River Hill Making A New Statement

Still catching her breath following a 4-1 victory over Century in last night's 2A state semifinal at South River, River Hill senior forward Janie Tankard was flustered as she tried to control a swell of mixed emotions.

Cupping her hands over her eyes, Tankard -- who scored two goals to push River Hill into a meeting with Eastern Tech in next Saturday's 2A state final at Broadneck -- tried to explain herself.

"I'm like all over the place right now," Tankard said. "I feel like this whole season, everyone has compared it to last year and how great last year was. And last year was great, but I feel like, finally, we are setting our own statement this year, with this team."

Fourth-ranked River Hill went 20-0 in winning last season's 3A state title, but has since dropped to the 2A division, where it has just one loss and has outscored its opponents, 68-15.

"This team is also capable of great things," said Tankard, who has 15 goals and five assists this season and, as a three-year starter, has helped the Hawks to a 52-4-1 record.

River Hill (17-1-1) will be looking to capture its second straight state title and sixth this decade against Eastern Tech (13-2-1), which scored a 1-0 victory over previously undefeated Parkside (16-1) in last night's other semifinal.

"We got rid of old rivalries and teams that we knew, so, now we have to bring the intensity no matter what because we are not as familiar with them," said Tankard of Eastern Tech.

Tankard controlled junior midfielder Kathryn Rodgers's through pass and dumped two defenders before scoring on a sliding left-footed shot from 20 yards for a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute.

River Hill sophomore midfielder Anna Kim scored in the 46th minute and three minutes later sent a right-footed cross that Tankard finished from 15 yards for a 3-0 lead.

Century junior forward Lauren Resutek scored in the 57th minute on a left-footed shot to the upper right corner before Kim scored her second goal of the game and sixth of the season on a shot that deflected off of a Century player and rolled into the goal in the 76th minute.

No. 2 Nets 5 for Glenelg

In the second half of last night's Maryland 1A girls soccer semifinal between Glenelg and Northern of Garrett County, a Northern player yelled loudly to her teammates, "Find number 2 and stay on her."

It was a little too late.

No. 2 for Glenelg -- senior Alayna Markwordt -- scored five goals as the defending 1A state champion Gladiators shut out Northern, 6-0, at Broadneck High last night.

The Gladiators (11-6-1) will play Sparrows Point, a 2-0 winner over Mardela, in the 1A championship next Saturday. Northern finished 14-3-1.

"That's never really happened before for me," said a smiling Markwordt, who transferred to Glenelg from St. John's (D.C.) and is in her first year on the team. "We've been crossing [the ball] in practice all season and we finally connected today."

When the Northern player made her plea, it was already 2-0. Markwordt's shot from eight yards out in the 13th minute gave Glenelg a 1-0 lead. It stayed a one-goal game until halftime thanks to Northern goalie Justine Harvey, who made several excellent saves.

But 45 seconds into the second half, Markwordt displayed her impressive footwork by weaving around three Northern defenders near the goal and shooting past Harvey for a 2-0 lead.

In the 50th minute, Markwordt's shot hit the post -- but it bounced right back to her. The ensuing blast to the top left corner made it 3-0, and she added two more to bring her season total to 15. Senior Rachel Dewberry also scored for Glenelg, which at one point early this season went four straight games without a win.