Field hockey: Same top programs, new faces

Not to mention, Whitman rode a stingy defense to the regional finals and Holy Cross made its annual trip to the WCAC final, while Churchill and Stone Ridge each reached double figures in victories.

Now the question is: Can all of those teams continue last year's success? Many suffered heavy graduation losses, including All-Gazette first-team performers April Cahill and Kelly Merkl of B-CC and Helena Nannes of Whitman.

Probably the team in the best position to continue its winning ways despite some key personnel absences is Good Counsel, which returns WCAC championship match hero Shannon Lechner, a junior forward, who scored twice in the final and led the Falcons with 18 goals and nine assists. Other key players are midfielder Monica Baumgartner, goalkeeper Sheridan, defender Rachel Forman and forward Brigid Smith, who exploded on the season as a freshman last year.

Stodter's squad counted among its 16 victories in 2007 wins against 4A state finalist Quince Orchard and Magruder. It also defeated Holy Cross, guided by long-time county coach Candy Thurman, three times last fall.

Like Good Counsel, both B-CC and Whitman return explosive offensive players in Annie Cohen and Maya Herm, respectively. Cohen helped the Barons notch 84 goals in 19 games by producing 17 goals and seven assists from her forward spot. Herm paced the Vikings (61 goals in 15 games) by pushing across 14 goals and assisting on seven others.

Re-joining Cohen and legendary B-CC coach Amy Wood (222-29-13 career record) are forward-midfielder Clare Becker and midfielder-defender Catherine Mirsky, a first-team All-Gazette selection who produced eight goals and five assists and anchored a defense that produced 10 shutouts in 2007. Sunny Cobb, Paige Donnelly and Charlotte Kettler are the team's top newcomers.

Herm will be joined by returnees defender Molly Finley, midfielders Stephanie Dorman (seven goals, four assists) and Jackie Kantor (three goals, two assists) and goalkeeper Hillary Wall (76 saves).

"We should be competitive," Vikings coach Mary Pat Veihmeyer (268-134-9 career record) said. "They're all working hard. We'll see how it goes."

Last year was going well for the Vikings until Wootton made two more penalty strokes to defeat Whitman in the 4A South Region final to reach the state playoffs for just the third time in school history. The Patriots last reached the state playoffs in 1994 and made their lone state final appearance in 1978.

For Wootton to keep pace with last season's team, Coach Mike Parrish needs continued contributions from midfielders Rachel Baron (seven goals), Amy Eaton (three goals) and Amanda Rebello (nine goals), defender Andrea Tian and goalkeeper Caitlin Zolet, who allowed 10 goals in 16 matches.

"We have a strong, experienced nucleus of seniors and we're excited to find who will compete for the open spots," Parrish said.

Lauren Williams brings both collegiate playing experience at Ohio University and junior varsity coaching knowledge acquired in New York to Quince Orchard, where she replaces longtime coach Jenna Reis. Williams inherits a squad that graduated some key personnel but that returns six solid seniors, including Alissa Peterson (13 goals, five assists) and Brooke Lee. The new coach also brings in two adept freshmen in Kelly Baick and Alex Jamison.

"We will continue the tradition and expectations of a strong field hockey program at QO," Williams said. "This year's team is dedicated, highly motivated and hungry for a winning season. Their commitment and passion for the game of hockey is inspirational on and off the field."

Magruder, under the direction of long-time coach Kathleen Mulholland (163-92-11 record), compiled 12 wins for the second-straight season, but 12 seniors have since moved on.

"We'll be solid but we have some things to work on," Mulholland said. "We're a little different [having] lost 12 seniors."

Headlining this year's senior class is center back Elana Diestel, a first-time All-Gazette selection who broke up 14 penalty corners a year ago. Fellow classmates Lauren Haynes, Dana Craft, Megan Mornini and Paige Twigg will also play key roles all over the field.

Holy Cross hopes to make yet another run at the WCAC title; it has battled Good Counsel in the final all but one year since the league was formed in 200. Casey Fletcher (two goals, assist), Hayley Katzenberger (nine goals, three assists), Maggie Davis (flyer on corners) and freshman goalkeeper Jill Genovese, who brings Futures Program playing experience, lead the way.

