Girls' Soccer

GIRLS' SOCCER
Howard County Shows Its Mettle
Wednesday, November 21, 2007; E07

With three representatives in four state title games, Howard County had another dominant showing in girls' soccer this season.

With River Hill's 2-1 double-overtime victory over Eastern Tech and Glenelg's 2-0 victory over Sparrows Point, Howard County has claimed 14 of 43 state titles since 1997 -- the most by any county over that span.

Second-ranked River Hill (18-1-1) and ninth-ranked Glenelg (12-6-1), which each won back-to-back titles, have combined for 11 titles in the last decade.

But perhaps it was Wilde Lake (16-5) -- which fell to Urbana, 3-2, in the 3A title game -- that proved just how strong Howard County girls' soccer was this season.

Without three starters, including Katie Leffner (10 goals), Wilde Lake took 3A power Urbana (12-3-1) to the brink in a 2-2 tie before losing in a penalty-kick shootout.

"Howard County is a nightmare," Urbana Coach Chuck Nichols said.

-- B.J. Koubaroulis

Girls' Soccer, Final Rankings

Pallotti rejoins the rankings for the first time since late September after defeating McDonogh (Baltimore) to win the program's first IAAM A Conference title. Pallotti scored 1-0 wins against Institute of Notre Dame, John Carroll and McDonogh -- all teams that beat Pallotti during the regular season.

Ranks, Team, Record, Last Week

1. St. John's (D.C.) (21-2-2) 1

2. River Hill (18-1-1) 4

3. Pallotti (12-5-2) NR

4. Quince Orchard (17-2) NR

5. O'Connell (17-4-2) 3

6. Urbana (12-3-1) 10

7. Spalding (18-2-1) 2

8. Potomac School (11-3-2) NR

9. Glenelg (12-6-1) NR

10. Bethesda-CC (14-1) 5