“If a kid had a chance, go ahead and take it.” he said. “Attack the space and get the ball on the ground in front of the goal.”

Kai Gibson heard his coach’s plea and stepped up, scoring two goals in the opening moments of the second half. The Huskies held on defensively, stalling the Mavericks’ offense to walk away with the 3-1 victory Monday night.

“They’re a solid program and they’ve got a good team,” Rich said. “This was a great win for us.”

After a slow start in the first half, the Huskies came out aggressive and active from the beginning of the second, keeping the ball moving with precise passes and leading one for good looks close to the goal.

“That’s how we’re going to generate chances this year,” Rich said. “Then, we need guys to be confident and fire away when they get a good look.”

Gibson had no issue taking open shots Monday. After Phil Toliver weaved through three defenders, his beautiful cross set up Gibson for a goal. Mere seconds later, the junior found the back of the net once again as the Huskies took control.

“I’m out here to finish,” Gibson said. “If they play the ball through, I’m just there to outrun the other team and score.”

After Benjamin Phillips scored the lone goal for the Mavericks in the first half, the chances became scarce for a young Manchester Valley team looking to find it’s rhythm and stamina. Passes became erratic and easily picked off by the Huskies. Alex Martinez had a good look in the second half, but sailed it over the crossbar as the Mavericks failed to convert.

“We played half a game today,” Mavericks coach John Woodley said. “We have a very young team and we need to come out and learn what it takes to get going for a full game.”

The early season matchup against an out-of-county opponent allowed both teams to learn a lot about themselves. No matter the result, Rich and Woodley each feel there is a lot to build on after Monday.

“We’ve got three new starters on defense, so there’s going to be mistakes.” Rich said. “We’re not going to let one mistake throw off our whole mentality. I think we’ll get better every game with that back four.”

For Woodley, he noted his young team showed promise in the first half. With a roster that boasts only six seniors and a schedule littered with tough battles left and right, he is confident his team will get better fast.

“There’s a lot to build off,” he said. “We just have to put together two solid halves, we do that and we’ll be OK.”

The Huskies will host Rising Sun on Thursday, while the Mavericks will look to bounce back with a road trip to Oakdale to face the Bears.

Patterson Mill 3, Manchester Valley 1

Goals: PM- Kai Gibson (2), Reza Mousavi (1). MV- Benjamin Phillips (1)

Field hockey

Francis Scott Key 5, Frederick 0: The Eagles blanked Frederick led by a hat trick from Jena Stambaugh. She scored once in the first quarter and twice in the third. Josie Bachtel and Dory Kelley also found the cage for FSK. Audrey Baugher had two assists, while Carley Topper and Bella Mazan also handed out helpers.

Westminster 3, Bel Air 2: Vivian Dunn scored the game-winner in the second overtime for the Owls. Ava Piluk tallied Westminster’s first two goals with Dunn assisting on both. Bel Air got a goal from Bella Leon to open the game, and another from Paige Feick on a penalty stroke that tied the game late in the fourth quarter. In goal, Natalie Schultz made six saves for the Owls and Sydney Kennedy made eight saves for the Bobcats.

South Carroll 3, Linganore 2: Megan Maynard, Emily Maynard and Olivia Carter all had goals as the Cavaliers held off Linganore. Alayna Enoff, Dakota Clemens and Kayla Janyska all had assists. In goal, Caelin Lopes made four saves.

Franklin 4, Winters Mill 2: The Indians went on the road and neither the Falcons, nor their grass field, could stop Nora Tromble. The junior scored all four goals in Franklin’s win. Riley Dell and Cici Coco scored for Winters Mill. Addy Vanlandingham made 10 saves in goal.

John Carroll 4, Mercy 2: Four Patriots scored in the win with Sara Shorts, Cate Bianco, Annie Minoglio and Mia Castellano all recording goals.

River Hill 3, Atholton 0: Katelyn Sauritch led the way for the Hawks (1-0) in the season-opening win with a goal and an assist. Carolyn Dzubak and Gabby Bergstrom also scored while Maya Chan had an assist. For Atholton (0-1), Adara Baldini made 24 saves.

Centennial 3, Howard 0: Caroline Cudzilo led the Eagles (1-0) in a season-opening win with a pair of goals. Claire Whipkey added a goal and an assist, while Jane Baldy pitched a shutout with four saves.

Reservoir 8, Oakland Mills 0: The Gators offense exploded in the season-opening win. Freshman Sam Feher netted a hat trick and added an assist in her first varsity action. Senior Claire Kimnach added two goals, while senior Sandra Salkini had a goal and a game-high three assists. Junior Annie Riley scored the game’s first goal, while Madi Ellis also scored on a feed from Radhika Shah.

Football

Patterson Mill 25, Digital Harbor 12: In the conclusion of a game suspended Friday because of a lighting issue, the Huskies scored the final 18 points. Digital Harbor went up 12-7 before RJ Wilhelm scored a touchdown for the Huskies and the extra point put them ahead, 13-12. Mason Hemelt had a pick-six for a touchdown and Brycen Hunter closed out the scoring with a 1-yard run.

Patterson Mill boys soccer gets 2 second-half goals from Kai Gibson in 3-1 win over Manchester Valley

Boys soccer

North Harford 4, Elkton 0: Matthew Deily scored twice and assisted on a third goal in the Hawks’ shutout win. Ryder Taylor and Sebasteyan McNally also scored, while Jamail Holmes tallied two assists.

