Perry Hall Girls Soccer Flourishing On And Off The Field

NOTTINGHAM, MD —The Perry Hall High School girls soccer team has started the 2021 season 2-0, the Gators are the two-time, defending Class 4A state champions and they recently were ranked No. 23 nationally in the United Soccer Coaches High School Rankings.

Yet, in a season that was postponed in the fall because of the coronavirus pandemic, one of Perry Hall's greatest successes this spring does not have anything to do with wins, trophies or accolades.

"When some of the girls came in (to practice) they were not their normal happy self. They were going through a lot from a social and emotional standpoint," said Gators head coach Matt Smoot about his players, who are scheduled to finally return to in-person learning after next week's Spring Break.

"But we've seen them start to flourish more, to start to build those bonds back, even off the field. We're limited in what we can do as a team (because of COVID-19 protocols), we can't do team dinners. But just to be able to get together at practice has helped the social aspect of things."

With a seven-game season and no MPSSAA state tournament scheduled this year - though there still might be some kind of county championship - the Gators will get one of their biggest on-field tests at 4 p.m. Friday when they travel to BCPS rival Hereford, a team that was ranked No. 14 nationally in the same United Coaches poll.

"(Perry Hall) and Hereford kind of go back and forth, it's a battle every year," Smoot said. "They are well coached and have plenty of athletes to choose from. Both teams are so competitive. Even when we won state (in 2019), they beat us 1-0 in overtime in the regular season."

Though attendance at games still is limited, players can now have up to three guests in the stands.

Leading the way for the Gators this season, according to Smoot, are the team's three captains: junior midfielder/defender Kyleigh Gough, senior center midfielder Grace Wille and senior goalkeeper Brenna Ellenberger, the latter already has committed to Division III Hood College to play soccer and basketball.

Ellenberger has split time in the net with junior keeper Delaney Forrester thus far. In front of them, junior center backs Hannah O'Guin and Michaela Phillips have helped the Gators record shutouts in their first two games.

Up front, sophomore forward Kamryn Williams is looking to pick up where she left off in 2019, when she was the team's leading scorer.

Williams scored the lone goal in the Gators' 1-0 victory over Eastern Tech on Tuesday. Gough and sophomore forward Madeline Lebhar found the net in the season-opening 2-0 win over Catonsville on March 17.