Schools
Pikesville Coach: Soccer Team 'Riding Wave of Momentum'
After a loss in the first game, the Panthers girls' team has captured three straight wins.
Since falling to North Carroll in its season-opener on Sept. 12, girls' soccer team has been on a tear during its last three games.
The team lost to North Carroll, 9-0, in its first game, but went on to post three straight wins, outscoring those three opponents by a combined margin of 16-2.
Pikesville beat , 4-0, on Monday after pulling out a 3-2 win against Carver A&T on Sept. 15.
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The Panthers defeated Woodlawn, 9-0, on Sept. 13.
"We have a lot of momentum," Pikesville coach Andrew Burkhardt said, adding that the Panthers "are just looking to continue riding that wave of momentum."
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Seven different players have scored goals for Pikesville, including four who have tallied multiple goals.
Forwards Sydney Weiss and Rachel Hoffman are tied for the team lead with four goals each. Hoffman had two goals in Monday’s win against Owings Mills and another two in the Panthers win against Woodlawn.
Weiss also scored twice against Woodlawn before notching another two goals against Carver A&T.
Amanda Charlow and Natalie Benamor have each posted two goals for Pikesville. Charlow scored the game-winning goal in double overtime in the win against Carver A&T.
Aside from just the offense, though, Burkhardt pointed out that the Panthers defense has been a pleasant surprise through the early part of the season.
Despite graduating three of its four starters from last year’s team, as well as its starting goalie, Pikesville has tallied shutouts in two of its last three games.
Burkhardt singled out senior Arianne Schreier as "really being an anchor for us back there." He also mentioned Abby Suldan, Nicole Elover and Benamor as being key components of the defense’s early success.
"As a unit, they've definitely stepped up and held their ground," Burkhardt said. "One of my concerns heading into the season was rebuilding the defense, but the defense has been pretty spectacular so far."
The Panthers finished last season — Burkhardt’s first as coach — with an 8-8 record. But with the progress he said that he's seen during the last three games, he's optimistic Pikesville is poised for a better finish this year, both in terms of an overall record as well as in the playoffs.
The Panthers fell to Carver A&T, 2-1, in last season’s Class 1A regional quarterfinals.
The team meets Hereford at 5 p.m. tonight at Pikesville.