 |
Admin
Last updated 10-14-08 01:06 AM
 
Archbishop Spalding Women's Soccer
Bobssoccer
1179 Jeffrey Drive
Crofton, Maryland 21114
|
 |
|
 |
Wednesday, October 1
Spalding vs Maryvale Prep
Girls Soccer Roundup: Spalding eases past Maryvale
Cavs weather tough stretch of elite teams
Despite playing through a brutal slate of games during the past week, the Archbishop Spalding girls soccer team has not forgotten how to play well as overwhelming favorites.
The Cavaliers silenced Maryvale, playing in its first year in the IAAM A Conference, 5-0, yesterday in Severn, concluding a stretch of five games in eight days, including contests against area powers Good Counsel, McDonogh, Urbana and Glenelg.
"It's been a real challenging schedule," Spalding coach Bob Dieterle said. "We don't take any team lightly, especially in league play. Teams are real strong in this conference, and we came ready to play."
The Cavaliers ended all doubt early, getting a sixth-minute goal from senior Jena Gerbrick, and goals in the 17th and 18th minutes from senior Erica Page and sophomore Maggie Morrison, respectively, to build a 3-0, halftime edge.
Gerbick took a cross from Page at the penalty spot and ripped a right-footed shot into the net for the game's first tally.
Less than a minute after Page doubled the Cavaliers' lead, Morrison shot from the left side of the box to put the Lions in a large, first-half hole.
"I got a great ball played out wide, I made a little move and had a shot," said Morrison, who has scored six goals off the bench for Spalding.
The Cavaliers expanded their lead in the second half, converting on two corner kicks.
In the 46th minute, junior Teresa Doyle took the set piece from the left flag and kicked the ball to the center of the box. Senior Caitlin Aversa headed the ball on goal, and Maryvale keeper Katie Smith punched the ball out to junior striker Courtney Hoyes, who touched the ball into the goal.
In the 65th minute, in the aftermath of a corner, junior Sarah Backof kept the attack alive by stopping a clearance at the top of the box and lifting a pass to Page on the doorstep, and the University of Maryland-bound striker made no mistake, scoring her 10th goal of the season.
The conversions on set pieces were refreshing for Dieterle, whose team failed to score on 18 corner kicks in the previous two games.
"We have not capitalized on our scoring opportunities," Dieterle said. "You can't put them all away, but we are trying to increase that percentage."
Spalding's forwards and midfielders dictated the tempo and pace throughout the 80 minutes, and the Cavaliers had multiple scoring opportunities in both halves, including a stretch late in the second half when Morrison set up two teammates who both missed from point-blank range and one instance where she skimmed the side netting on another shot.
"She's worked real hard in practice, taking to heart things that we're stressing for forwards," Dieterle said. "It's an exciting kind of soccer when a player has the confidence to take people on."
Spalding sophomore keeper Jocelyn McCoy was hardly tested, but she made five saves, and junior backup keeper Alicia Sage made her first save of the season in the second half.
Smith stopped nine shots for Maryvale, keeping the Lions in the game as much as she could.
"We have a young team in our first season in the A (Conference) after having a tremendous four years in the B (Conference)," Maryvale coach Billy Reinhardt said. "Katie's come a long way. She was a originally a field player, and I think she's playing magnificent. Right now, it's not the keeping that's the issue, it's the youth on the field."
Maryvale (1-4) 0 0 - 0
Archbishop Spalding (9-1-2) 3 2 - 5
GOALS: AS - Page 2, Morrison, Hoyes, Gerbrick. ASSISTS: AS - Page, Tomoff, Doyle, Aversa, Backof. SAVES: MV - Smith 9; AS - McCoy 5, Sage 1. SHOTS: MV - 8; AS - 24. CORNER KICKS: MV - 2; AS - 10.
Wednesday, September 24
SPALDING CAVALIERS - MCDONOGH EAGLES BATTLE TO 1-1 TIE in 100 MINUTES
No. 1 McDonogh, No. 6 Spalding battle to 1-1 tie
Morrison scores for Cavaliers; Mangione nets a goal for Eagles in IAAM A Conference girls soccer bout (VIDEOS coming soon!)
Published: 09/24/2008
McDonogh goalkeeper Ali Brennan (four saves) didn't surrender a goal during the second half and both overtime periods in the Eagles' 1-1 tie at Spalding on Tuesday.
Players battle for possession in the midfield during a 1-1 tie between Spalding an McDonogh on Tuesday.
by Aaron Gray
agray@digitalsports.com
Archbishop Spalding High School girls soccer coach Bob Dieterle looked at his bottle of Pepsi as being half full during a post-game pizza party with the rest of the team.
