Glenelg girls soccer holds off Glenelg Country, 3-2
Unger lifts Gilman soccer over Calvert Hall in 2OT
Coach Christian von Rautenkranz understands the beginning of October is a pivotal time for a Glenelg girls soccer team that has had an up-and-down 2018 campaign. The Gladiators entered Monday’s nonleague match against Glenelg Country with three wins, six losses and a tie, though half of those defeats were to league opponents River Hill, Reservoir and Wilde Lake — all of which are ranked in the Top 15 of the latest Baltimore Sun girls soccer poll.
The Gladiators also went up against No. 15 Centennial, and they escaped Ellicott City with a 1-1 draw.
Now, they are in the midst of the lighter portion of their schedule, meaning it’s time for them to “learn how to win,” according to their first-year coach. Well, the past two games have been a promising start.
After a1-0 win over Howard on Friday, the Gladiators scored a season-high three goals on Monday and produced more than a dozen scoring opportunities in their 3-2 victory over Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference foe Glenelg Country.
“In years past, I remember watching the New York Giants the year they beat the [New England] Patriots,” said von Rautenkranz, referring to the 2007 NFL season during which the Giants defeated the previously undefeated Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. “The New York Giants were an average team, but they got their stuff together right at the last minute and they rolled into the playoffs with so much momentum.”
Von Rautenkranz has emphasized a possession-based style of play all season, and on Monday afternoon, Glenelg (2-4-1 Howard County, 4-6-1 overall) connected passes up and down the field to create 16 shots. It’s what allowed senior midfielder Madalyn Nichols to open the scoring in the 10th minute.
Moments before taking a free kick, junior defender Hallie Koele directed her gaze at Nichols and nodded to signal the pass would come her way. Nichols then corralled the ball on the left side, examined the goalkeeper’s position and aimed her shot towards the upper-right corner. That’s all it took for the Gladiators to go ahead, 1-0.
Eight minutes later, Glenelg Country answered with a score of its own thanks to Celia Pell. Standing about 40 yards from goal, Pell launched a free kick that sailed over everyone’s head. That includes goalkeeper Kendall Castor (11 saves), who got her left hand on the shot but could not prevent it from landing in the bottom of the net.
Emily Nalls broke the tie with a score off a feed from Symone Jenson. And less than 90 seconds later, Nichols doubled that lead. A plethora of unsuccessful crosses left Nichols frustrated, so finally she decided to weave through the defense herself. She ended up beating multiple Dragons for a muchneeded third tally.
Boys soccer
NO. 8GILMAN2, NO. 14 CALVERTHALL1, 2OT: Luke Unger scored two goals, including the game-winner in double overtime, to lift the Greyhounds (9-3-1, 6-2-1 Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference) over the Cardinals (6-5, 5-5). Ben Bender scored for Calvert Hall. CARROLL CHRISTIAN 8, CALVARY BAPTIST 1: Carroll Christian’s boys soccer team was nothing short of dominant last season.
The Patriots finished with a 20-2 record and won their second straight Maryland Association of Christian Schools Athletic Conference Championship.
That alone defines a successful campaign, but coach Joshua Belcher felt his team was fractured. The Pats fought and struggled to play well together, Belcher said.
This year, however, has been different. Carroll Chiristian’s Ben Gold moves the ball against Calvary Baptist Church Academy.
The Patriots lost10 seniors from last year’s team, but boast a more cohesive unit in the eyes of their coach. To Belcher, that’s more important. “I’ve always found as a coach that, while you always want talent … sometimes team chemistry is often times better than just pure talent alone,” Belcher said. “Talent can only get you so far but team chemistry can win you championships.”
Carroll’s chemistry was evident Monday afternoon — six different players recorded goals as the Patriots rolled to an 8-1 win over visiting Calvary Baptist.
“It was a solid win,” said senior defensive midfielder Matt Brauer. “We’re playing at just about our best right now.”
Joey Brauer, Matt Reynolds, Ben Reede, and Isaiah Delph contributed to the firsthalf rout, extending Carroll’s lead to 5-0 by halftime.