Pikesville 2, Western Tech 1: Anderson Marquez hit the back of the net with less than five minutes remaining to like Pikesville to the win. Ablante Fesseha scored for the Panthers in the first half. In goal, junior Josh Kaplan made four saves.

Towson 5, Franklin 1: Zach Shrager scored twice, while Will Heacock, Jacob Martinez and Mason Westfall also tallied goals in the win. The Generals built a 3-1 lead by halftime.

Girls soccer

Catonsville 2, Mount de Sales 1: Ella Lesniewski scored off an Elin Mellendick assist for the Comets and Kaitlyn Bachtel scored the team’s second goal off a free kick.

Bel Air 3, North East 2: The Bobcats surged ahead after a 1-1 halftime tie. Ally Mace hit the back of the net twice to lead Bel Air to the win. Eve Krout also scored. Sarah Ravadge, Aubrey Blackburn and Kaitlyn Primus had assists and Emerson Schiller made three saves in goal.

Harford Tech 8, Elkton 2: Laney Weaver and Brooke Pollack each recorded hat tricks in the Cobras’ blowout win, and Abby Downes scored twice.

John Carroll 4, Elizabeth Seton 0: Clara Madore had a hand in all four Patriots goals, scoring two and assisting on two. Bella Ottone and Cali Fridel also hit the back of the net. Lily Baumgartner had an assist.

Severn 5, Glenelg Country 2: The Admirals jumped out to a 3-0 halftime lead. Five players scored in the win: Tessa Patel, Layla Epps, Sophia English, Madison Watson and Irelyn Beaulieu. Patel, Eliza Grace Beard, Carys McKenzie and Nina Ambro all had assists.

Westminster 2, Dulaney 0: Clara Kemp (6 saves) and Andi Zaslow (4) split time in goal to combine for the shutout over the Lions. For the offense, Emmerson Hill and Jenny Vasquez scored goals with Riley Taylor and Mikayla Britz handing out assists.

Golf

Dulaney 161, Western Tech 216: The Lions topped the Wolverines led by Quinn Collins with a 37 and Eli Mace with a 39.

Boys volleyball

Patterson Mill 3, Edgewood 0: The Huskies cruised, 25-8, 25-13, 25-10. Cullen Young led the win with eight kills and five aces. Jake Rakaczky also served fived aces for the Huskies. Aidan Mackowiak chipped in four kills.

North Harford 3, C. Milton Wright: The Hawks swept the Mustangs, 25-11, 25-12, 25-16. Mike DeJesus picked up 21 digs in the win and Jackson Armiger tossed up 23 assists. Chance Kobus and Jordan Bogarty shared the team lead with eight kills each.

Girls volleyball

Annapolis 3, Frederick Douglass 0: Christen Brisbane put down 12 kills to lead the Panthers in their sweep. McHale Hughes tossed up 15 assists while getting three kills of her own. Lindsay Lyman had four kills and six blocks, and Carolin Heyder chipped in four aces and three kills.

Century 3, Francis Scott Key 1: The Knights won, 25-21, 23-25, 27-25, 25-16. Stephanie Villanueva had nine aces and served the match’s final nine points with the set tied at 16. Corinne Zepp added six aces. Gabby Zajaczkowski and Hannah Heffernan each put down 11 kills. Heffernan added 15 digs for a double-double. Zepp led the defense with 28 digs. Julia Boone set up a balanced Eagles offense with 20 assists. Samantha Miller led with six kills. Ripleigh Maring and Kiersten Johannes each added five kills and Maring adding six blocks and Johannes five.

Perry Hall 3, Oakland Mills 1: Abbie Znamirowski had 10 aces and Addison Dunlap was close behind her with eight as the Gators won, 25-14, 23-25, 25-12, 25-17. Dunlap also tossed up 13 assists. Milana Scaccio had six kills and three aces.

To submit scores and stats, email mdscores@baltsun.com with a full box score, including first and last names of the players.

Few teams have been as dominant against county competition the past couple of years and Denean Koontz’s program is no exception. Entering her 31st season, Koontz once again enjoys an embarrassment of riches as she glances at her roster. Now a sophomore, Taylor Fique is back along with fellow Player of the Year candidates Sophie Baer and Amanda Herrold to lead one of the county’s deepest lineups. The Mavericks are back and ready defend their undefeated county championship.

After a 15-1 campaign, but a 2A state semifinal finish, the Mavericks look to take things a step further and raise a state championship trophy in the air at the end of the season, something only one team in Carroll County was able to do a year ago.

That team, the South Carroll Cavaliers, is led by returning Player of the Year Alana Enoff, who turned heads after one of the best playoff runs in recent memory last season en route to winning the Class 1A state title. With Danielle Gabrish taking over as coach, can the Cavaliers return to the state title game, but this time as a county champion?

Francis Scott Key and Westminster will surely have a say in the matter as both are coming off good seasons of their own. The Owls are not to be overlooked after winning their region and reaching the state semifinals in impressive fashion. Like Koontz, coach Laurie Nail boasts a deep roster of her own as Westminster once against appears to be one of the top teams in their region.

Here’s a preview of teams heading into the season: Editor’s note: Not all teams responded to requests for information.

Century

Coach: Terry Duryea, 17th season

Last season: 7-7

Top returners: Natalie Opatovsky (Shenandoah University commit), Aubrey Geist, Azhuh Ponte (St Mary’s) and Abby Kristian.

Newcomers to watch: N/A

Coach’s outlook: “We are looking forward to a great season with 11 seniors who have experience and love the game.”

