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July 7, 2009, started out like any other day for 17-year-old Stephanie Minite.
The Good Counsel junior had just finished packing and was preparing to leave for Clemson (S.C.) University's girls volleyball camp. While waiting for her ride, Minite decided to hop in her Volkswagon Jetta and drive to the store to pick up a few snacks for the trip.
On her way back to her home off Muncaster Mill Road in Derwood, Minite's car was struck by a dump truck.
"I just made a left hand turn and got hit," Minite said. "It was such a quick reaction. You know how people say their life flashes before your eyes? I didn't even have time to have that happen. I was able to get out of the car, but then I passed out from the pain. It was just a black thing and then I woke up in the hospital."
Metro American Club and Falcons teammate Frankie Emanuele was supposed to drive to South Carolina with her later that day.
"The way I found out was horrible," Emanuele said. "My mom called me and she told me Stephanie got hit by a truck, and the phone disconnected. I thought she died. I don't even think Stephanie knows that. I was actually freaking out. But thankfully I found out she was okay."
Minite was lucky. She walked away from the accident with a severely broken radius bone in her wrist, but other than that, just a few bumps and bruises.
"Oh my gosh, my family still won't show me the pictures of the car," said Minite, whose parents were in Italy at the time of the accident and immediately flew home. "Apparently the backseat was in the front seat of my little Jetta. Thank goodness for seat belts."
The fractured wrist left Minite hospitalized for 15 days and with months of intense rehabilitation to follow. She was finally cleared to return to action in early October and eased her way gradually back into the lineup during the Falcons' run to their fourth straight Washington Catholic Athletic Conference title.
"Basically I was like a baby again," said Minite, who was the Falcons' starting libero last year. "I couldn't make a fist. I mean I almost have my fist back, but I can't bend my wrist back yet. Luckily for my position all I have to do is pass. I can't set yet, but I'm learning how to be a lefty."
It took some time early in the season for the Falcons to adjust, playing without arguably their best defensive player. They suffered losses to No. 1 Magruder and Independent School League champion Flint Hill (Va.) after finishing undefeated a year ago.
"After the initial shock set in, and we knew she was going to be okay, we were all like ‘Oh, my gosh. What are we going to do about volleyball?'" teammate Meagan Donohoe said. "She was a big leader on the court and that's one thing Coach [Karen Kart] always says we are missing. It was really hard in beginning."
Added Kart: "I don't think it dawned on me until recently that we essentially lost four starters from last year. But luckily we were so deep last year that we knew we had someone like Suzette [Rosenwald] on the bench who was willing to work hard enough to take Stephanie's spot. ... It's been a long road with Stephanie coming back and she's a competitor. I'm just happy she's okay."
Though Minite did not play on Saturday, Good Counsel senior Jenna Campbell found herself clutching the WCAC championship trophy for the fourth time after a 25-21, 25-17, 25-21 sweep of Paul VI at Trinity College in Washington, D.C.
"It's always exciting [to win]," said Campbell, WCAC Player of the Year, who finished with 11 kills, 9 digs and 2 aces. "It just means a lot to me that I've been a part of the program, I've felt lucky to be a part of it."
The four-year varsity starter and outside hitter wrapped up her career having never suffered a loss to a WCAC opponent. Since the beginning of the 2006 campaign the Falcons (27-5 overall, 19-0 WCAC) have won 76 straight conference matches while dropping only four sets to league foes.
Meanwhile, Holy Cross (14-9, 11-7) fell to Paul VI in four sets on Thursday. After a 6-14 record in 2008, the Tartans are on the rise. Led by freshman outside hitter Taylor Gallart, the Tartans return all but two players.
Girls soccer
Falcons forward Jessica Daly scored the biggest goal of her career in the 94th minute of Sunday's WCAC final.
It gave Good Counsel a 1-0, double overtime win over three-time defending league champion St. John's (D.C.) at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, and its first title since 2001.
"We haven't been here in forever," said Good Counsel coach Jim Bruno. "It is a great feeling for these kids."
Field hockey
Senior co-captain Katie Slater converted an open shot off a penalty corner to give Holy Cross its second straight WCAC championship, a 1-0 sudden-death overtime victory over Good Counsel Saturday in College Park.
"I knew if we scored, it would be over," said Slater, who will play lacrosse at the University of Virginia next year. "Normally, I wouldn't take that shot. We had to switch up."
Boys soccer
Despite one of its best seasons in recent history, Good Counsel's season ended in a heartbreaking, 2-1 loss to Paul VI in the WCAC quarterfinals. Sophomore Brian Saway scored the team's lone goal.
But at 15-5-2, it was a banner year for the Falcons, just two years removed from a three-win season.
