This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Sports

Coach Has 'High Hopes' for Pikesville Soccer Team

The Panthers girls begin their season against North Carroll Sept. 6.

Pikesville High School girls soccer coach Andrew Burkhardt says he entered last season, his first as head coach, focused primarily on laying the foundation for the program's future.

Burkhardt's priorities were developing more leadership within the team, increasing the intensity of practice and setting his expectations for his players, and letting them know what it would take to earn playing time.

“The girls have really adapted to that, and are starting to understand my expectations for them,” said Burkhardt, who also coaches girls lacrosse at Pikesville.

Find out what's happening in Pikesvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

But, while last year was more about laying that foundation, Burkhardt and the Panthers begin this season focused on only one thing: winning the Class 1A South regional championship. Pikesville has won just one regional title in team history.

The Panthers finished last season 8-8, reaching the Class 1A South quarterfinals before falling to Carver A&T, 2-1.

Find out what's happening in Pikesvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Pikesville is forced to replace several key players from last year’s team, including forward Rachel Margulies, midfielder Abby Molofsky and defenders Paulina Miller and Jen Eisenberg, but returns numerous key players as well.

Burkhardt will be looking to senior Arianne Schreier to anchor the Panthers’ defense, senior Natalie Benamor and sophomore Nicole Elover to lead the midfield, and junior forward Rachel Hoffman to help fill the scoring void left by Margulies.

“We fell short last year,” Burkhardt said, “but we don’t want that to happen this season. Our expectations are to make a solid run into the playoffs and to come out with a regional championship. That’s the goal we’ve been shooting for.”

Schreier offered a similar sentiment.

“We’re a young team,” Schreier said, “but I think we really have a shot at making this a good year. It may not seem that we’re as well put together, because of some of the players we lost, but I have high expectations.”

She added, “It would be amazing to win a regional championship in my senior season. To finish out my career with that would be pretty amazing.”

Burkhardt does have a few concerns heading into the season, however, especially over how the defense will perform after losing three of its four starting players from last year’s team. He said he would also like the Panthers to be able to generate more offensive explosiveness.

Nonetheless, this is a young team, with just three senior starters, that has Burkhardt excited not only for this season, but for the future of the team as well.

Pikesville begins its season against North Carroll Sept. 6.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that we can make a strong run at a regional title this year,” Burkhardt said. “But, regardless of how we end, whatever team’s on the opposing side is going to know it was in a battle the entire game."

He said the program has a lot to look forward to. "We’re really building the program back up and definitely have a lot of high hopes for the future.”

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?