Liberty vs Manchester Valley field hockey

Francis Scott Key

Coach: Becky Bachtel, second season

Last season: 9-3, regional finalist

Coach’s outlook: “The team is looking really good right now. The girls are gelling and are extremely focused. This is a wonderful group of girls who are coachable, smart, and enjoyable to be around.”

Liberty

Coach: Brenda Strohmer, 14th season

Last season: 3-12

Top returners: Elena Cucci, Claire Kim, Tori Schmitz and Hannah Schmitz.

Newcomers to watch: Gwen Yeager, Clara Robbins and Taylor Trudden.

Coach’s outlook: “We are a mix of young and experienced players. We should be competitive in this very tough county.”

Manchester Valley

Coach: Denean Koontz, 31st season

Last season: 15-1, county champions, regional champions, state semifinalists

Top returners: Sophie Baer, Liz Syzbalski, Shelly Wurzburger, Amanda Herrold and Taylor Fique.

Newcomers to watch: Freshman Lily Brookhart

Coach’s outlook: “Trying to fit the pieces of the puzzle together to best suit our personnel. Carroll County is one of the best in the state, any team could emerge as champions.”

FSK vs South Carroll regional field hockey final

South Carroll

Coach: Danielle Gabrish, first season

Last season: 14-3, regional champion, Class 1A state champions

Top returners: Alayna Enoff (2023 Player of the Year), Caelin Lopes, Megan Maynard and Rowan Miller.

Newcomers to watch: Juniors Cat Yankle, Dakota Clemens and Afton Miller.

Coach’s outlook: “With the majority of last year’s championship squad back, we are determined to defend our title and secure back-to-back championships. This year’s roster is packed with seasoned veterans and a few promising newcomers, all united in their pursuit of maintaining the team’s dominance.”

Catonsville vs Westminster regional field hockey final

Westminster

Coach: Laure Naill, sixth season

Last season: 7-7, regional champion, state semifinalist

Top returners: Stevie Schultz, Natalie Schultz, Vivian Dunn, Gabi Thomas and Kylah Nowosielski.

Newcomer to watch: Camilla Dunn

Coach’s outlook: “This year, our team is focused on building consistency and making a strong push in the league. We’ve got a mix of seasoned players and rising stars who are ready to step up and make a significant impact.”

Winters Mill

Coach: Christine Bradley, ninth season

Last season: 4-8

Top returners: Olivia Pollard, Cici Coco, Addison Vanlandingham and Sydney Schertz.

Newcomers to watch: Kiera Youngling and Kennedy Ellis.

Coach’s outlook: “This year is going to be a rebuilding year for us. All my seniors were strong and held the team. I think we have some good communication and we have good ball movement working together. And we’ll have good defense; we’ve always had strong defense.”

Just as it took a team effort to overcome the deaths of two teammates and all the emotions and events off the field, coach Anthony Burgos was able to get something out of every player in all three phases as the Indians defeated Westminster, 24-14, on Friday night.

“Obviously we had a lot of emotions going into this game,” Burgos said. “These guys showed resiliency and came out and played some good football.”

It was the running back duo of Dylan Eaton and Gerret Boyd that led the way as Eaton broke free on a 78-yard run for the game’s first touchdown. Eaton not only broke off huge gains, but often was relied upon to do the dirty work inside, rushing for some tough yards against a stout Westminster defense.

“I told myself to just keep going,” said Eaton, a sophomore who finished with 129 yards on 15 carries. “This was my first varsity game and I know I’ve done the work to play well at this level.”

Much like in the first moments following tragedy, Burgos looked to his senior leadership to set the example and lead the way. When Westminster answered, his top dogs would be ready.

Quarterback Zander McCracken found senior Tristan Richardson for a 48-yard score for a two-touchdown lead. Even when completed passes were hard to come by, receivers Anthony Gibson and Christian Watson didn’t pout. Instead, they turned their attention on impacting the running game, providing key blocks for several outside runs that turned into big gains.

“We told them all week, the running game and the passing game goes hand in hand,” Burgos said. “They did a great job of buying in.”

The Owls did what they could to slow down the Franklin offense, sending defensive duo Isaiah Taylor and Cooper Whitcomb up the field to disrupt the rhythm of the Indians explosive unit.

“They are both great football players,” Westminster coach Chris Bassler said. “We kind of tailored or defense to showcase them. We want to create scenarios where we can unleash them and let them take over.”

Franklin football honors beloved fallen teammates in season-opening win over Westminster

After a slow start, the Owls’ offense started to pick up as quarterback Rory O’Conner threw 72- and 24-yard touchdown passes to keep Westminster within striking distance.

“We made some plays,” Bassler said. “Ultimately, they made one or two more and that was the difference. We hung with a good team”

After already turning the ball over on downs to Westminster earlier in the second half, Franklin still needed a couple of first downs to seal the deal and halt the Owls’ momentum. Burgos turned to Boyd, who finished off a 12-carry, 68-yard day with the touchdown that finally put the game out of reach.

“Sometimes, high school kids don’t understand sharing time, especially when one’s a senior and one’s a sophomore.” Burgos said. “With [Boyd], I challenged him on leading by example and he came up big for us.”

The Indians (1-0) will take their senior leadership and running back duo on the road next week as they travel to Overlea.

The Owls (0-1) will look to bounce back as they hit the road once again to face Frederick. Bassler acknowledged his offense might be behind his defense, but that is to be expected. However, based on what he was able to see in Game 1, he knows it won’t be long before his team is playing up to its high potential.