While those squads are using the preseason to retool their lineups, Churchill coach Monica Malanoski and Stone Ridge coach Meredith Hahn welcome back scores of experienced players, making the Bulldogs and Gators two teams to watch this season.

Malanoski guided Churchill to 11 wins last year with little senior leadership. That won't be a problem this year with the return of veterans Shannon Disbrow, Jenna Hawk and Ellen Suttle. Disbrow and Suttle anchor the midfield and defense, respectively, while Hawk will see time all over the field as the team's most versatile player.

"I really think we can go very far," Malanoski said. "We have a very strong team. These seniors are the strongest I've seen in my four years. They have incredible skill and they're just mentally tough. They know our system [and] they play well together. We look to do great things."

Hahn said the same thing about her squad, which boasts nine talented seniors, including seasoned players Kim Goh (four goals, five assists), Brooke Blue (six goals, two assists), Kelly Mullen and Meredith Bates (five assists).

"We have a lot of experience on our team this year," said Hahn, whose squad went 7-3-1 in the competitive Independent School League. "We are led by a great class of nine seniors who I expect to show great leadership both on and off the field. We also have underclassmen returning who were new to varsity last year but definitely stepped up and were great assets to our team. Our goal is to play well together as a team in order to build on our season from last year and try to improve our record and go farther in the post season."

Richard Montgomery is coming off a struggling 2007 season (4-9-1) and has some holes to fill as two starters decided not to return to instead focus on academics, but third-year coach Autumn Welch still has hopes for a winning season.

"I'd like to see us have a winning record," she said. "We have a small turnout. We had some starting players decide not to return so we're trying to fill some holes. I think we'll have a lot of close games this season. I hope to compete more against the county's competitive teams."

B-CC Barons

Head coach: Amy Wood, 16th year

Last year's record: 15-4

Last state title: 2004 (13th)

Players to watch: Annie Cohen (Sr., F), Catherine Mirsky (Sr., M/D), Clare Becker (Sr., F/M)

Churchill Bulldogs

Head coach: Monica Malanoski, 4th year

Last year's record: 11-4

Last state title: 1983 (2nd)

Players to watch: Shannon Disbrow (Sr., M), Ellen Suttle (Sr., D), Jenna Hawk (Sr., M/F)

Good Counsel Falcons

Head coach: Kelly Stodter, 4th year

Last year's record: 16-4

League affiliation: Washington Catholic Athletic Conference

Players to watch: Monica Baumgartner (Sr., M), Shannon Lechner (Jr., F), Christian Sheridan (Jr., G)

Holy Cross Tartans

Head coach: Candy Thurman, 4th year

Last year's record: 9-8

League affiliation: Washington Catholic Athletic Conference

Players to watch: Casey Fletcher (Sr., M), Hayley Katzenberger (Sr., F), Maggie Davis (Sr., D)

Magruder Colonels

Head coach: Kathleen Mulholland, 18th year

Last year's record: 12-4

Last state title: 1996 (3rd)

Players to watch: Elana Diestel (Sr., D), Lauren Haynes (Sr., D), Dana Craft (Sr., F)

Richard Montgomery Rockets

Head coach: Autumn Welsh, 3rd year

Last year's record: 4-9-1

Last state title: 1984 (1st)

Players to watch: Ariam Ford (Sr., D), Skye Free (Jr., M), Amy Knobloch (Sr., F)

Quince Orchard Cougars

Head coach: Lauren Williams, 1st year

Last year's record: 14-4

Last state title: 2006 (2nd)

Players to watch: Alissa Peterson (Sr., F), Brooke Lee (Sr., M)

Stone Ridge Gators

Head coach: Meredith Hahn, 3rd year

Last year's record: 10-5-1

League affiliation: Independent School League

Last league title: N/A

Players to watch: Kim Goh (Sr., M), Brooke Blue (Sr., F), Kelly Mullen (Sr., D)

Whitman Vikings

Head coach: Mary Pat Veihmeyer, 29th year

Last year's record: 10-5

Last state title: None

Players to watch: Maya Herm (Sr., F), Hillary Wall (Sr., G), Stephanie Dorman (Sr., M)

Wootton Patriots

Head coach: Mike Parrish, 4th year

Last year's record: 14-2

Last state title: None

Players to watch: Rachel Baron (Sr., M), Amy Eaton (Sr., M), Caitlin Zolet (Jr., G)