SP GIRLS ARE READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP

Soccer is a funny game. At times, one team can appear far superior to its opponent, but just one moment of lost focus can result in the game’s only goal going to the opposition. This could describe several of the Severna Park girls soccer team’s matches from last season. “Last year, we would control the whole game and still lose sometimes,” said senior defender Abby McGuire. After a 5-7-3 record in 2016, the Falcons, led by second-year head coach Brian Morgan, are back and ready to take the next step toward a successful season and deep state playoff run. Nine starters return to Morgan’s possession-oriented system. “Last year, we didn’t produce much off of that,” Morgan said. “This year, we are looking to be a little more opportunistic with our possession.” Offensively, much of that opportunistic success will center on senior forward Sarah Gellert, who will play soccer at Rider College next year. “I think we’re prepared and we’re ready. I think we’ve got a good group here,” said Gellert, who added two goals and an assist during a 3-0 preseason victory over Severn School on September 2 in the second leg of the Falcons’ preseason tournament at Anne Arundel Community College. Severna Park tied Archbishop Spalding 0-0 a day prior to defeating the Admirals. “I’m proud of the work they’ve put into practice,” Morgan said. “A lot of the stuff we do in practice, you can see it materialize out here.” A day after failing to find the net, Gellert said the team’s three goals against Severn — her brace and an assist to Chloe Nagel — will help the team’s momentum. “With this result here, I think it carries forward,” she said. “We get a lot of momentum, because we know the style of play we want to do and that it can work.” Up front, Gellert and Jenna Farrell will get plenty of help from juniors Samantha Cremmins and Kailyn McCulloch as well as sophomore Lauren Campbell. “We have a lot of individually highly skilled players,” said Farrell, a senior captain. Gellert joins a senior class of eight that is looking to go out on a high note. “As seniors, we’re trying to leave a mark,” Gellert said. “Teaching the juniors and the underclassmen what it’s like to be competitors and what it’s like to be winners.” Joining Gellert, Farrell and McGuire as a part of the senior class are Hannah Drilling, Gabi Higgins, Elizabeth Kiely, Chloe MacDonald and Heidi Meyers. MacDonald is committed to play soccer at York College next fall. McGuire, MacDonald, sophomore Nagel and junior Kiersten Crowley will start defensively for the Falcons. “We’ve got a good team,” McGuire said. “We’ve got a good backline.” Sophomore Katie Byrd, who started the season strong with a pair of shutouts, will start in goal. Morgan is confident in this group, and that confidence starts with the leadership of McGuire. “Abby McGuire … she sets the tone, then everyone else goes from there,” he said. “A lot of the things we’ve worked on you can see, after a year together now, it’s starting to come off a little bit quicker,” Morgan said. Severna Park will look to continue that improvement with a tough regular season opening match against a challenging Arundel team on September 13 at Kinder Farm Park. “It should be a promising season,” Morgan said.

SP GIRLS ARE READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP

Photo Credit: Colin Murphy

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