[Baltimore Sun] Howard County 2024 high school girls soccer preview: Glenelg, Marriotts Ridge, Mt. Hebron, River Hill return experience

Howard County girls soccer returns to the pitch with many teams capable and chasing after the county title.

The county graduated some of last year’s top performers including Player of the Year Stephanie Lathrop from Glenelg. However, five first team All-County selections from last season return along with several other second-team selections.

Glenelg, Marriotts Ridge, Mt. Hebron and River Hill are teams that bring back multiple key players and will look to build on the postseason success of last year.

The Vikings were Class 3A state runner ups in 2023, while the Gladiators and Hawks were state semifinalists in 2A and 3A, respectively. The rest of the county will look to take the next step and challenge those four programs which have been at the top of the county standings in recent seasons.

The public-school Howard County teams are split between Class 3A South and 2A West. Howard, Marriotts Ridge and Mt. Hebron are in 3A South Region I, while Atholton, Long Reach, Oakland Mills, Reservoir and River Hill make up 3A South Region II. Centennial, Glenelg, Hammond and Wilde Lake are in 2A West Region II.

Howard County is also implementing two six team-divisions, where the two division winners will face off to determine a county champion. Division winners are determined by winning percentage within the division.

The Summit Division is Glenelg, Hammond, Marriotts Ridge, Mt. Hebron, Oakland Mills and Reservoir. The Sierra Division is Atholton, Centennial, Howard, Long Reach, River Hill and Wilde Lake.

Here is a look at the county teams. Note: Not all teams responded to requests for information.

Centennial

Coach: Chris Taylor, first season

Last season: 5-7-1

Top returners: Senior Menna Hassan (D); junior Abby Desena (M); sophomores Elizabeth Brown (D), Wendy Lin (D), Daniella Marrero (M), Julia Herdson (M) and Kaitlyn McManus (D).

Newcomers to watch: Sophomores Mia Panageotou (M) and Haley Kim (M); freshmen Izzy Taliano (M), Misha Winter (M) and Eloise Baldwin (F)

On the pitch: The Eagles are one of the county’s youngest teams with many sophomores and freshmen in key roles. Centennial graduated a pair of All-County performers on defense and at forward, but the Eagles bring back a lot of pieces in the midfield and on the back line.

Coach’s outlook: “We’re a young team aiming for a county championship, while recognizing the amazing talents across Howard County. This team is committed and unified. We’re aiming high, and I anticipate a stronger record and season in 2024.”

Chapelgate Christian

Coach: Lydia Radcliffe, sixth season

Last season: 11-11

Top returners: Juniors Gia Sabbatt and Tavi Decker (GK); sophomores Joy Phillips (F) and Stefany Ortiz-River.

Newcomer to watch: Junior Caly Smithson (CB).

On the pitch: Phillips was a dynamic goal scorer as a freshman with a Howard County leading 30 goals. She’s flanked offensively by Ortiz-River and Sabbatt, who each showed their goal scoring and passing capabilities. Ortiz-River scored 12 goals and added seven assists last year, while Sabbatt scored nine times and finished with 13 assists. Decker anchors the back end as a multiple year starter in net.

Coach’s outlook: “The last two years we have been a young team this is our year to go for the championship and I have full confidence we will.”

Glenelg’s Hannah Lindberg, right, makes a play on the ball during a game last season against Marriotts Ridge. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)

Glenelg

Coach: Anna Pallozzi, first season

Last season: 11-2-3, 2A state semifinalist

Top returners: Senior Elise Choe (D); juniors Hannah Lindberg (F/M), Sierra Phillips (M) and Mary Elizabeth Ferrick (D).

Newcomers to watch: Sophomores Addyson Tracy (GK), Angie Rosenthal (W) and Mary Danko (M).