"Hey, at least it's not a loss," he told his players.
There's no question about it, the Cavaliers are battle-tested. Of their eight games this season, five have gone into overtime, including a rematch with the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last season -- McDonogh.
Sophomore striker Maggie Morrison scored in the 25th minute for host Spalding and senior midfielder Gigi Mangione got her team on the board in the 10th as the IAAM A Conference juggernauts battled through two scoreless 10-minute extra periods ending in a 1-1 tie Tuesday.
The result for the No. 6 Cavaliers (6-1-2 overall, 3-0-1 in conference) was better than Monday night's 3-2 double-overtime loss to Good Counsel, out of Washington D.C. Dieterle said he was happy to see his players respond to their first loss of the season.
"We were on the short side of that one so I wanted to see how they would come back today," Dieterle said. "The girls were ready to play. Games like this one and the other overtime games, along with the difficulty of our schedule, is going to make this team better and better as the season goes along."
Physical fitness hasn't been a problem for the No. 1 Eagles (9-0-1, 3-0-1). Their midfielders had range all over the field and when the team met after the first extra period, coach Maurice Boylan said its performance during the first overtime session was the best soccer McDonogh had played in the game.
"We scored first, we dominated play and we felt we had more chances," said Boylan, whose team surrendered its first goal of the season to league competition. "It's always a tough game here at Spalding ... their girls are very athletic and there's a lot of speed on that team."
Playing on the road, the Eagles knew they would have to take command early. In the 10th minute, the Spalding defense gave Mangione an inch and she took advantage of it.
The senior captain cut the ball outside from 15 yards out and blasted a low left-footed shot into the far-side netting for the first goal.
"Ashley Pivey had it and it sort of popped out," Mangione said. "I saw the corner and went for it. Even though we scored, I think it's still disappointing that we didn't finish all of our opportunities."
Spalding countered quickly with long balls for Morrison and senior striker Erica Page to run on to. One of the serves came from deep in the Cavaliers' midfield and it found Morrison on the left flank. She collected the ball, eluded her defender and tucked the ball past junior goalkeeper Megan Lerner (three saves), who came off her line to intercept.
"We actually did the same exact play in one of earlier games," said Morrison, who scored her third goal of the season and her second in as many nights. "I was a little nervous going in because I've missed a lot of open shots lately but she had the confidence and played me a great ball."
Morrison, a second-year varsity player, usually comes off the bench to bring a spark to the Spalding offense.
"Maggie brings a lot of energy to the team and leaves everything out on the field," Dieterle said. "She attacks and that's what good strikers do."
Both teams had their chances in the extra periods. Spivey had a look in the second period but her shot from the left side caught a piece of a Spalding defender and sophomore goalkeeper Jocelyn McCoy had to dive to her left for one of her 10 saves in the game.
Less than a minute later, McDonogh senior goalkeeper Ali Brennan left the penalty box to make a kick save during a Cavalier possession.
"I think the whole defense did a great job of shutting down some of their top players," said Dieterle, who holds a 6-2-1 series record over McDonogh since taking over at Spalding in 2002. "This is a young group and they're learning with each game.”
McDonogh (9-0-1) 1 0 0 0 - 1
Spalding (6-1-2) 1 0 0 0 - 1
GOALS: McD - Mangione; AS - Morrison. ASSISTS: McD - Spivey. SHOTS ON GOAL: McD - 11; AS - 8. SAVES: McD - Brennnan 4, Lerner 3; AS - McCoy 10. CORNERS: McD - 2; AS - 0.
Tuesday, September 23
PREP LEADERS - The Capital
Prep Leaders
Girls soccer
SCORING
GP G A TP
E. Page (AS) 7 6 3 9
K. Labarge (SR) 6 4 3 7
C. Flanagan (SR) 6 4 1 5
K. Cunard (SR) 6 3 1 4
S. Pfundstein (SR) 6 1 3 4
L. Rogers (SR) 6 2 2 4
C. Aversa (AS) 7 2 1 3
O. Tomoff (AS) 7 2 1 3
M. Morrison (AS) 7 1 2 3
GOALKEEPING
GP S GA Pct.
