South River Girls Soccer Preview

John Sis returns for his sixth year coaching the South River girls soccer team, after a 13-2-2 mark in 2010, which ended in the regional semi-finals with a 1-0 double overtime loss to Leonardtown.

Nine starters return from last year’s squad, so hopes are high at South River for a great season. Sis hopes to gel his team throughout the season and peak at playoff time. The Leonardtown loss is still present in the minds of the players and they would love nothing better than to go deep in the playoffs.

The team may feel the loss of all-county attacker Kari Cunard who is now playing for the University of Pittsburgh. The Seahawks will also need to replace goalkeeper Nicole Greig. Emily Carter and Alexis Scheidehave, both sophomores, are battling for the starting job.

Some top returning players for the Seahawks will be senior Anna D’Ambre (forward), Danielle Piccirilli (defense), Natalie Kern (defense), Caitlin Byrnes (defense), junior Amber Kovalick (forward), sophomore Kacie Longo (forward), while incoming freshman Alyssa Hill (midfield) may be a strong addition.

“We will still play our 1-3-4-3 system to develop our players and play high pressure over the field,” said Sis. “The players are excited about the season and can’t wait until it begins.”

The team will officially begin play on Sept. 3 as they take on perennial private school power McDonogh in the Anne Arundel Community College tournament, before taking on equally tough Archbishop Spalding two days later in the same tournament.