History of Field Hockey at Springbrook
Best-Ever Seasons
2008 MD 4A State Semi-finalist, losing to eventual Champion Severna Park
2005 MD 4A State Finalist, losing 3-0 to South River
2003 MD 4A State Champions: Springbrook's best-ever finish was the MD Class 4A title 3-2 vs Quince Orchard, when Sr. Katie Klass buried the most famous shot in SHS FH history; a one-on-one breakaway into the goal several minutes into 7 v 7 overtime.
1986 Semi-finalist
1981 Semi-finalist
-- source MPSSAA, dating back to 1975
Yearly Records
Year Coach Record
2010 Kearney Francis 10-4
Shannon O'Hearn, Gazette All-County 1st team; Emma Wells, Gazette All-County 2nd team; DeeDee Akpaete, Gazette All-County 2nd team; Piper Spiller, Gazette All-County HM
2009 Kearney Francis 9-4
A frustrating year when weighed against the recent success of the program. Although the team finished 9-3 in the regular season, the three losses were "OT", "OT", and by one goal. Even the playoff loss to Whitman went to OT following a 0-0 regulation game that just as easily could have been 6-2 or 5-1 in Springbrook's favor, as both teams had numerous chances, with Springbrook almost doubling up in number of shots that should'a, could'a, would'a gone in -- for both teams -- on any other day. The team was led by WaPo honorable mention All-Met and All-Gazette 1st team senior defender Jessica Sawadogo, All-Gazette 2nd-teamers senior goalie Ashley Stennett and sophomore mid Piper Spiller, and All-Gazette honorable mention attack Ebony Turner. Other standouts on the team were defensive players Eleanor Scianella and Emma Wells, and forwards/mids Dee Dee Akpaete and Shannon O'Hearn. Captains were Gina Rinaldi, Stennett, Sawadogo, and Christina Sukhu. The JV went 5-3-2.
2008 Kearney Francis 13-2-1 Overall; MD 4A State SemiFinalist
Led by WaPost All-Met Honorable Mention GK Ashley Stennett (Jr) and Montgomery Gazette 1st teamers Stennett and MF Rachel Browning (Sr.) Springbrook defied the pre-season projections of a good-but-not-great season. The defensively oriented team (dubbed the "Force Field" by an opposing coach) went all the way to the MD 4A State semi-finals where they lost to the eventual 4A state champions Severna Park (18th state title). Along the way the Blue Devils won the 4A South Region, beating Magruder in the SF and Whitman in the final, both games ending 0-0 in regulation and two overtimes, both games being decided by strokes. Stennett cemented her honors with highlight reel saves in regulation, OT, and strokes in both games. Earlier in the year Browning provided a game winning, OT-penalty stroke against a strong Churchill squad. Coach Francis noted the team was undefeated in the "regular" season, tieing Poolesville 0-0, including an undecisive strokes shootout, and losing, but only in OT, to Blake, and only after the Bengals mad scramble to score the regulation-tying goal with under a half-minute remaining. (Note: Blake went undefeated in the regular season, winning the Division, but was upset by Whitman in the Regionals). Other key performers were Jr. Jessica Sawadogo, a "wall" of a sweeper, Sr. Ferin Richardson, an athletic mid who shut down the Gazette's player of the year in the Regional final, and the small but speedy Sr. Niani Mimms (Att) who led many goal-scoring charges. Co-captains were Browning, Mimms, and fellow seniors Angelica Eng and Ruth Young. Piper Spiller became the first Freshman in collective memory to start for a Kearney Francis-coached V lineup, contributing as a Mid. The JV finished 8-3 to provide a promising outlook for the future.
2007 Kearney Francis 10-6 Overall
4A South Semi-finalist
(Led by senior Shannon Connolly)
Team finished 6-1in County East division, tied with Magruder, but the Colonels won the division based on their head-to-head decision over Springbrook. Connolly was recruited by Div-I Syracuse.
2006 Kearney Francis 10-4 MCPS Division Co-Champion
4A South Region Semi-finalist
Team started slowly on offense in early part of season, gradually finding their scoring ability. The defense was solid as the team won several low-scoring, tight contests. Springbrook was rated in the Examiner Top 5 briefly, late in the season, before falling out after bowing out in the Region playoffs. The team was captained by Seniors Danica Gordon (Mid), Hanh Nguyen and Kelly Callan (Def), and GK Lauren Kessler, who went on to play in college at Brown.
2005 Kearney Francis 10-2 (4-1 Playoffs) MD 4A Finalist
Team was characterized by a strong defense, a stronger mid-field, and opportunistic offense, the latter led by Examiner (suburban MD edition) Player of the Year, forward, Lauren Kessler. The Blue Devils made it to the Class 4A State Finals, losing 3-0 to South River HS, beating CM Wright in the State SF, and Magruder in the Regional final. Captains: Leah Arthur, Keely O'Tool, Melissa Katski, and Jacquie King. Season-ending honors to Leah Arthur, Hanh Nguyen, and Lauren Kessler. Also strong for the team were stalwarts Diana Okwali, Kelly Callan, Danica and Carly Gordon, and GK Avian Spiller. Team finished # 1 in Examiner (MD Suburbs edition) season-ending Top 5, and finished # 5 in Washington Post Top 10.