L. Hokanson (SR) 6 17 1 .941
J. McCoy (AS) 7 58 6 .906
Tuesday, September 23
Page Player of the Week - The Capital
Athletes of the Week
Published September 23, 2008
GIRLS
Erica Page, Sr., Archbishop Spalding, soccer
The Cavaliers' captain came up huge this week. Page scored the game-winning goal in overtime against Wilde Lake on Monday, a goal and the game-winning assist in overtime against Mercy on Tuesday, and she finished the week with another game-winning assist against Notre Dame Prep to keep Archbishop Spalding (6-0-1) undefeated.
Page, a Nike top 50 player and All-County selection, will play at Maryland next year.
Tuesday, September 23
Digital Sports Player of the Week Erica Page
Female Athlete of the Week
Erica Page, Archbishop Spalding girls soccer
Page, a senior forward, came up clutch in three victories for the Cavaliers (6-0-1) this past week. She had the game-winning goal in a 1-0 win over Wilde Lake, she tallied a goal and the game-winning assist in a 2-1 overtime win over Mercy, and she registered an assist in a 4-1 win over Notre Dame Prep.
"Erica always seems to rise to the occasion and she's been doing here for four years now," Spalding coach Bob Diertle said. "I think she's still heating up. She came off an injury towards the end of last season and she's now getting back into it."
Page, a University of Maryland signee, is also a Nike top 50 player and can play defender or in the midfield. In seven games this season, she has amassed six goals and three assists.
"We're going to need her this week because we have three tough opponents coming up," Diertle said.
Catch the Cavs in action today at 6 p.m. against visiting Good Counsel and tomorrow when they host IAAM A Conference foe McDonogh (9-0) at 7 p.m.
Tuesday, September 9
ARCHBISHOP SPALDING 2-0 AT ANNE ARUNDEL COMMUNITY COLLEGE
The Archbishop Spalding and Severna Park High School girls soccer teams were decimated by graduation last year but it appears neither program has lost a step.
Eight starters from a Falcons squad that advanced to the Class 4A state semifinals last season have been replaced and two of the state's premiere players in Christine Nairn and Karen Blocker have left the Cavaliers to join the Division I college ranks.
Yet, when the squads met Monday night, Severna Park proved it can still hang while Spalding showed that when it plays together as a team, few defenses will be able to contain its explosive offense.
Junior Olivia Tomoff tallied an assist and capped an impressive pass sequence with the game-winning goal to lead the Cavaliers to a 3-2 victory over the Falcons in the nightcap of the Pionner Shootout at Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold.
Spalding went 2-0 during the two-day, six-team tournament, that started Friday and was postponed Saturday because of rain.
"Everyone has to go out there and chip in," said Cavaliers' coach Bob Dieterle, whose team also upended Arundel, 3-0, on Friday. "They played very unselfish. No one is worried about stats or anything like that. They have to play the best they can in the hopes that we can put something together. I think they did that tonight."
The play that put the Cavaliers on top for good started in the midfield when senior Erica Page found sophomore Maggie Morrison on the right flank. Morrison had room to operate but instead of charging the goal, she sent a dangerous cross-field to a streaking Tomoff, who collected the ball and fired it into the far-post netting of the Severna Park goal.
"I saw (Tomoff) flying in and she had a better shot than I did," said Morrison, who found Tomcoff with 13:02 left. "I knew she was going to put it in the back of the net."
Tomoff, who fed Page with a picture-perfect through ball on her team's first score, wasn't surprised when Morrison's pass hit her in stride.
"I knew Maggie had the ability to play it to me," said Tomoff, who is primarily a marking back for Spalding. "I saw the keeper coming out on me so I just focused and try to play it over her."
Junior forward Courtney Hoyes collected a pass inside the goalbox and was converged upon by a defender and Severna Park freshman goalkeeper Lexi Cavey (nine saves). Hoyes held her ground, however, and was awarded with an empty net.
"I saw the goalie and the defender coming out," said Hoyes, whose goal gave the Cavaliers a 2-0 lead with 16:52 left in the first half. "I pulled it back, shot and it went in."
The Falcons (0-1) answered back when senior striker Jenny Thornton, one of the few starters back from last season, converted on a breakaway to slice Spalding's lead in half before the intermission.
Senior defender Caroline Lay converted a penalty kick for Severna Park with 19:44 remaining to tie the score.
"I thought we started a little slow because it was our first match," Falcons coach Gary Lam said. "The reason I took this game is because I wanted to learn a lot about this group. It was a learning experience and it's all about getting better."
Sophomore goalkeeper Jocelyn McCoy tallied eight saves for Spalding.
Wednesday, September 3
Baltimore Sun Top 20
Girls soccer: The poll- September 3, 2008
1. MCDONOGH
Last season: 16-5-2, ranked No. 3
•The Eagles are loaded, bringing back all 11starters, adding an influx of young talent and having the invaluable experience of playing in last year's IAAM A Conference title game.
