team does not have any high school varsity experience, but they will be called on to make big contributions during the season. We need to be able to fill the goalie position with two young keepers, while their All-IAAM goalie Gina Maiorana, who might be out for half the season or more, and we need to be able to play in with different shapes and games plans, because of the variation of sides that we will face. A few of the opportunities presented are: To be able to offer a young group of players the chance to get involved early and often, to be able to allow the experienced players to serve a much larger role in learning how to actually mentor some younger players, and to be able to allow the entire team understand and feel the Patriot pride which has kept the John Carroll girls soccer program as one of the areas top-ranked girls soccer teams for over 10 years.”
Joppatowne
Head coach: Megan Bongiovanni (fourth season)
2010 record: 2-9
Top returning players: Korey Carroll, Sr. (F); Brianna Cook, Jr. (Mid); Joelle Matthews, Jr. (F); Hannah May, Sr. (Mid)
Key newcomers: Breonna Day, Jr. (Mid); Lakia Huff, Sr. (GK, D); Paige Miller, (F, Mid)
Outlook: “With the loss of only one senior to last year’s graduating class, the Mariners are looking to continue their momentum by playing solid possession soccer,” coach Bongiovanni said. “Their focus over the past four years has been on playing simple soccer by connecting the easy pass. With a large group of upperclassmen, who have been members of the Joppatowne High School soccer program since they were freshmen, soccer intelligence of the team has certainly improved. Productivity in games, however, will be determined by the team’s ability to finish on-goal scoring opportunities. Team camaraderie has proven to be on the upswing once again this season. Playing tough in both practices and games for each other and the good of the team will be a driving force of success of the team this season.”
North Harford
Head coach: Tom Berg (27th season)
2010 record: 12-5
Top returning players: Emily Briggs, Sr. (GK); Alicia Greene, Sr. (Mid, F); Haley Jones, Sr. (Mid, F); Leah Monticello, Jr. (D); Megan Root, Jr. (Mid); Samantha Verzi, Jr. (Mid)
Key newcomers: Meghan O’Donnell, Fr. (F)
Outlook: “With only two of our returning starters healthy at this time, we have more medical issues then the Republican Party has presidential candidates,” coach Berg said. “Over time, we should get healthier and improve. Our defensive play will have to carry us in the earlier part of the season. With an always tough league season, non-league games and scrimmages with John Carroll, Maryvale, Wilde Lake, and Mercy, we will be challenged. Our conditioning needs to improve, but goalkeeping looks to be a strength. The ability of our nine newcomers to make the transition to the faster pace of varsity soccer is key to our on field success”
Patterson Mill
Head coach: Mike Parker (fourth season)
2010 record: 8-8
Top returning players: Amy Bednarek, Jr. (Mid); Sammi Galbraith, Sr. (F); Logenn Schoen, Jr. (D)
Key newcomers: Riley Druyor, So. (F); Gabby Samra, So. (Mid); Sam Wuerfl, So. (F)
Outlook: Last season’s Susquehanna (lower) Division champs will be playing a harder schedule in the Chesapeake Division this time around, but coach Parker said his mesh of upper-class experience and talented newcomers should carry the Huskies through.
“The season looks bright,” coach Parker said. “Our returners and new players are working extremely well together.
