by Jennifer Beekman | Staff Writer
Monday, Nov. 17, 2008
For the second time in three years Saturday at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County, Quince Orchard and Leonardtown battled for the Class 4A girls soccer state title. And just as it did in 2006, the team from St. Mary's County hoisted the winner's trophy at the end, this time with a 3-1 victory.
Saturday's win clinched the Raiders' first-ever undefeated season at 17-0-1, and third state title. The loss snapped a 10-game win streak for defending state champion Quince Orchard (14-3).
"[Saturday] was a great game," 15th-year Leonardtown coach Jennifer Henderson said. "Quince Orchard played a great game; it was a hard-fought battle out there. It was an all-around team effort. We put high pressure on the ball and attacked as a unit."
Saturday's duel was between two of the stingiest defenses in the state. Leonardtown allowed just one goal in the regular season; Quince Orchard's nine shutouts are a school single-season record. Both were on point in the first half.
But it seemed only a matter of time before the Raiders' explosive offense, helmed by senior Emily Gehrig (10 goals, 11 assists) and Junior Teresa Paz (6, 5), broke through. Leonardtown has scored 66 goals this fall to Quince Orchard's 39.
After a scoreless first half, Gehrig, who scored the last-minute winning goal in the teams' previous meeting, lofted junior forward Johanna Rambo's well-placed pass into the upper left corner of the net to put Leonardtown ahead, 1-0, in the 42nd minute.
Gehrig's goal opened the floodgates. The Raiders, who'd been playing timidly in the first half, upped their intensity and started taking more shots.
Laurie DeWitt/The Gazette
Leonardtown's Jessica Cooke (No. 13) goes up against Quince Orchard's Yvonne Latour (No. 17) in the girls' 4A title game on Saturday. Leonardtown won 3-0.
Senior midfielder Jessie Schaller came off the bench to finish a pass from Gehrig and give Leonardtown a 2-0 lead in the 53rd minute. Junior midfielder Rachel Lynn subbed in and made it 3-0 late in the second half.
"We knew Quince Orchard had a really good keeper (four-year starter Amanda Whitney)," said Gehrig, committed to play at Division I Towson University next year. "In the locker room during half time, Coach Henderson was just like, ‘You guys have got to start taking shots.' After my goal everyone started taking shots. And everyone has a good foot and the ability to score."
Quince Orchard junior leading scorer Ele Margelos (10, 3) put the Cougars on the board in the 77th minute. But they'd dug themselves too deep a hole.
Nevertheless, Saturday marked Quince Orchard's third-consecutive state final appearance. And the Cougars return nine starters and all four of their offensive leaders: Margelos, junior forward Leah Prentice (9, 2) and junior midfielders Yvonne Latour (8, 7) and Kayla Clarke (2, 11).
"At the beginning of the season we talked about how winning this year would be twice as hard as winning last year, being the defending champions and having that target on our back," 10th-year Quince Orchard coach Peg Keiller said. "We're disappointed we didn't win, but these girls have a lot to be proud of."
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