On the pitch: The Gladiators offense will look much different this year without Lathrop’s presence, Howard County public schools’ all-time points leader (182). Glenelg has a versatile and dynamic midfield unit led by Lindberg and Phillips with other players including Rosenthal, sophomore Val Baldwin and senior Jordan Henggeler expected to also be a factor. Glenelg’s defense will also be different with the graduation of All-County goalie Bella Buscher. However, Choe and Ferrick, as well as Kate Skandalis (12), Esmae Leitzel (10), and Kendal Yonker (10) give the Gladiators a mix of experience and youth on the back end.

Coach’s outlook: “I am excited to be taking over Glenelg’s storied girls soccer program. Our 2024 graduating class left big shoes to fill, but we believe we have the right pieces to have a successful season and make a run in the post season. ”

Hammond

Coach: Kelly Shearer, second season

Last season: 2-10

Top returners: Juniors Alexis Wright (D/F) and Vanessa Turpin (M).

Newcomer to watch: Freshman Caitlin Zimmerman (F)

On the pitch: Wright and Turpin are two players with varsity experience that will be important this season. Zimmerman is expected to make an immediate impact as a freshman and be a focal point of the attack.

Coach’s outlook: “I think we gained one or two great players which will help our offense make connections and some good scoring opportunities.”

Howard

Coach: Sam Cassard, first season

Last season: 6-5

Top returners: Seniors Avery Graham (D), Sydney Rhodes (A) and Olivia Butt (M); juniors Raymah Quist-Therson (D), Noelle Hall (M) and Allie Pickett (GK).

Newcomers to watch: Senior Sadie Smith (A); juniors Kelsey Kartanowicz (M) and Addison Greenwald (D); sophomore Londyn Minor (A).

On the pitch: The Lions bring back multiple All-County performers from last season in Graham (first team) and Rhodes (second team) who has 27 career varsity goals. Butt and Hall provide added experience in the midfield with a boost from Kartanowicz, while Quist-Therson will be a pivotal piece on the backend alongside Graham in front of Pickett. Smith is back after missing her junior season with a Torn ACL, while Minor is coming off a 25-goal campaign on junior varsity as a freshman.

Coach’s outlook: “We have a deep team with lots of experience returning. If the girls buy into our identity and what their role is at each position, the sky is the limit.”

Long Reach

Coach: Chris Loetell, fourth season

Last year: 9-2-1

Top Returners: Seniors Katie Hoffmann (M/ST) and Shyann Hansen (GK); juniors Haley Ruddy (M/ST), Bailey Knotts (D) and Cailtlin Ruddy (GK/M).

Newcomer to watch: Sophomore Lyric Stevenson (LB).

On the field: The Lightning will lean on their returners as they look to build off the success of last season. Hoffmann headlines the attack, while Hansen and Caitlin Ruddy give Long Reach multiple options in goal. Haley Ruddy will be another key offensive piece, while both Notts and Stevenson are expected to be pivotal parts of the defense.

Coach’s outlook: “Although we lost a great deal of talent, we return significant players and welcome some new players. Our team will be playing to avenge our early exit from the postseason last year. This is a talented team and will be competitive every game.”

Marriotts Ridge

Coach: Ginger Angell, first season

Last season: 7-3-2

Top returners: Senior Presley Carey; junior Allison Custer (M)

Newcomers to watch: N/A

On the pitch: The Mustangs lost a pair of first team All-County performers from last year in midfielder Anna Hendrickson and defender Bridget Ford. Custer, named second team All-County last season, will shoulder some of that offensive production in Hendrickson’s absence. Carey brings senior experience to the group as the Mustangs will look to maintain competition in the upper echelon of the county.

Coach’s outlook: “I believe our team possess lots of soccer talent. We move the ball well and still maintain a strong defense. Our challenge is that we are physically smaller than most teams, so to overcome that we have been working on speed and good team play.”

Mt. Hebron’s Ava Skaggs returns for a Vikings team that fell just short of a state championship a year ago. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)

Mt. Hebron

Coach: Tim Deppen, 23rd season

Last season: 15-2, 3A state runner-up

Top returners: Seniors Emily Canseven (GK), Ava Skaggs (M), Kailtyn Magdar (CB) and Maria Brogno (M).