2004 Kearney Francis 6-5 (4-2 Division, 1-1 Playoffs)
Captains: Crystal Sin, Kelly Shanahan, Connie Hodgson, Keely O'Tool Team Most Outstanding and Honorable Mention All-Gazette Avian Spiller (GK) Mont. County Coaches All Stars; Hanh Nguyen and Avian Spiller, 2nd team; and Keely O'Tool and Lauren Kessler, Hon. Mention
2003 Kearney Francis 15 - 2 (10 - 2 reg season)
Won 5 playoff games, including Class 4A Championship which was 3 - 2 (OT) vs Quince Orchard; Katie Klass scoring the most memorable goal ever (OT winner) in Springbrook's FH history. The Blue Devils were characterized by a senior-led team that had been playing club FH in previous years. Team MVP: Emily Richards (GK) & several all-county honors to others, plus Coach of the Year for Kearney. All-stars: Jada Richardson, Katie Klass, Kajee Murangi, & Senior defenders. Team finished # 3 in Washington Post Top 10 season-ending poll. Note -- two years later, Richards was a Sports Illustrated "Face in the Crowd" for her goalie work at St. Marys College.
2002 Kearney Francis 7 - 1
Outstanding: Emily Richards
All-County: Jada Richardson, Emily Richards, Katie Klass
Capts: Kelly Massino, Katie Simmons, Shannon Wright
Season continuity was disrupted by Wash.-area sniper shootings, with some games cancelled due to the terrorist-like Fall scare.
2001 Kearney Francis 9 - 2 - 2
Lost in Regional 2-3
Outstanding: Meredith McLeod
All-County: Katie Simmons, Meredith McLeod, Kelly Massino
Season continuity was eclipsed by 9/11 Terrorist attacks
2000 Kearney Francis 3 - 9
Outstanding: Meredith McLeod
1999 Deborah Schwalm 5 - 6
Outstanding: Koula Strosnider, Patty Jovel, Gina Regotti
1998 Deborah Schwalm 7 - 6
Outstanding: Koula Strosnider, Anne-Marie Ritzell
1997 Deborah Schwalm 3 - 9
1996 Jennifer Libby 1 - 12
1995 Jennifer Libby 0 - 13
1994 Debbie Luongo 2 - 10
Capts: Sandy Jelen, Libby Sander, Kimmie Moy, Jessie Smith, Jenny Dillon
1993 Debbie Luongo 4 - 7 - 1
Capts: Courtney Gale, Kimmie Moy, Keri Rumerman, Jana Therrien
1992 Karen Robinson 4 - 7 or 7 - 4 ?
Outstanding: Andrea Spanou
Capts: Keri Rumerman, Blake Murray, Beth Wilhelm
1991 Ian Leonard 8 - 4 - 1
Outstanding: Julie Dolin, Julie Reichely, Andrea Spanou, Sarah Goodridge, Marlo Makela
Capts: Julie Dolin, Sarah Goodridge, Rebecca Jacobstein, Courtney Gale
1990 Janine Nyce Unknown
1989 Janine Nyce 5 - 4 - 1
Capts: Andre Santy, Tonya Wolfram, Kathryn Desantis
1988 Heather Lewis? Unknown
1987 Heather Lewis 7 - 5
Capts: Wendy Miller, Michelle Whiteside, Constance Roof
All-stars: Lynn Salins, Wendy Miller
All-County Wendy Miller
1986 Heather Lewis 7 - 8
Region Champion and State Semi-Finalist
All-Stars: Deanna Snyder, Shannon Gaffigan
Capts: Barbara Rundquist, Shannon Gaffigan
1985 Marti Dyer (nee, Dell) 6 - 6
2nd in Division
Capts: Meg Tinsley, Stephanie Staples
All-Stars: Karen Carbone, Meg Tinsley, Debra Schwartz, Monica Malanoski, Stephanie Staples
1984 Marti Dell (Dell played in the 1980 Olympics) 6 - 5
Capts: Leslie Boswell, Vanja Rudquist
All-Star: Vanja Rudquist, Meg Tinsley
1983 Kerry Garafano 9 - 4
Capts: Sharie Harmon, Lisa Kenel
All-County: Sharie Harmon, Linda Kenel, Bryn Austin
1982 Kerry Garafano Unknown
Division Champions
1981 Kathy Zeigler? Unknown
Region Champions and State Semi-Finalist.
1980 Kathy Zeigler 12 - 2
Divison Champions, Regional Finalist
All-Stars: Jennifer Smoot, Holly McIndoe, Kathy Kaiser
1979 Kathy Zeigler 7 - 4 - 1
Capts: Linda Loveland, Sara DeWeese
All-County: Tina Quinichette, Linda Loveland
All-Division: Karen Kapp,
All-stars: Linda Loveland, Tina Quinichette
1978 Sharon Conner Unknown
1977 Sharon Conner 5 - 3 - 2
Capts: Lisa Mundy, Dana Drewyer, TerrieWaters
1976 Sharon Conner 6 - 2 - 1
3rd in County
Outstanding: Terrie Waters, Lisa Mundy, Mary Jane Inglesby
Capts: Risa Kornhauser, Katherine MacColl
1975 Sharon Conner 5 - 3 - 2
5th in Division
Capt: Carol Black
1974 Emily Edwards 3 - 2 - 2
Capt: Patricia Johnson
1973 Emily Edwards Unknown
1972 Doris Sandoval Unknown
1971 Unknown Unknown
1970 Bessie Corbin or Margaret Harrison Unknown
1969 Bessie Corbin or Margaret Harrison Unknown
1968 Barbara Gutekunst Unknown
-- 2001 and prior Information is from SHS Athletic Dept. Office
