Glenelg goalie Courtney Knill remembers what it felt like last season to watch her opponent celebrate winning the 2A state field hockey title ? and it?s a sight the junior never wants to see again.
The Gladiators have never won a state title, but have advanced to three championship games, including losing 2-0 to Hereford in last year?s final. But this year, Glenelg?s path is much different, as the school?s decreased enrollment caused it to drop to 1A ? the classification reserved for the 47 schools with the smallest number of students. Meantime, Hereford?s enrollment spiked, causing the school to ascend to 3A.
But before Glenelg can reach that ultimate goal, it must first prepare to defend its Howard County championship when the Gladiators host Centennial on Friday afternoon at 3:30. Centennial lost to Glenelg in the regular season, 7-4, on Oct. 2, and in last year?s county title game. But Glenelg may be even better this year, as the Gladiators improved to 11-3 overall and 10-0 in league play with a 3-2 win over Reservoir on Tuesday.
“Our goal from the first day of practice is to win the county, region and state titles,” said Knill, who had 13 saves against Reservoir. “We want to go one step further this year. Half the team wasn?t here last season, and the ones who were want to win really bad.”
Glenelg coach Ginger Kincaid ? the only coach the team has ever had since its inception 31 years ago ? said Tuesday?s win over Reservoir was a great test for her team entering the postseason.
The Gladiators steamrolled their way through the county schedule, winning five times by five or more goals, including back-to-back 10-0 victories over Wilde Lake and Howard last month.
“We already knew going into Reservoir that we had secured the county championship,” Kincaid said. “But we want the top seed in the region playoffs so our emotions were high in this one.”
After Glenelg and Reservoir traded goals in the first half, senior forward Amy Thompson scored the game-winner with 2:54 remaining.
“This game showed us we?ve got some work to do,” Thompson said. “If we want to win a state title we can?t let up on anybody.”
Junior forward Lauriann Parker leads Glenelg with 21 goals and 12 assists, with Thompson adding 13 goals and 3 assists. Junior forward Brie Kitchelt has 10 goals and 7 assists and senior forward Rachel Leaf has 6 goals and 7 assists for the Gladiators, who have just seven seniors on its roster.
“Our defense bailed us out at times [against Reservoir],” Parker said. “We picked it up though on offense. But our ultimate goal since last year is to win it all this year.”
