Century High field hockey coach Gayle Taylor knew her team was going to face a difficult schedule after finishing in a three-way tie for first place with North Carroll and Winters Mill in the Carroll County standings.
But so far, this season has been even more competitive than she initially anticipated. Through Monday, Westminster was 5-0, North Carroll was 6-1, South Carroll and Winters Mill were 4-1, and Middletown was 4-2.
The Knights have kept pace, entering the week 5-0 following three wins in five days, including a 3-2 come-from-behind victory overWinters Mill Friday. That win gave Century a measure of revenge for two losses from a year ago, including one in the Class 2A West Region semifinals.
“That win helped with our confidence a lot because it showed us we can play with anybody in the county,” midfielder Stef Zile said.
The season will only get tougher with games against North Carroll and defending Howard County champion Mount Hebron this week, followed by a game at Westminster (5-0 through Monday) next Thursday and home contest against South Carroll on Oct. 16.
“Every game on the schedule means something from here on out,” Taylor said.
Century had a solid team last year, but Taylor said this season?s squad is better prepared to go deep into the playoffs since many of her players spent the offseason playing for her newly formed club team, the first in Carroll County. Among those players are senior center midfielder Shannon Watt, senior forward Lindsey Gurkovich (seven goals, one assist) and Zile, whom Taylor said can play anywhere on the field.
That balance has helped serve Watt well as she makes the adjustment from left midfield, where she scored eight goals and had 13 assists as a junior. She has just a goal and assist this year, but Watt said she feels she has a greater impact on the game.
“I feel involved in every aspect of the game, from helping on defense to moving the ball in transition to helping set up a score on offense,” she said.
Gurkovich said having a club team locally has not only helped Century, but also improved the skills of teams all across the county.
“We?ve been at a disadvantage here because we haven?t even had a rec league to play in before high school,” she said. “Now, the schedule has gotten even harder than last year because teams that we overlooked last season are now playing much better.”