“We did a lot of good things,” he said. “The more we go and the more reps we get, we’ll be executing at a high level.”

But in order to do that, the Knights will have some business to take care of locally first, and it won’t be easy.

On their way to the title game, Century knocked off Francis Scott Key, regional finalist South Carroll and county champion Westminster to end the regular season, before ending Winters Mill’s season with a victory in the regional final.

All three teams return key players as they look to exact revenge on the Knights and take home the county title this season. Liberty, who is coming off a regional championship of their own, looks to be in the mix as well with a deep roster and dangerous attack.

In Manchester Valley, despite the graduation of Player of the Year Grant Miller, coach John Woodley brings two key seniors and a couple of talented newcomers to the table as they look to win one of the state’s most competitive regions.

Playing in Carroll County is sure to be an advantage for every team come playoff time. With a tight county title race, each squad will surely enter the playoffs tough and battle tested.

Here’s a preview of each team as the 2024 season gets set to kickoff:

Century

Coach: Stephen Hurst, second season

Last season: 11-8-1

Top returners: Seniors Nick McGhin, Jackson Barioto and Noah Greenwade

Outlook: Read more about the Knights here

Francis Scott Key

Coach: Andy Hicks, second season

Last season: 1-14

Top returners: Seniors Chris Bay, Owen Stewart, Evan Myers and Nate Myers.

Newcomers to watch: Sophomores Beau O’Donnell and Harry Eiwen.

Coach’s outlook: “This year should be very exciting for us. We have a solid roster with a ton of experience at the varsity level. We are a cohesive unit with tremendous team chemistry and we will always be up for a battle.”

Gerstell Academy

Coach: AJ Berry, second season

Last season: 6-4-3

Top returners: Seniors Justin Rudo, Landon Yetta and Gavin Larson.

Newcomers to watch: Sophomore Preston Harris

Coach’s outlook: “We have a great young team for this year that brings a lot of energy. It will be a competitive year to make the playoffs and push for a MIAA B Conference final.”

2023 MPSSAA 1A boys' soccer semi, Harford Tech at Liberty

Liberty

Coach: Donnie Kwedar, second season

Last season: 10-7, regional champion, state semifinalist

Top returners: Seniors Lucas Brito, Nate Frey, Austen Veach, Connor Clapper, Arjun Singh and Hamza Kahn

Newcomers to watch: N/A

Outlook: With several returning players from a regional championship winning squad, the Lions seemed poised to return to states and once again cement themselves in the top tier of both Carroll County and Class 1A.

Manchester Valley

Coach: John Woodley, fifth season

Last season: 10-5-2, regional finalist

Top returners: Seniors Alex Martinez and Brady Bonney; juniors Lino Colin Jr and Ben Phillips.

Newcomers to watch: Junior Ty Pennewell; sophomores Ryan Cellitto and Brady Strohman.

Coach’s outlook: “This will be a promising young team striving to display their disciplined and competitive brand of soccer on the pitch.”

South Carroll

Coach: Ed Warton, sixth season

Last season: 7-10, regional finalist

Top returners: Seniors Alik Giguere, Matt Long and Jonah Oetken

Newcomers to watch: Senior Max Schult and junior Hayden Leineweber

Coach’s outlook: “It’s always exciting, and a bit stressful, to start a new season. Everyone has a positive mindset and is willing to put in a lot of hard work to improve from last season.”

Westminster

Coach: Jim Reigel, fourth season

Last season: 6-4-2

Top returners: Seniors Ashton Gifford, Abbott Houle and Will Donovan. Juniors BJ Murray and Luke Schoberg

Newcomers to watch: N/A

Coach’s outlook: “I anticipate a highly competitive county title race.”

Winters Mill

Coach: Dave Ledford, first season

Last season: 8-6, regional finalist

Top returners: Juniors Ben King, John Bechtel and Parker Barry; sophomore Deacon Cassidy

Newcomers to watch: Freshman Colt Dorsey

Coach’s outlook: “Excited for the amount of young talent that will be returning this year with Varsity experience.” “We have a lot of young talent that is ready to compete. I expect the county title to be a tight race and could be anyone’s for the taking.”

The Knights put together a remarkable run to the Class 2A state championship game. Though they fell short of the ultimate goal with a 3-1 loss to Damascus. The question for 2024 is: Can they carry that momentum into the new season?

The run came after a subpar regular season where the team finished 6-7-1 overall and 3-3 in conference. Yet, despite the ups and downs of the regular season, Stephen Hurst, then in his first year coaching the Knights, made sure to emphasize that improvement can be made until the final minutes of a season.

“Last year it was emphasized to continue to improve as a team,” Hurst said when talking about the mentality of the team going into the playoffs.

Hurst feels there are a multitude of ways this team can move forward mentally after ending last season the way they did. One way could be to see this season as a totally new season. Another way could be to see the success the team had last season and carry that momentum into the next.

“It’s a little bit of both,” he said. “[The players] look at it as a new season but they also want to build on it.”

Century is no stranger to reaching the mountain top. Last year marked 20 years since their first state title in 2003. The Knights grabbed their second more recently in 2019, outdueling La Plata in a 1-0 victory. Though none of the current players and coaches were a part of those championship winning teams, being within reach last season makes this squad that much more determined to get back to the final.

One of the bright spots of the Knights run last season was Nick McGhin.

