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Just like the summer of 2023, a significant sporting event has brought women’s soccer to the attention of sports fans in America. Last year, it was the Women’s World Cup, where a powerhouse Spain team featuring Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati defeated England to win the tournament. This year, it was the Paris Olympics, where the U.S. Women’s National Team beat Brazil 1-0 to claim the program’s fifth Olympic gold medal.
Both events set the stage for women’s soccer, as local fans await the start of the new scholastic year. The Severna Park area has historically held some great women’s soccer teams, and if their recent performances are any indication, that trend should not be changing anytime soon.
Broadneck reached the state semifinals as recently as 2022, when their undefeated record was ruined at the hands of Quince Orchard forward Caroline Donmoyer. And as for Severna Park? Their 2023 season was spotless, as they went 17-0 en route to a Class 3A state championship win over Mount Hebron. Archbishop Spalding and Severn have also been competitive in recent years, and there’s plenty more reasons to be optimistic about every one of these teams.
Of the four local teams, the Falcons were easily the strongest in 2023. Head coach Rick Stimpson led his team to an undefeated season, going 17-0 and defeating Mount Hebron to claim the team’s seventh state championship, their first since 2003. It was a dream season for the Falcons, making it difficult for Stimpson to set his sights on new heights as the team heads into 2024.
“Our goal is to have a strong regular season and hopefully compete for a state championship,” Stimpson said. “We are excited by the group that is returning, and we have confidence in the players that will be stepping up.”
It’s not going to be easy for Severna Park to repeat their 2023 performance, especially with the loss of the class of 2024. The state champions had depth across the roster, but more than anything, they were led by a remarkably strong senior class. Capital Gazette Player of the Year Ryn Feemster was rock-solid in the defense, and her partnership with Francesca Dunoyer and Caitlyn Boucher made it nearly impossible for opposing teams to score.
With all three now graduated, as well as attackers including Sara Kreis, Severna Park has their work cut out for them when trying to shape up their defense, but the return of All-County sophomore Emerson Scott gives them a foundational piece to build around. The midfield is also expected to be a strength for Severna Park, with junior Ava Scott, sophomore Izzy Burleson, and seniors Bella Van Gieson and Abby Cover expected to contribute to the middle for another potential championship charge.
Broadneck’s 2023 team wasn’t nearly as strong as their team that won the county championship in 2022, but they still had a successful campaign last year, and head coach John Camm is hoping to continue their success going forward. The team went 6-3 in county play last year, and they managed to make a deep run through the playoffs before losing a penalty shootout to North Point in the 4A Region II championship.
“We are optimistic regarding this upcoming season,” Camm said. “We are skillful and athletic, and we expect to perform well all season long.”
The team graduated a strong senior class that featured Olivia Orso, Lily Trout, Maddie Capps and Kyleigh Bland, but that leaves more opportunities for the younger players on the roster to step up. The team has 10 sophomores and five freshmen, and they’re led by sophomore Mia Orso, an All-County midfielder who collected seven goals and 11 assists in her debut season.
Senior Grace Gartrell, and juniors Hadley Crooks and Ellie McGilvray are all names to watch for the Bruins, with the latter two being named to the Capital Gazette’s All-County second team at season’s end. The youth movement is in full swing for Broadneck, and the potential of this roster is limitless over the next couple of years.
Prior to the 2023 season, former professional futsal player Denison Cabral took over for head coach Erika Mahon, who subsequently moved into an assistant role with the team. In Cabral’s first year at the helm of the girls soccer team, the Admirals had a fairly successful season. The team went 8-7 last year, although their MIAA playoff run came to an end in the quarterfinals at the hands of St. Timothy’s.
This year, however, Cabral thinks he has a mix of players who can make a deeper run in the playoffs and possibly even contend for a title. The Admirals weren’t heavily dependent upon their senior class last year, as they only graduated four players from the 2023 roster. Cabral is set to return 15 players from last season’s team, as well as 12 seniors. The chemistry on the team is undeniable, and their experience could give them a leg up on the rest of the conference.
“(We are hoping) to be competitive, enjoy the experience, and fight for the title,” Cabral said. “This year, we will have many seniors who will make the difference, and we will be counting on all of them to help this program accomplish its goals and have a great season.”
Senior Eliana Valencia is expected to take a leadership role in the midfield this season, following a season that earned her an All-County second team appearance. She’ll work alongside senior Madison Watson in the midfield, while Sally Reed and Nia Hudson are set to lead the line in the attack. Severn has the ingredients to make a deep run in the playoffs this season, and it’s up to Cabral to put the pieces together.
Of the four programs on this list, Archbishop Spalding finished with the worst record, but the season was not bad for the team. Despite entering the playoffs with a 5-7-2 record, they managed to make a run to the conference championship before falling to McDonogh in a 6-1 rout. The Cavaliers have plenty of talented players, but they couldn’t string together enough wins to claim the elusive MIAA conference crown.
Fortunately for head coach Ashly Kennedy, Spalding is set to return a vast majority of their talent from last year’s roster, including their robust forward duo of Riley Wills and Olivia Nardone. Wills collected eight goals and seven assists last year, while Nardone claimed 11 goals and four assists of her own, and both players are set to play key roles as they head into their senior years.
The graduation of long-time All-County second team goalkeeper Maeve Konstantoulas may loom large over the team, but junior Sophie Fedorchak could fill her role admirably. If things go right, the Cavaliers could make it back to the conference final in 2024, and they could walk away with the conference crown this time around.
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