Falcons, Bruins Look To Continue Field Hockey Dominance

Falcons Gunning For Third Straight Title Chase

After winning the state field hockey championship in 2024, Severna Park was supposed to take a step back in 2025.

They didn’t, and their surprise run to last year’s title game with such a young squad has the Falcons poised for a giant leap forward in 2026.

The entire starting lineup is back, and that bodes well for the team’s fortunes. Severna Park graduated just two seniors from last year’s squad, and this year’s 21-deep roster features six seniors. They get Kelsey Begin back in goal, after Tesa Norris held down the fort in her freshman season during Begin’s absence to give the team two capable backstops. Defender Emerson Clarke and attackers Izzy Scarfo and Addison Hill add experience and savvy.

Junior do-everythings Leela Vernugopal and Sophia Weber, the latter of whom scored the game-winning goal in overtime to put Severna Park in the title game a year ago, lead a 10-strong junior class to make this team both deep and top-heavy.

“We are returning a very competitive team,” said Severna Park coach Shannon Garden. “It’s hard to tell (where the team is at) because we’ve had several practices canceled due to storms. But we are working hard to reach the finals again this year.”

The Falcons start their season September 8 against River Hill before taking on Kent Island the next day. They’ll also play Manchester Valley and Notre Dame Prep before moving into county play.

Broadneck Retooling After Semis Ouster

A year after getting ousted in the region final by eventual state champion Leonardtown, the Bruins return a deep and experienced squad to reload for a 2026 title run.

Cate Imber, an all-state player who set the program’s single-season goals mark last season as a sophomore and has since committed to Cornell, leads an attack that has three other players with varsity experience: Tess Mansfield, Vera Shaklee and Raelyn Soares. Combine that with two three-year varsity defenders in Shea Fitzpatrick and Laurie O’Leary, and returning goaltender Trish Maloney, and the Bruins have plenty of experience returning to gear up for another long campaign.

“We have powerful and fast forwards, lots of skill, and returning experience spread out in the midfield and backfield,” said Broadneck coach Shannon Hanratty. “A big roster this year will add depth and development to many positions.”

Broadneck leads off their season with four big games: defending 2A champion Glenelg on September 8, 1A titleholder Liberty on September 10, perennial 2A contender Kent Island on September 16, and Archbishop Spalding on September 19.