The electric goal scorer finished last season with 26 goals and four assists, including a hat trick in the semifinals against Queen Anne’s that punched the ticket to the state finals. What stands out about McGhin’s goals was that none were scored from a set piece or penalty kick. All of McGhin’s goals were scored in the field of play.

“One of his challenges now, as a senior, is to encourage the younger players coming up, as a leader. He doesn’t get too high and doesn’t get too low,” Hurst conveyed. “He is a good leader by example.”

The second-year Century coach went on to say that McGhin has a target on his back, given the success his star player had last season. Luckily for the Knights, they have a cavalry of key players to help contribute to the squad.

Century had five players last season, including McGhin, who finished in the top 23 in the county in points. Four of McGhin’s teammates combined for 15 goals and 23 assists. Among those is senior midfielder, Jackson Barioto, who finished with five goals and three assists last season.

“We’ve had chemistry playing together,” Barioto said when asked about the holistic superb play of the team. “We were able to play with each other so well.”

Barioto and senior right back Hunter Greenwade also talked about how playing club soccer together outside of the high school team improved the overall play and chemistry among the players.

“Toward the end of the reason, it was very rough. We played a lot of tough teams,” Barioto explained about last year’s regular season. “Then we said it was time to turn up. We have to go 1-0 each game.”

That mentality expressed by both Barioto and Greenwade seemed to have paid off. The team won five straight playoff games by a combined 14 goals.

The result of the championship game last season has left a sour taste in the mouth of the players. This was expressed heavily by the dynamic midfielder when asked about his thoughts on how last season ended.

“It was just rough. It was very hard on us,” Barioto conveyed. “Having that nice long stretch of winning games and out of nowhere it just stopped. It was hard.”

Though it was not the result the players were hoping for, it established the Knights as a formidable opponent for other teams they will face off against this upcoming season.

When asked about the anticipated adversity they will face this season, Barioto said, “We know we need to just stay composed. There will be a lot of talking, but we need to believe in ourselves and believe in each other.”

This upcoming season won’t be an easy one, but this Century team is ready for what is ahead. The lingering sting from the Damascus defeat exists, but the Knight’s impenetrable armor makes this squad both resilient and determined to win it all.

A year ago, not many predicted Winters Mill to be top contenders, yet the Falcons produced the best season in school history. They had a chance the final week to claim the county title, and were only a few yards short of earning a trip to the state semifinals.

But even regular-season success didn’t seem to matter once playoff time came. Despite running through the county undefeated, last year’s county champion Westminster was then completely outplayed by Manchester Valley in the opening round of the playoffs.

Regardless of where everyone finished, one thing was clear about each team last season: they were 10 times better at season’s end than before the first ball was kicked off.

For Westminster and runner-up Winters Mill, replacing key offensive pieces like Kyrece Walker, Paris Lee and Caleb Crouch wont be easy, but with morale high after last season, both teams are ready to return to the top of the standings.

Liberty and South Carroll are two teams that improved toward the end of the season and now boast the returning talent to make noise. The Cavaliers tout running back brother duo Anthony and Manny Rodrigues, both back, healthy and ready to produce. The Lions tout arguably the best pass catcher in the league, Tristian West, who joins Kevin Poole and Kevin Kern as three Lions that can make an impact on both sides of the ball.

Then there’s Manchester Valley, Francis Scott Key and Century. All three have made adjustments to both personnel and the coaching staff and are being slept on by no one as they are all expected to be much better.

The Mavericks look to ride the momentum from last year’s playoff upset win and get off to a better start. Meanwhile, FSK hopes new defensive coordinator Mike Kraus could instill some needed discipline into an Eagle squad that lost four games by single digits last season.

That sets the stage for a 2024 county title race where every team feels there’s a clear path for them to reach the top. Here’s how every team looks heading into the season:

Century

Coach: Dave Ferguson, fourth season

Last season: 1-9

Top returners: Seniors JT Ferguson, Dominic Damico, Alex Gernand and Dylan Broom.

Newcomers to watch: Juniors Jake Dexter and Jake Coonts.

Coach’s outlook: “Very excited for a good solid competitive season out of the team this year. Had a great off-season and start of practice for this year. Even though the last few years have been rough, looking for the seniors for the perseverance to succeed.”

Francis Scott Key

Coach: David Cunningham Jr., third season

Last season: 1-9

Top returners: Seniors Jermaine Dawson, Sam Andrews and Craig Hardsock.

Newcomers to watch: Senior Bryson Lookingbill

Coach’s outlook: “The culture has completely changed, we’re continuing to get better everyday by being mentally sharp and playing together.”

Liberty vs FSK football

Liberty

Coach: Larry Luthe, 12th season

Last season: 5-6

Top returners: Seniors Chase Miller, Tristan West, Kevin Poole and Kevin Kern.

Newcomers to watch: Junior Danny Nelson, Sean Case and Ausin Safran; sophomore Matthew O’Donnell.

Coach’s outlook: “We will go as our offensive line goes. We are very talented at the skill positions offensively and defensively. We are extremely young on the offensive line, and must improve throughout the season.”

Westminster vs Manchester Valley first round football state playoffs

Manchester Valley

Coach: Bernie Koontz, sixth season

Last season: 6-5

Top returners: Seniors Braden Fritz, Jake Robinson, Cru Boog, Aiden Turner and Troy Letizia; juniors Declan Earhart and Colton Nunn.

Newcomers to watch: Senior Matt Foran. juniors John Day, Connor Stack and Walter Sallee; sophomore Ben Sodeinde.

