When she arrived at girls basketball powerhouse Good Counsel as an aspiring point guard, it didn’t take Ashley Stodter long to realize she was in over her head, literally.
While 5-foot-6 is not considered short for a freshman girl, it’s positively puny in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, where 6-foot guards are commonplace.
So Stodter turned her attention to lacrosse, playing wall ball to hone her skills. Four years later, Stodter’s set to become the school’s all-time scoring leader. With 162 career goals, Stodter is one shy of the standard set by Erica Baumgartner, now a freshman at Boston University.
“I put so much time into basketball. It took up my whole summer,” said Stodter. “But once I got into the lacrosse, I could see all the similarities. It was a natural transition.”
Some might have expected the Falcons to slump this season with the graduation of the gazelle-like Baumgartner, a two-time WCAC Player of the Year. But Good Counsel (9-2) has thrived as Stodter has assumed Baumgartner’s leadership and playmaking responsibilities.
“Ashley’s pretty much mirroring what Erica did for us last year,” said Good Counsel coach Mike Haight. “Erica realized in her senior year that she could be more dangerous by drawing the defense and passing. Ashley’s learned the same thing.”
The statistics reflect Stodter’s changing role. After scoring a school single-season record 75 goals last year, to go along with 33 assists, Stodter has 33 goals and 31 assists this season.
“Erica was such a huge part of our offense. Almost all my goals last year came on feeds from her,” said Stodter. “We were a littleuncertain this year. Could we be as good without her? I’ve had to change my game — take what the defense gives.”
Kind of like in basketball.
“When I think back on all the hours I spent in elementary school, CYO, playing basketball,” said Stodter. “My dream was to get a scholarship.”
Little did Stodter know, she would achieve her goal, but in another sport. She has signed with UMBC.
THE STODTER FILE
» Stodter also was an All-Examiner choice in field hockey.
» Stodter’s mother, Kelly, is the field hockey coach and a lacrosse assistant at Good Counsel, and the girls varsity basketball coach at Sandy Spring.
» Stodter’s twin brother, John, will swim next year at Loyola. Younger brother Casey is a sophomore swimmer at Good Counsel.
