Desperate to return to the state championship after a devastating loss in last season’s final game, South Carroll’s Alayna Enoff had to bounce back and grow up fast to return better in 2023.
“We had a good season, but we didn’t finish it off the way we wanted to,” Enoff said. “It made me think of ways we could change it over the summer.”
Still just a sophomore, the Cavaliers looked to their young star early and often as the team’s redemption tour began in 2023.
“We knew pretty early on that she was going to be a key piece for us again this year,” coach Kayla Holston said. “She proved she was up to the challenge from Day 1.”
Enoff finished the season with 13 goals and 13 assists, leading the Cavaliers to a 14-3 record and the Class 1A state title.
For her efforts, South Carroll’s Alayna Enoff has been named the 2023 Carroll County Times field hockey Player of the Year.
With many talented and deserving players in the county, it was Enoff’s play in the most important moments that separated her all season. She was named the Baltimore Sun’s Athlete of the Week in September and was chosen as a county “Five-Star Player” during the week the Cavaliers were chosen as “Team of the Week,” a week in which Enoff scored not one, but two, game-winning goals.
“She might just be a sophomore, but she’s so talented,” Holston said. “Alayna does so many things well on the field and she’s only going to get better.”
One thing Enoff was unquestionably the best in the county at: clutch moments. Several of Enoff’s goals were game-winning goals in the closing moments or in overtime.
Even in shootouts, it was Enoff who Holston often turned to. Her performance in the state semifinals against Patuxent was one of the more impressive showings in years.
Tied at 4 after the two teams played four quarters, two overtimes and a shootout, it was Enoff that clinched another birth to the state title game for the Cavaliers with the game-winning goal.
“There’s no one else in the county, in the state, that I would trust in that moment,” Holston said. “She is that good and she works that hard for moments like that to come through when we need it the most.”
Enoff not only showed improvement as a scorer, but as a team player and passer this season. Her 13 assists were the direct result of the growth she saw in herself on and off the field this season.
“I really communicate with my teammates,” she said, “I pre-scan the field and have really good field hockey knowledge since I’ve been playing since I was four years old.”
Enoff credits her coaches, teammates and family for believing and investing in her throughout the years. With college just a few years away, she isn’t satisfied with this year’s success as she still has a plethora of goals to accomplish.
In short: Alayna Enoff isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Manchester Valley’s Denean Koontz led her Mavericks to a county championship and is the 2023 Carroll County Times field hockey Coach of the Year. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Coach of the Year
Denean Koontz, Manchester Valley
From Day 1, Manchester Valley was a top threat not just in the county, but in the state with several top players on a loaded roster.
Despite the season ending in the Class 2A state semifinals, Denean Koontz led the program to a county title, regional title and final record of 15-1, outscoring their opponents 86-3 with the help of a revamped defensive group.
For her efforts, Koontz has been named this year’s Carroll County Times field hockey coach of the year.
Manchester Valley’s Amanda Herrold, left, takes a shot during a game against Liberty. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
All-County first team
Amanda Herrold, Manchester Valley, sophomore, attack
Herrold scored 11 goals for the Mavericks this season, also adding eight assists.
Layla Lagunas, Manchester Valley, senior, attack
Lagunas ended the year with nine goals and 10 assists.
Francis Scott Key’s Carley Topper, left, is a first team All-County selection. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff).
Carley Topper, Francis Scott Key, junior, attack
Topper finished the season with four goals and 11 assists for the Eagles.
Brinley Tozer, Westminster, senior, attack
Tozer scored four goals and added three assists this season.
Manchester Valley’s Sophie Baer was a key factor in the Mavericks’ undefeated run through the county. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff).
Sophie Baer, Manchester Valley, junior, midfield
Baer finished the season with four goals and 11 assists for the Mavericks.
Taylor Fique, Manchester Valley, freshman, midfield
Fique finished with double digit goals (10) in her debut season. Also added six assists.
Aubrey Geist, Century, junior, midfield
Geist was a swiss-army knife for the Knights in the midfield, showcasing her scoring and passing ability all season.
Allie Largent, Manchester Valley, senior, midfield
Largent was a glue piece in the middle for the county champions all season, not only serving as another weapon for coach Diane Koontz, but as a senior leader as well.
Cailin Yankle was a key distributor for South Carroll, but scored a clutch goal in the Cavaliers’ Class 1A state championship win. (Brian Krista/Staff)
Cailin Yankle, South Carroll, senior, midfield
The senior scored three goals and added seven assists for the state champion Cavaliers this season.
Reese Athey, South Carroll, senior, defense
Athley was a standout on a Cavaliers defense that shutout three teams from three different counties this season.
Natalie Opatovsky, Century, junior, defense
One of the county’s top defenders this season, Opatovsky earns her spot on the first team after a solid year for the Knights.
Catonsville’s Lindsay Taylor reaches to block a shot from Stevie Schultz during the Class 3A Region field hockey finals at Westminster High School on October 31, 2023.
Stevie Schultz, Westminster, sophomore, defense
Schultz finished the year with six goals and two assists for the Owls.
Sara Gardner, Winters Mill, senior, goalie
Gardner made life rough on opposing offenses, recording 212 saves for the Falcons.
All-County second team
Century: Julia Bornyek, Isabella Garcia. FSK: Jena Stambaugh, Drew Watkins. Liberty: Hannah Schmitz, Claire Kim. Manchester Valley: Shelby Wurzburger, Emma Gleespan, Liz Syzbalsk. South Carroll: Rowan Miller, Addie Fowble, Caelin Lopes. Westminster: Kate McAlonan. Winters Mill: Caitlyn Erlichman