Coach’s outlook: “We have a good mix of returners and new players who are working well together. The program is hoping to build off of a solid foundation put in place last year.”

Liberty vs South Carroll football

South Carroll

Coach: Mike Crumley, second season

Last season: 3-7

Top returners: Seniors Caleb Evans, James Graham, Manny Rodrigues, Brayden Yeager and Angelo Marchany; juniors Anthony Rodrigues and Landon Hamper.

Newcomers to watch: Sophomores Jake Gillis, Jackson Kostos, Brayden Mazalewski and Davy Snyder.

Coach’s outlook: “We’re a young team yet again this year, but the seniors we have will be anchoring the line on both sides of the ball and help to provide in-game leadership.”

Westminster High vs. Frederick High

Westminster

Coach: Chris Bassler, sixth season

Last season: 8-2

Top returners: Seniors Rakim Warfield, Cooper Whitcomb, Hayden Turner and Ryan Dunne; juniors David Gerting, Xavier Howard and Brayden Trupe.

Newcomers to watch: Junior Rory O’Conner; sophomores Isiah Taylor and Gabe Lee.

Coach’s outlook: “We have a good mix of new players and veterans and have a great offseason. We are more athletic top to bottom and deeper than we were last year.”

Liberty vs Winters Mill football

Winters Mill

Coach: Matt Miller, 12th season

Last season: 9-2, state quarterfinalist

Top returners: Seniors Chris Schoonover, Tommy Hinkhaus, Austin Utz, Jesse Buckingham, Arthur Womack and Braydon Jones.

Newcomer to watch: Sophomore Jarell Baker.

Coach’s outlook: “If our young team can jell early, we’ll have a chance for success over the course of the season. We will have a lot of new players filling starting rolls, and the sooner they settle into these rolls the sooner we’ll see the positive benefits on the field.”

Liberty’s Hannah DeVincent has seen enough.

Ready for her senior season, the reigning Player of the Year looks to lead the Lions past their arch rivals and take the county crown this season. With all-county teammate Bryce Sarver also ready to go, look for the Lions-Knights matchup to be the key to crowning a county champion once again.

Winters Mill is coming off a winning record as coach Tom Pennell brings two strong seniors in Emma Jewel and Addie Myers to the table, looking to improve as a program and establish themselves as contenders.

Wade Shank’s first season leading Manchester Valley was decimated by injuries, but with his goalie Emma Lander and Emma Penczek back, no one should count out a fully healthy Mavericks squad.

Here’s how each Carroll County team shapes up as the season approaches:

Century

Coach: Chris Little, fourth season

Last season: 12-2-3, county champions

Top returners: Seniors Bella Coccio, Lexi McGinnis (East Carolina commit) and Maddison Spradlin; juniors Mia Savage and Megan Taltavull; sophomore Lenah Ham.

Newcomers to watch: Sophomore Ryley Poe.

Coach’s outlook: “Losing 11 seniors and six starters will be a challenge to replace. Harli Hamlett’s 11 goals and five assists led the team. Additionally, our defense will have a new look after graduating Megan Rusk, Madi Prietz and Natalie Mattox. Our first six games are out of county vs. three IAAM A conference teams, 3A Towson, 4A Thomas Wooten and Southern.”

Francis Scott Key

Coach: Teresa Watkins, second season

Last season: 5-9

Top returners: Seniors Abby Rieger and Kensi Bancroft; junior Camryn Gillis; sophomore Shelby Bladen.

Newcomers to watch: Juniors Lily LaPierre and Tristan Kiser; sophomore Sarah Schaeffer.

Coach’s outlook: “We have six returning players from last year’s varsity squad and are working together to become more confident as a unit every day while pushing each other in practice.”

St. Paul’s School for Girls vs Gerstell Academy girls soccer

Gerstell Academy

Coach: Mike McGinnis, first season

Last season: 6-6-2, IAAM B Conference quarterfinalist

Top returners: Seniors Kiara Hardy and Sara Fenwick; junior Cambie Franks; sophomore Cadence Poklemba.

Newcomer to watch: Freshman Savannah Devers.

Coach’s outlook: “We have an athletic and experienced senior-heavy team with multiple core leaders returning. We are expecting to compete well in our IAAM B conference.”

Liberty vs Century girls soccer

Liberty

Coach: Danielle Prietz, 10th season

Last season: 12-5-1

Top returners: Seniors Hannah Devincent (2023 Player of the Year; Hilbert College commit) and Madison Smith; junior Bryce Sarver.

Newcomers to watch: Juniors Sophia Macijewski, Lilly Kashima and sophomore Peony Kang.

Coach’s outlook: “The single most important key to continued success for the season is to stay focused as a team and work together as a team. I think all teams will be competitive this year throughout the county and see us in the top half.”

Manchester Valley

Coach: Wade Shank, second season

Last season: 4-11

Top returners: Seniors Emma Lander, Caitlin Shank and Emma Penczek; sophomore Lilah Kresslein.

Newcomers to watch: Sophomore Mackenzie Partridge; freshman Grace Blizzard and Kaylee Sczepucha.

Coach’s outlook: “We have a lot returning players, so we should be able to build on the style of play we started to focus on last year. Hope to be in the middle of the standings in the county if all goes well.”

Fallston vs South Carroll 1A girls soccer final

South Carroll

Coach: Andrew Isacco, 15th season

Last season: 9-4

Top returners:  Seniors Ella Boyce, Clare Babcock and Jillane Matty; juniors Bree Hancock and Kelly Paul.