2. RIVER HILL
Last season: 18-1-1, No. 1
•With two straight state titles and six overall, the Hawks have established themselves as the best public school program in the area.
3. ST. VINCENT PALLOTTI Last season: 11-5-2, No. 2
•The defensive-minded Panthers graduated a quality class. Of course, we said that last year and they went on to capture their first IAAM A Conference title.
4. ARCHBISHOP SPALDING Last season: 18-2-1, No. 4
•With the program's two most prominent players having graduated - midfielder Christine Nairn and goalie Karen Blocker - the Cavaliers will bank on a deep and talented roster.
5. FALLSTON Last season: 16-1-1, No. 6
•The Cougars, whose only loss came in the regional title game last year, have eight starters back and unfinished business in mind.
6. EASTERN TECH Last season: 14-2-1, No. 10
•With 10 starters back, the Mavericks have plenty of talent and incentive after taking River Hill into OT before falling, 2-1, in last year's Class 2A state final.
7. C. MILTON WRIGHT Last season: 13-5-1, No. 8
•Motivation isn't a problem and neither is talent at C. Milton Wright, where the Mustangs return eight starters after losing the Class 4A state final to Quince Orchard on penalty kicks.
8. WILDE LAKE Last season: 15-5, No. 5
•The Wildecats, state finalists last season, have the returning talent at every position to make another strong run under first-year coach Phil Webster.
9. JOHN CARROLL Last season: 17-5, No. 7
•Limited experience won't disrupt things with the Patriots, who always find a way to make a positive imprint in the IAAM AConference.
10. BROADNECK Last season 8-4-3, unranked
•Talented, aggressive and experienced, the Bruins have a slight edge in what should be a balanced Anne Arundel County league.
11. SEVERNA PARK Last season: 15-3, No. 11
•The young Falcons will lean on smart play at midfield and their speed up front while a largely new defense settles in.
12. CATONSVILLE Last season: 16-2, No. 12
•The Comets have eight starters back from last year's state semifinal team and will rely on balance to offset the 32 goals lost by the graduation of Jessica Nonn.
13. MERCY Last season: 11-7-1, unranked
•Seven returning starters and a promising freshman class could translate into a big year for the Magic in the tough IAAM AConference.
14. SOUTH RIVER Last season: 8-4-4, unranked
•Poised for a breakthrough, the Seahawks have the experience and talent to make a serious charge in Anne Arundel County.
15. WINTERS MILL Last season: 12-4-1, unranked
•The defending Carroll County champion Falcons made significant strides last season - winning eight more games than the previous year - and the upward trend should continue.
OTHERS CONSIDERED •Arundel (11-4, unranked), Centennial (11-4-1, No. 13), Century (12-4, unranked), Loch Raven (10-6-1, No. 15), Institute of Notre Dame (14-5-1, No. 9)
Wednesday, August 27
Washington Post Soccer News
Wednesday, August 27, 2008; Page E09
Around the Area
Archbishop Spalding lost two players from last year's team that lost in the IAAM A Conference semifinals to McDonogh, but they left two very large holes. Now Spalding is looking to strike back with Erica Page and sophomore goalkeeper Jocelyn McCoy. Former Spalding goalkeeper Karen Blocker set three Maryland records, including shutouts in a season (17) and career (57). . . .
Player to Watch
Erica Page,
Archbishop Spalding, Senior
The second-team All-Met is second on the school's career goal-scoring list behind 2007 All-Met Christine Nairn, who now plays on the U.S. under-21 team. Page had 19 goals last season -- including seven game-winners -- and Coach Bob Dieterle is convinced that her ability to keep her cool will allow her to fill Nairn's shoes. She has committed to Maryland.
Wednesday, August 27
Girls Preseason Washington Post Top 10
Wednesday, August 27, 2008; Page E09
THE POST TOP 10
| Team |
*LS |
| 1. St. John's (D.C.) (21-2-1) |
1 |
| 2. O'Connell (13-3-3) |
5 |
| 3. Quince Orchard (17-2) |
4 |
| 4. Urbana (12-3-1) |
6 |
| 5. Spalding (19-2-1) |
7 |
| 6. Pallotti (11-5-2) |
3 |
| 7. B-CC (14-1) |
10 |
| 8. Good Counsel (15-4-1) |
NR |
| 9. Georgetown Visitation (14-2-1) |
NR |
| 10. Walter Johnson (8-2) |
NR |
|
 |