Atholton Wins 3A East Region

By Jeff Nelson
Special to The Washington Post
Friday, October 31, 2008

Atholton ended what was believed to be a 28-year drought last night by beating Centennial, 1-0, to win the 3A East region field hockey title.

Raiders Coach Jim Brown said the program had two winning seasons in the 1990s, but other than that, there has been little success since a state runner-up finish in 1980, and no region titles that anyone can recall.

Atholton took a major step forward last season, going 11-6 to set a team record for victories. After senior Sarah DeLuca scored on an assist from junior Allie Durso less than six minutes into the game, the Raiders (13-3) are headed to the state semifinals.

"It's exhilarating," said Brown, in his fourth year with the program and third year as varsity coach. "It's indescribable, really."

"This is a very big deal," DeLuca said. "We have been working for this chance to make it this far for a very long time and to finally make it and to be regional champions and to go to the state tournament means the world to all of us."

Region Results

Severna Park's quest for an 18th state title continues after a 3-2 overtime victory over visiting Broadneck in the 4A East final.

The Bruins (15-2-1), who beat the Falcons less than two weeks ago for the Anne Arundel County title, held leads of 1-0 and 2-1 in each half of regulation. But Severna Park (17-1) equalized both times and eventually won on Lelan Bailey's overtime goal. . . .

In the 4A South, after a scoreless regulation and two overtimes, Springbrook defeated visiting Whitman in strokes, 2-0, on successful tries by senior Mirielle Encarnacion and junior Ebony Turner.

The Blue Devils (13-1-1), who start two freshmen and two sophomores, previously won a region title in 2005 and are chasing their first state title since 2003. . . .

In the 4A West, Quince Orchard earned a 2-0 home win over Walter Johnson. The Cougars (11-3-1) lost last year's state final to Severna Park. . . .

Great Mills senior Reagan Beasley scored two first-half goals and the Hornets held off La Plata for a 2-1 home win in the 3A South.

Great Mills (14-1) has won four region titles this decade and two in a row but will be trying to win its first state semifinal. . . .

Bethesda-Chevy Chase senior Mimmy Wenzel scored off a penalty corner with no time left to give the Barons a 3-2 win over visiting Damascus in the 3A West.

Wenzel is in her first season on the team after transferring from Holton-Arms last year.

"It was really exciting," she said. "I got some great passes from Charlotte [Kettler] and Catherine [Mirsky], and I think this proves that we can rally and keep fighting."

B-CC, last year's state runner-up, has won region titles in 15 of the past 16 years and will try to win its first state title since 2004. . . .

Patuxent won its third 2A South region title in the past four years and second in a row with a 3-1 home victory over Mount Hebron.

Senior Hannah McGreevy and juniors Dani Gilbert and Erica Wiltse scored for the Panthers (15-0), who made the state final in 2005 but have never won a title. . . .

Glenelg senior Lauriann Parker scored with just under nine minutes remaining in the second half to give the Gladiators a 1-0 home win over Poolesville for the 1A West region title.

The Gladiators (13-2-1) have been a state runner-up three times but have never won a state title.