Newcomers to watch: Junior Anna Santacroce; sophomores Kenley Kalbaugh and Caitlyn Ott.

Coach’s outlook: “We’re excited about the players who returned and our new players as well. Our success will depend on how quickly we progress as a team and how well we navigate our league and out of county schedule.”

Westminster

Coach: Shawn Taylor, second season

Last season: 7-7

Top returners: Seniors Jennifer Vasquez, Stella Schoberg, Kate LoPiccolo, Riley Taylor and Clara Kemp; juniors Emmerson Hill and Libby Green.

Newcomers to watch: Juniors Rachael Lee and Sherina Jassir; sophomores Angie Hyatt and Brinley Boag.

Coach’s outlook: “Westminster is led by nine seniors this year and look to overcome another tough schedule this season. We look to be very competitive again in county and play strong against top level Baltimore and Fredrick County teams.”

Winters Mill

Coach: Tim Pennell, third season

Last season: 8-4

Top returners: Seniors Senior Emma Jewell and Addy Meyers; sophomore Hannah Neske

Newcomers to watch: Juniors Elizabeth Bogdan and Sophie Bogdan; sophomore Natalie Furr.

Coach’s outlook: “With only four senior starters, we will rely on a large number of underclassmen to carry the load. The team has been working all summer to develop some great team chemistry that will help us hit the ground running game one.”

Three county girls are back after claiming Player of the Year honors in their sports in 2023 — Taylor Colson (cross country), Hannah DeVincent (soccer) and Alayna Enoff (field hockey). But many talented athletes will challenge those returners for their spots.

The Carroll County Times is presenting its 24 of 24, a list of some of the top high school athletes — 24 boys and 24 girls — to watch this season.

Here is the girls Carroll County Fall 24:

Cross country

Taylor Colson, Century, sophomore

The 2023 Runner of the Year won the county meet by more than 1 minute, 27 seconds. She followed that up with a win at the Class 2A state championship meet. That was all as a freshman.

Brynn Keilman, Winters Mill, sophomore

Keilman opened her career with an eight-place finish at the county meet, one of three top-10 finishes in her first season. In the winter, she placed third at the county indoor track championships in the 3,200.

Emily Mitroka, Century, senior

Mitroka was second behind her teammate, Colson, at last year’s county championship and finished seventh at the state meet. In the spring, she won a track state championship in the 1,600.

Cyndi Phelps, Winters Mill, senior

Phelps had a strong junior campaign, winning two county meets and placing fourth at the county championships. She is poised to close out her high school career with an even stronger 2024.

Field hockey

Sophie Baer, Manchester Valley, senior

The midfielder was a key reason the Mavericks won 14 straight games in 2023 on their way to a county title and the state semifinals. Last year, she tallied four goals and 11 assists.

Alayna Enoff, South Carroll, senior

The 2023 Player of the Year amassed 13 goals and 13 assists, leading the Cavaliers to a 14-3 record and the Class 1A state title. Her tendency to rise up in clutch moments will be called upon again as both she and her team now have a target on their backs.

Taylor Fique, Manchester Valley, sophomore

Fique had a phenomenal first season for the Mavericks, finishing with 10 goals and six assists. Another year of development should make her even more dangerous.

Liberty vs Manchester Valley field hockey

Amanda Herrold, Manchester Valley, junior

Herrold’s 2023 earned her Player of the Year consideration. She scored 11 goals for the state semifinalist Mavericks while also adding eight assists. Look for her to once again be among the county’s best.

Carley Topper, Francis Scott Key, senior

Topper finished 2023 with four goals and 11 assists for the Eagles, helping lead the team to the regional finals. She leads a talented group that should be a factor in the county and state races.

Natalie Opatovsky, Century, senior

Opatovsky was a first team All-County selection as a defender in 2023 and will anchor another strong group at Century.

Stevie Schultz, Westminster, junior

Schultz finished 2023 with six goals and two assists for the Owls and will be called upon to help lead the team at both ends of the field this year.

Soccer

Bella Coccio, Century, senior

Coccio, a midfielder, is a two-time first team All-County pick and is expected to be among the county’s best yet again. She finished 2023 with six goals and six assists as one of coach Chris Little’s captains.

Hannah DeVincent, Liberty, senior

DeVincent’s numbers were off the charts last year, as she amassed 17 goals and 19 assists in her Player of the Year junior season. Don’t expect much of a drop-off as she will lead her Lions in their championship quest.

Emmerson Hill, Westminster, junior

Hill was a key member of the Owls during her sophomore season and her athleticism will be called upon once again as she develops into a team leader.

Lexi McGinnis, Century, senior

McGinnis was a first team All-County defensive pick who helped the Knights post seven shutouts last season. Defense has been the calling card for Century in recent years, and with McGinnis leading, it should be again.

Hannah Neske, Winters Mill, sophomore

As a freshman, Neske led the Falcons in scoring, matching her eight goals with eight assists. She should only get better as her varsity career continues.

Abby Rieger, Francis Scott Key, senior

Perhaps the county’s best defensive player in basketball, Rieger was among the county scoring leaders last soccer season, netting eight goals for the Eagles as a midfielder.

Bryce Sarver, Liberty, junior

Sarver joins DeVincent in a dangerous scoring tandem in Eldersburg. As a sophomore last season, Sarver scored 12 goals and handed out four assists for the regional champion Lions.

