Magic might have the touch
Storylines, players to watch, top 15 teams entering season
Here’s what you need to know for the 2021 high school girls soccer season in the Baltimore area:
Storylines to watch
McDonogh and Archbishop Spalding have ruled the IAAM A Conference for a decade. Can another team break through?
While the perennial powers remain highly formidable, McDonogh’s lost season and Spalding’s partial one in 2020 might be a disruption to their typical cohesion. It might present an opportunity for another team to break through. Mercy, which has 10 starters back from its condensed 10-1
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season and a handful of promising freshmen, is best equipped to end the string in a bid to bring home the program’s first crown. St. Vincent Pallotti was the last team other than McDonogh and Spalding to win the league title, back in 2007.
What are we likely to see plenty of this season?
Goals. Proven finishers can be found almost everywhere, and they are no doubt champing at the bit after playing a partial season or none at all last year. Century’s Haley Greenwade, Mercy’s Alex Jankowski, Broadneck’s Eva Mowery, McDonogh’s Kelsey Smith and Reservoir’s Karis Turner highlight the forward position with others, most notably Perry Hall’s two-time leading scorer Kamryn Williams, primed to put the ball into the net. The limited playing time high school teams have had in the past year favors offenses and dynamic goal scorers, who will be able to impose their will on less cohesive defensive units.
Which county league among the public schools has the most top-to-bottom talent?
No question, it’s Howard County. Four Howard County teams are ranked in The Baltimore Sun’s preseason Top 15 poll with No. 8 Reservoir, No. 10 Marriotts Ridge, No. 12 River Hill and No. 14 Mt. Hebron making the cut and last year’s tournament champion, Glenelg, also considered. Star power will be all over the field with Reservoir forward Karis Turner, Marriotts Ridge midfielder Megan Wagner and River Hill goalkeeper Caroline Duffy among the top returning talent.
Which region jumps out when the state playoffs begin?
Year after year, the Class 4A East Region II is survival of the fittest among Anne Arundel rivals Broadneck, Severna Park and South River. The same can be said in the 3A East Region, both I and II, with Howard County powers River Hill, Reservoir, Wilde Lake, Mt. Hebron and Marriotts Ridge all capable of earning state berths. Perry Hall has mostly owned the 4A North Region I, but upstart Dulaney might have a say this year. 2A West Region II power Century had a 16-0 mark reaching the state semifinals in 2019 and then went 8-0 in Carroll County play last year. Can neighborhood rival Liberty get in the Knights’ way this year?
Which public school teams return as defending champions from 2019?
In Class 4A, Perry Hall won its second straight title with a win over Severn Park in penalty kicks. Patterson Mill was the only other area team to bring home a state title, claiming the 1A crown with a 1-0 win over Loch Raven. Northern-Calvert dominated Wilde Lake, 5-0, for the 3A title and Calvert edged Frederick County’s Middletown, 2-1, in the 2A ranks. senior
Elise Graf, C. Milton Wright, defender/forward, senior
Haley Greenwade, Century, forward, senior
Alex Jankowski, Mercy, forward, senior
Reagan Mallia, Archbishop Spalding, midfielder, senior
Eva Mowery, Broadneck, forward, senior
Ella Shannon, Chesapeake-AA, midfielder, junior
Kelsey Smith, McDonogh, forward, senior
Karis Turner, Reservoir, forward, senior
Allie Wysong, Patterson Mill, defender, senior