Girls' Soccer

In Final, Glenelg Plays for Keeper
By B.J. Koubaroulis
Special to The Washington Post
Sunday, November 18, 2007; D14

The sight of senior goalkeeper Kerry Krammer being strapped to a stretcher and wheeled into an ambulance during Glenelg's 2-0 victory over Sparrows Point in last night's Maryland 1A girls' soccer final at Broadneck didn't break the spirit of her Gladiators teammates.

"After something like that, a team can lose their wind and lose their focus," Glenelg Coach Dean Sheridan said.

Instead, the Gladiators were inspired by Krammer, who suffered a concussion in a collision with a Sparrows Point player in the game's 36th minute.

Before the 25-minute second-half injury stoppage, during which emergency medical technicians tended to Krammer, the Gladiators' high-powered offense had failed to convert on six shots on goal, one corner kick chance and seven free kicks.

Three minutes after the ambulance carrying Krammer left for Anne Arundel Medical Center, Glenelg (12-6-1) scored on its first shot on goal of the second half to help capture its second consecutive state title and fifth since 1997.

"Our intensity picked up a lot after that," said senior forward Emily Horwath, who had a goal and an assist in the win. "It was really scary to watch your teammate go through something like that. All she kept saying was, 'Guys please win this for me, win this for me.' "

Sparrows Point ended up 14-5 and Glenelg pushed its win streak to nine, finishing a season that, at first, looked as if it would be a rebuilding one.

Glenelg lost 10 seniors and eight starters from last year's state title-winning team, which posted an 11-5-3 record and finished ranked seventh by The Post.

It dropped five of its first eight games this season before winning 10 of its final 11, including a five-game postseason run in which the Gladiators outscored their opponents, 28-2.

Glenelg 2, Sparrows Point 0 Gladiators' Quest: The Gladiators played a rigorous schedule that included losses to No. 4 River Hill and Maryland private school powers John Carroll and second-ranked Spalding. Markwordt's Mark: Alayna Markwordt, an Ohio State-bound lacrosse player who transferred to Glenelg from top-ranked St. John's, had 15 goals and three assists this season, including one in the final minute last night.