Severna Park, Broadneck, Arundel lead close pack
“It may really come down to the inequity of which programs have more players who have been able to play club during the summer and fall ... than our county was able to provide.”
— Bruins coach Shannon Hanratty
Most coaches expect the reigning Class 4A state and county champions, Severna Park, to rule their home county in this abbreviated fall sports season the same way they did the state last year.
But even the Falcons aren’t exempt from the toll coronavirus has taken on many Anne Arundel teams this year.
The graduation of 2019 Capital Gazette and National Player of the Year Lila Slattery will have a big impact, as she has 22 goals and 18 assists in the 2019 season, but three seniors opted out of competing this year.
They’re not the only ones.
Chesapeake misses six players who chose not to return for various reasons. Meanwhile, Meade’s varsity team did not have enough players to field a team.
North County coach Morgan Downey said changes in the school system and the unusual
timing of the season prevented some of even her most committed players from returning, while Annapolis coach Kristin Burke estimates the Panthers lost half of their usual turnout.
With 10 returning starters, Arundel is anticipated to be the team to beat, but the Wildcats experienced a numbers hit due to coronavirus, too. Last season’s 4A East region champion Broadneck, another projected top county contender, typically sees around 50 players come out to play, but have just 41 this short season.
“It may really come down to the inequity of which programs have more players who have been able to play club during the summer and fall and had more opportunities to play than our county was able to provide,” Bruins coach Shannon Hanratty said.
Likewise, a few opt-outs and an inability to advertise its team in-person dashed Glen Burnie’s hopes of reviving its junior varsity program.
Class 4A state semifinalist Old Mill, which also is missing a few players that did not feel comfortable competing, usually benefits from its athletes getting to play winter field hockey. That, of course, didn’t happen this year, which firstyear coach Courtney Rice knows will have an impact.
South River, which won the 2018 4A state title but didn’t make a deep postseason run in 2019, is one of the few lucky ones. Coach Megan Atkinson said the Seahawks had a large freshman class come in, swelling the team sizes.
“Coronavirus has affected some of our day to day activities. We have had to modify our warm-ups and drills to ensure social distancing,” Atkinson said. “Regardless, our athletes are excited to play and are willing to take extra precautions to be safe on the field.”
Coaches have their eye on the same player to take Anne Arundel by storm. Arundel junior and Syracuse commit Lana Hamilton, the humble midfielder who speaks loudly with her stick and quietly contributed more assists than goals in the 2019 regular season, will be among the top players in the league.
“Lana Hamilton is a fast, dynamic player,” Atkinson said.
The field hockey season will begin Tuesday, March 23 with the final game scheduled for April 15. All games will be played on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5 or 6:30 p.m. For the shortened season, no county championship or state playoffs will be taking place.
Here is what to expect from each local program:
ANNAPOLIS
2019 record: 4-8 overall
Coach: Kristin Burke, second season Top players: Seniors Rachel Heisener (GK), Jessica Baker (F) and Elsa Skinner (M).
ARUNDEL
2019 record: 11-3-2
Coach: Carrie Vosburg, ninth season Top players: Seniors Nikki Seven (F), Caroline Keane (M/D), Malia Walker (M/D), Maggie Lockard (M), Kaitlin Cloyd (F), Gracie Johnson (F) and Hailey Kohlman (F); juniors Lana Hamilton (M/D), Jillian Trout (M), Lauren Egan (M/D) and Savannah Brooks (GK).
BROADNECK
2019 record: 10-4, Class 4A East region II champions
Coach: Shannon Hanratty, second season
Top players: Seniors Makenna Quigley (M), Cecelia Gazelle (GK), Brynn Schlesinger (GK) and Zoe Shevitz (M); sophomores Maya Everett (M), Arden Hunterman (M) and Jess Kopernick (M).
CHESAPEAKE
2019 record: 8-5
Coach: Stacey Mackintosh, first season
Top players: Seniors Madison Hoyer (M/D) and Meghan Mayo (F/M); junior Charlotte Alexander (F); sophomore Natalie Forman (M/D).
GLEN BURNIE
2019 record: 1-11-1
Coach: Tracee Simms, second season
Top players: Seniors Sehalee Locklear (F), Mattie Perkins (GK), Maria Rivas (M), Annaliese Dominguez (F) and Julia Dominguez (M); sophomore Brielle Bellamy (D).
NORTH COUNTY
2019 record: 11-3
Coach: Morgan Downey, fourth season
Top players: Seniors Natalie Lewis (M) and Aly Geckle (F); juniors Jenna Schneck (M) and Annabelle Colgan (F); freshman Kaydence Augustin (D).
NORTHEAST
2019 record: 8-6
Coach: Courtney Woolford, third season
Top players: Seniors Emma Borgert (F) and Julia Rafiq (M); juniors Haleigh Green (D) and Hannah Fox (GK); sophomores Megan Meek (D) and Makenzy Martini (F).
OLD MILL
2019 record: 10-6, Class 4A North region II champions, state semifinalists
Coach: Courtney Rice, first season Top players: Seniors Madison Sobolewski (M), Allyna Threatt (M), Kristen Wood (M) and Stella Sanchez (GK); juniors Elaina Creekmore (F) and Lily McCullough (D).
SEVERNA PARK
2019 record: 16-2, county champions, Class 4A state champions
Coach: Shannon Garden, third season Top players: Senior Amalia Haggerty (F); juniors Zoe Day (M/D), Emma Marsh (M) and Gen Mullervy (M); sophomores Meredith Scepens (M), Ava Drexler Amey (M) and Charlotte Kramer (GK).
SOUTH RIVER
2019 record: 8-8
Coach: Megan Atkinson, ninth season
Top players: Seniors Meagan Quick (M), Charlie Laye (M) and Kinley Parker (F); juniors Maddie Kandra (F), Gracelyn Solarz (D), Elsa Emling (F) and Lily Kerr (GK).
SOUTHERN
2019 record: 3-13
Coach: Cindy Gray, 12th season Top players: Seniors Justice Washburn (D) and Sarah McBride (GK); junior Jayda Washburn (D); sophomore Kate Seymour (M).