Rams girls lacrosse is on way up

Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Rams girls lacrosse is on way up

Rockville legit contender in regional playoffs

by Chay Rao | Staff Writer

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Lately, the regular season has not been a strenuous test for Rockville High’s girls lacrosse team. The Rams were cellar dwellers for a time, but the arrival of coach Janis Maloney last season coincided with the emergence of high-powered scorers Meghan Johnsey and Anna Schmidt. Now seniors, the duo would like to see their team do something previously thought to be impossible: win a regional title.

‘‘When I was a freshman, we could barely get a pass up field,” Schmidt said. ‘‘Teams used to pound us. But we learned last year that we can win a playoff game, and that has boosted our confidence.”

As the No. 2 seed, Rockville (10-2) piled up wins against Montgomery County’s 3A⁄2A⁄1A Division. While regular-season division champion Poolesville was a powerhouse in Montgomery County, the same cannot be said of the rest of the Rams’ foes. They expect, however, to be ready to advance past the winner of Thursday’s game between No. 7 Linganore (3-8) and No. 10 Tuscarora (2-8).

‘‘Our defense is playing really well,” Rockville coach Janis Maloney said last month. ‘‘They are sliding and they are communicating with each other. Concepts that were all new last year, we have been able to put into place this season.”

Lurking at the top of the bracket, however, is defending regional and state champion Walkersville (10-2). In a game against Frederick on May 3, senior Ashley White scored six of her whopping 211 career goals, as Walkersville set a new school record for goals scored in a game, winning 30-4. That number may be threatened this weekend, as the Lions face off against the winner of Thursday’s first round game between No. 8 Northwood (0-12), and No. 9 Clarksburg (2-10). Both teams are in their inaugural season playing varsity lacrosse, and though one team will earn its first-ever playoff victory, the reward will be a long bus ride to Frederick County, and likely a quick exit.

A potential semifinal opponent for the Rams is third-seeded Urbana (5-8). The Hawks, who earned a first-round bye, will play Kennedy (3-8) on Saturday. The Cavaliers received a first-round bye when they drew the sixth seed and won more games this season than the last three combined, but will have their hands full with Urbana’s balanced attack, led by senior Haley Smith. The Hawks won the regional title two seasons ago, and could use Kennedy as a springboard for another run.

In another weekend quarterfinal, an intriguing contest pits two Montgomery County teams against each other, which guarantees that at least one of the four county teams in this region will get to the semifinals. No. 4 Seneca Valley (4-7) came into the season with a new coach, in Kevin Piroozmond, and a new group of players, including freshman Audrey Cunningham. That was a recipe for low expectations, but the Screaming Eagles won enough games to get a first-round bye and a home game. They will host No. 5 Wheaton (2-9) in Germantown.

‘‘It has been tough at times as a first-year coach doing what I want to do with the girls,” Piroozmond said. ‘‘But with the younger girls I do have their attention, and they play hard when they are out there. We are just looking to get better.”

Whichever team wins that game will likely face the top-seeded Lions in the quarterfinal. In fact, if the region plays out according to seeding, Walkersville will play only Montgomery County opponents throughout. Rockville hopes to be the foe that ends the Lions’ season in the final, and it might have the makeup to do it.

3A-2A West Region Playoffs

Favorite: Walkersville (10-2)

Contender: Rockville (10-2)

Darkhorse: Urbana (5-8)

Players to watch: Anna Schmidt (Rockville, Sr., A), Meghan Johnsey (Rockville, Sr., A), Megan Moritz (Rockville, Sr., D), Haley Smith (Urbana, Sr., M), Georgi Porter (Linganore, Sr., A), Ashley White (Walkersville, Sr., A), Lindsey Coon (Walkersville, Sr., M)