Volleyball

Haleigh Hodges, Liberty, senior

The Lions’ libero amassed an impressive 282 digs as a junior. She complimented her defense with 37 aces and 40 assists.

South Carroll vs Westminster volleyball

Elaina Murphy, South Carroll, junior

Murphy has a phenomenal sophomore campaign that nearly earned Player of the Year recognition. She led the Cavaliers with 159 kills and served 39 aces. An all-around player, she also collected 144 digs.

Emme Powers, Liberty, sophomore

Powers had to fill some big shoes on Liberty’s front line as a freshman last season. The 5-foot-11 hitter thrived, putting down 154 kills.

Molly Thomas, Westminster, senior

The Owls’ libero finished last season with 16 kills, 34 aces, 35 assists and 135 digs. Prepvolleyball.com listed Thomas among its national Class of 2025 defenders to watch list.

Emily Troy, Manchester Valley, junior

Troy will be a go-to option for a Mavericks team that many think will contend for a county title. Last season, she totaled 103 kills, 123 digs and 34 aces.

Pia White, South Carroll, senior

As the primary setter for the county co-champion Cavaliers, White finished last season with 249 assists, 98 digs, 14 kills and 32 aces.

Armed with county Player of the Year Emma Reaves (now a member of the University of New Hampshire track and field team), Lee’s team not only shared the county title, but enjoyed a deep playoff run as the Owls reached the regional final.

South Carroll’s Kristine Keck’s is looking to follow Lee’s lead in her rookie season.

But an even longer playoff run is a good possibility, thanks to the help of what might be the deepest roster in the county.

The Cavaliers, county co-champions themselves last year, return Player of the Year favorite Elaina Murphy and a host of others with playoff experience. The team is only two years removed from playing for the Class 1A state championship.

Meanwhile, Gerstell Academy is looking to use its championship experience from last season as Ava Gaines leads the IAAM C Conference runner-ups as the Falcons look to reach the title game once again.

Another first year coach, Melissa Troy, is set to lead a Manchester Valley squad no one is sleeping on. The Mavericks return four starters and are poised to break through and challenge the county’s elite as every night will be a battle in a tough county this season.

Here’s a look at Carroll County volleyball heading into the 2024 season:

Century

Coach: Sarah Walton, third season

Last season: 7-9

Top returners: Seniors Abhi Yadlapalli and Hannah Heffernan.

Newcomers to watch: N/A

Coach’s outlook: “We’ve got a great group of girls working hard and preparing for a great season.”

Francis Scott Key

Coach: Brooke Jordan, first season

Last season: 0-14

Top returners: Seniors Kiersten Johannes and Anna Darago.

Newcomers to watch: Senior Ripleigh Maring and junior Abby Stephens.

Coach’s outlook: “As we continue to build and develop our program, we are fortunate to have a group of incredibly talented players who are eager to learn and grow. We are excited to see what we can achieve together.”

Gerstell Academy

Coach: Eric Zak, fifth season

Last season: 13-5, IAAM C Conference runner-ups

Top returners: Seniors Jordan Blackburn, Ava Gaines (Washington and Lee University) and Ruby Connelly.

Newcomer to watch: Freshman Josie Connelly.

Coach’s outlook: “We graduated six seniors, so we will be very young in several positions. We will have two freshmen starters in pivotal positions but I believe they are up for the challenge. I think we should improve as the season progresses, putting us in a good position heading into the postseason.”

Westminster vs Liberty Volleyball

Liberty

Coach: Sheri Hagen, fourth season

Last season: 8-8

Top returners: Seniors Jasmine Bada and Haleigh Hodges, sophomore Emme Powers

Newcomers to watch: Juniors Marielle Riordan and Paige Rubin, sophomores Crystal Awunganyi and Julia Easter.

Coach’s outlook: “I’m excited and optimistic. We have a great group of returning players with a lot of strength and synergy, and we are adding new players with lots of depth. We expect the county to be very competitive again this year.”

Manchester Valley

Coach: Melissa Troy, first season

Last season: 9-8

Top returners: Senior Emma Shaffer; juniors Chloe Figueira, Emily Troy and Carly Figueira

Newcomers to watch: Juniors Caitlin Ash and Emily Xiong

Coach’s outlook: “I’m very excited about this season. Even though we graduated seven seniors, we are returning four starters and adding new talent.”

South Carroll vs Westminster volleyball

South Carroll

Coach: Kristine Keck, first season

Last season: 12-2, county co-champions

Top returners: Senior Pia White and junior Elaina Murphy

Newcomers to watch: Senior Haley Frazier and sophomore Jenna Todd

Coach’s outlook: “We have a very talented, scrappy group of players that will make for an exciting season!” “I think our team is poised to compete for county championship again this year and also go on a deep state title run.”

Westminster vs Oakdale first round state playoff match

Westminster

Coach: Ben Lee, second season

Last season: 13-4, county co-champions, regional finalist

Top returners: Seniors Molly Thomas and Keara Zaranski

Newcomers to watch:  Sophomore Allison Ryan

Coach’s outlook: “I like the make of our team and I feel we will be competitive in our matches this year. It will all come down to how quickly the team gels, trust and respect each other.”

Winters Mill

Coach: Jerome Georgiana (second season)

Last season: 3-12

Top returners: Seniors Cheyenne Costin , Lily Crowley and Joanna Singer

Newcomers to watch: Sophomore Katie Hegg

Coach’s outlook: “If we play the game and not the occasion, we will be successful.”