Time ran out on Glenelg Country as it struggled to get a game-tying goal in a 2-1 loss to Seton Keough Thursday afternoon.

But if the clock was not in the Dragons’ favor, the calendar is.

There are just three starting seniors and the underclassmen have got talent.

“We have more players that play outside of school and have that experience, and that helps with the skill level,” said  Glenelg Country School coach Jessica McAdams.

Some of the players are with the Washington Wolves, out of Montgomery County, some play with Club Applebee, out of Baltimore, and a few are on other teams, but those year-round touches on the ball add up.

After being in a rebuilding mode for several consecutive years, things are looking up for a number of reasons besides club play.

“This year’s team is very close and very positive and they are very aggressive and goal hungry,” McAdams said.

Her 2008 squad scored a paltry seven goals while giving up 38. Last season's effort marked the fourth consecutive year that the Dragons gave up more than they got.

“We had a defensive team last year. This year we have an offensive and a defensive team,” said senior Claire McAuliffe.

McAuliffe’s goal against Seton Keough was her 12th and her team’s 26th of the season. Alisha Spencer had the assist.

Defensively, the Dragons have surrendered only 11 goals, which is about one a game. Generally, Madelyn McClung, a junior, and Sarah Bates, a freshman, split time in the cage. Bates (nine saves) had the nod against Seton Keough.

Against the Dragons, Glenelg Country was without Brittany Jorgenson, a key defender who was sick, and that caused some line-up adjustments but the team didn't miss a beat.

"One of our strengths is having a lot of players able to play all different kinds of positions," McAuliffe said.

Case in point: Allie Pickens moved off the forward line to midfield and Spencer dropped back to take Jorgenson's place on defense. Both did noteworthy jobs.

The Dragons thought they padded their 1-0 lead midway through the first half, and the ball did look like it could have been over the goal line, but it wasn't ruled a goal.

"That definitely was a downer. We thought it went in," McAuliffe said.

The visiting Gators scored the game-winner three minutes into the second half to take the victory.

There may be a price for that victory a little later in the season, though. The Dragons (2-3-1 Interscholastic  Athletic Association of Maryland B Conference, 6-3-1 overall) are adding Seton Keough to a list that includes McDonogh and Mount de Sales as teams that they want to beat in their second meeting of the year.

Right now Glenelg Country stands fourth in the conference standings, just one spot behind Seton Keough, and that's fine with McAdams.

"I'm pleased with where were are in the standings right now. I definitely feel we could have beaten those teams and I don't feel that we were shut out of the games.

McAdams said her goal for the year is to be in the top four in the standings because that assures home field advantage in the playoffs.

"I think our field is an advantage for us," she said.

Glenelg Country's next game is at Friends Sept 30. The Dragons return home Oct. 2 against John Carroll.

---

user comments (0)