New state field hockey alignment toughens the competition
The Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association's changes to the class alignment for field hockey were made to improve balance and competition.
And they've created a slightly different landscape in the sport this fall.
Carroll County and Howard County have felt the impact more than most. Westminster, the 2010 4A state champion, will not get to defend its title, as the Owls have been moved into the 3A classification. River Hill, the 3A champion, is playing in 2A this year.
Francis Scott Key has moved from 2A to 1A, as have South Carroll, Century, Liberty and Winters Mill. They were all in 2A West last season and are now in 2A North, where they will face some new competition.
"In years past, it seemed like our whole region was made up of our county teams," Century coach Terry Duryea said. "I kind of like that we're seeing different teams."
River Hill might like the idea of different competition, too, except much of the competition it will see will still be from Howard County. And now placed in the 3A East, one of those familiar teams will be No. 1 Glenelg, which won the 2A title last year and just this week beat the reigning 3A champs, 10-1.
In 1A, class runner-up Patterson Mill and champion Pocomoke -- which has won the last eight state championships -- got byes through the first two rounds each of the last two years. Pocomoke was one of the teams that requested a change in the alignments.
"They wanted to see more competition," South River coach Katie Corcoran said. "They wanted to see more teams in their bracket."
The same is true at Patterson Mill, where coach Shannon Troyer said she has made her team's regular season schedule "as difficult as possible" to get ready for a postseason that will provide new challenges.
The Anne Arundel teams didn't see many changes. Annapolis moved to 3A and Chesapeake from 4A North to 4A East. That means Glen Burnie, Meade, North County and Old Mill are in 4A North, while the four traditionally toughest teams are all in 4A East (Broadneck, Chesapeake, Severna Park and South River). Those teams already play each other twice during the regular season.
"I think what they've done overall makes for better, well-rounded tournament brackets," Corcoran said. "I just wish they'd break up the Anne Arundel County teams."