Newcomers to watch: Juniors Aubrey Carr (D), Anna McMillion (M) and Iris Vainieri (M); sophomore Grace Garvin (M/F).

On the pitch: Despite graduating a lot of talent, the Vikings return four starters and remain one of the area’s top defensive teams. Canseven will be the heartbeat of that unit in net after finishing with an 87% save percentage last year. Magdar is a multi-year starter in front of her, while Carr is in an increased role after being a reserve on varsity last year. Skaggs and Brogno are standout returners on offense as Skaggs scored a team-high 11 goals and added five assists, while Brogno scored four times, plus two assists. McMillion, Vainieri and Garvin are three players that were reserves last year and are expected to be bigger parts of the offense in 2024.

Coach’s outlook: “I once again expect us to be very strong defensively and be quite stingy at giving up goals. We have many younger players who are hungry to prove themselves and this could be the key to making another deep run in the playoffs and possibly defending the county championship title.”

Oakland Mills

Coach: Alex Douyon, fifth season

Last season: 1-13

Top returners: Senior Malia Bickell (D); juniors Anica Munoz (D), Almira Rafiq (M) and Mackensey Smith (F); sophomores A’Kera Godfrey (F) and Justa Maldonado (D).

Newcomer to watch: Freshman Maya Coull (M).

On the pitch: The Scorpions are a young team and will look to their returners for leadership. Bickell is an experienced starter on the back line while Munoz is another key defensive piece. Maldonado is a young member of that unit. Rafiq and Smith are two attacking players with varsity experience, while Godfrey and Coull underclassmen that will add to the attack.

Coach’s outlook: “We are young and looking for some growth while trying to find out what we have and what our identity will be.”

Reservoir

Coach: Darius Qualls, second season

Last season: 3-10

Top Returners: Juniors Giada Monti (M), Jamison Smith (D) and Amelia Bachman (F); sophomores Kiley Okechukwu (D) and Gabrielle Parrish (M).

Newcomers to watch: Sophomores Kayri Escobar and Dara Akinsanya; freshmen Gianna Sagin (F), Janelle Laughner (D) and Blythe Pietryka (GK).

On the pitch: The Gators will be led by their three team captains: Monti, Smith and Bachman. Okechukwu and Parrish add to the depth and experience at both defense and midfield. Meanwhile, several newcomers are going to play important roles with a large group of underclassmen on varsity.

Coach’s outlook: “We are just looking forward to competing against some of the best teams in Howard County.”

River Hill’s Marella Virmani is a key returning player for the Hawks this season after scoring 19 goals a year ago. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)

River Hill

Coach: Brian Song, 20th season

Last season: 13-4-1, 3A state semifinalist

Top returners: Seniors Madison Berge (D) and Katie Huang (M); juniors Marella Virmani (F), Lauren Virmani (D) and Julian Kim (M).

Newcomers to watch: N/A

On the pitch: The Hawks will look to build on last season’s deep postseason run, leaning on their four key returners. Marella Virmani was first team All-County as sophomore with 19 goals and seven assists as a sophomore. Berge, second team All-County in 2023 and Huang are two key senior leaders, while Lauren Virmani gives added experience to the defensive unit.

Coach’s Outlook: “I think if we stay healthy we should have pretty good season.”

Wilde Lake

Coach: Matt Aubin, second season

Last season: 10-8

Top Returners: Sophia Julian, Tifanny Blakey, Madison Brock, Lauren Sykes, Maddie Marchent and Cam Kingue.

Newcomers to watch: Sophia Renzulli and Maggie Shidle.

On the pitch: Wilde Lake returns several varsity starters from last year at multiple positions. Blakey will lead the offensive attack with a Howard County public school leading 25 goals last season.

Coach’s outlook: “Kicking and screaming.”

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