When Century senior Katie Schwarzmann was little and watching big sisters Ashley and Lauren play lacrosse, she couldn’t wait to get on the field.

“I would come to games with my little stick and I’d be asking my parents, ‘When can I play? When can I play?’ I always went to their tournaments and watched them play, so I definitely learned a lot from them,” Katie said.

Katie followed Ashley, now 25, and Lauren, 22, into the sport and through high school (although Ashley went to South Carroll before Century opened), so when it came time to choose a college, she took a long look at Johns Hopkins where Ashley and Lauren had successful playing careers. In the end, however, Katie opted to break ranks and head farther south – signing with Maryland.

“It was actually a big decision,” said Katie, standing beside Homewood Field Monday after No. 13 Century’s 16-6 win over Roland Park at the Maryland High School Lacrosse Showdown.

“I love it here. I’ve always been comfortable here, because I have seen them play and I’ve been around the coaches and they’re great people. It was really a hard decision, but going to Maryland has been something that I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve been a big Maryland fan since I was little, so I kind of went with my heart on that one.”

There’s little doubt that Katie would be successful wherever she had chosen to go. An All-Metro midfielder last season, she is one of the most prolific scorers in Carroll County girls lacrosse history. After scoring seven goals Monday, she has 35 this season in just five games

But didn't she get a bit of nudging from her sisters towards Hopkins? Not too much, she said with a smile.

“They didn’t really give me too much pressure as to going here. They knew it was my decision and my sister Lauren has worked camps for Maryland, so she really loves both schools. Obviously, she went here and this is where she loves it, but they didn’t really pressure me.”