Glenelg girls soccer senior forward Stephanie Lathrop anxiously awaited wearing the Gladiators uniform for years. Starting in sixth grade, Lathrop watched her older sister, Sarah, play for the team and one day envisioned herself wearing that jersey.
However, she couldn’t have imagined the indelible mark she would make on both the program and the Howard County record books. The Gladiators went 50-11-4 in her time with the team, including the program’s first Howard County title and a state championship in 2021.
She concludes her career as the Howard County girls soccer all-time points leader with 182 (81 goals, 20 assists), breaking a 31-year scoring record previously held by Hammond’s Samantha Andersch (172 points). With that historic accomplishment, Lathrop caps off her tenure as the 2023 Howard County Times girls soccer Player of the Year.
“It’s been an honor to have left a mark on the program,” Lathrop said. “It was also something in the moment I had to cherish and enjoy because you only play high school soccer one time and four years goes by really quickly. It’s about making sure you live in the moment instead of continually trying to move on to the next step. It’s more about enjoying what you have and continuing to work because nothing is given.”
It was evident early in Lathrop’s career that she would be an impact player. Coach Vincente D’Antuono recalls Lathrop challenging the team’s upperclassmen as a freshman, helping them raise their level. That transition has come full circle now for Lathrop in her final season.
“As she grew through the years as a senior now, she was able to challenge the freshmen and sophomores to be able to step up their game,” D’Antuono said. “Leaving that legacy for others to step up to continue the trend of what is possible and what is capable with a lot of hard work. There were games that we won and Stephanie didn’t feel she played up to what her expectations of herself were, so she would go out and train after the game. You just don’t see very many players that have that and take that initiative and are that diligent with regards to their own self growth.”
Lathrop finished with a program-record 28 goals as a sophomore, including the game-winner in the state championship. A dynamic goal-scoring threat easily dispatching most defenders one-on-one, defenses adjusted the way they guarded her. Many teams, both this year and last, man-marked her with two, three or sometimes even four players.
While that sizable defensive attention brought momentary periods of frustration, it also helped her grow as a player. Lathrop was forced to think more on the pitch, looking for unique ways to create space and find teammates for open opportunities. She thrived in those challenging circumstances, scoring at least 20 goals in each of her final three seasons as a Gladiator, including 24 goals this fall. On Oct. 5 against Wilde Lake, she scored six goals and added an assist, becoming the county’s all-time leading goal scorer, passing Kisha Jett’s 72-goal total from 30 years ago.
“I think all-around I’ve consistently gotten better in certain areas,” Lathrop said. “I’ve gained more confidence, grown mentally. It’s not strictly about how you play soccer but growing mentally as well. In the grand scheme of things, I’ve consistently grown better with consistent hard work. All in all, it’s all come together as one, getting better as a goal-scorer, passer and teammate.”
On Dec. 9, Lathrop played her last high school game as part of the 2023 High School Girls Soccer All-American Game. She is the first player in program history to be selected for the event and is one of two players from Maryland that played. Lathrop now moves into the next step of her soccer journey, playing for Purdue University.
“I think it’s wonderful for Stephanie to have the opportunity to grow at a higher level because of her talent, dedication and motivation,” D’Antuono said.
Mt. Hebron’s Olivia Hoover, right, battles for possession of the ball during a game against River Hill. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
All-County first team
Tiffany Blakey, Wilde Lake, sophomore, forward: Blakey showcased her dynamic goal-scoring prowess with a county-leading 25 goals.
Olivia Hoover, Mt. Hebron, senior, forward: Hoover finished the season as the Vikings’ points leader with 29 (11 goals, seven assists) including scoring the game-winning goal in a state semifinal win over Oakdale.
Leen Jawhar, Mt. Hebron, senior, forward: A University of Maryland Baltimore County commit, Jawhar was strong on the ball and the Vikings’ third leading scorer with 23 points (eight goals, seven assists).
Kendall Madison, Long Reach, senior, forward: A senior captain, Madison shined as both a goal scorer and facilitator with 16 goals and seven assists.
River Hill’s Marella Virmani, right, is a first team All-County selection. (John Gillis/For Baltimore Sun Media)
Marella Virmani, River Hill, sophomore, forward: Virmani was a consistent attacking threat with a team-high 19 goals and second on the team with seven assists.
Ellie Fielder, Mt. Hebron, senior, midfield: Fiedler, who will play at Frostburg University next year, controlled the middle of the field as a workhorse shutting down the opposition’s counterattacks. She finished with a goal and five assists.
Anna Hendrickson, Marriotts Ridge, senior, midfield: Hendrickson led the Mustangs with nine goals on the season, closing out her four-year career with 27 goals and 10 assists, as a four-year varsity player.
Marriotts Ridge’s Bridget Ford, left, and Glenelg’s Hannah Lindberg are both first team All-County selections. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Hannah Lindberg, Glenelg, sophomore, midfield: Lindberg, a two-year starter was the Gladiators second leading scorer with 14 points (four goals, six assists).
Zareen Mathew, River Hill, senior, midfield: Mathew shined as a facilitator with a team-high 10 assists, also scoring a pair of goals as one of River Hill’s most experienced players.
Ava Skaggs, Mt. Hebron, junior, midfield: Skaggs scored a team-high 10 goals, also adding three assists, displaying her versatility to score in a variety of ways throughout the field.
Mt. Hebron’s Ava Skaggs battles for possession of the ball against River Hill. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Carlin Costell, Glenelg, senior, defense: Along with Buscher, Costell led an experienced defensive unit for the Gladiators that conceded only 17 goals in 16 games and is committed to play at Troy University.
Bridget Ford, Marriotts Ridge, senior, defense: A four-year varsity player, Ford was the leader of a Mustangs defense that executed nine clean sheets and allowed three goals during the regular season.
Avery Graham, Howard, junior, defense: Graham was the heart of the Lions defense at center back, often sacrificing her body to block the opposition’s shots.
Ella McCann, Centennial, senior, defense: McCann was the backbone of Centennial’s defense providing valuable senior leadership on a mostly young team.
Ainsley Wilson, Mt. Hebron, senior, defense: Also committed to Frostburg, Wilson is the leader of Mt. Hebron’s defensive unit that had 11 shutouts and allowed just six goals all season.
Paige Andrews, Oakland Mills, senior, goalie: Andrews finished with 127 saves, averaging over nine per game as the anchor on the backend.
Bella Buscher, Glenelg, senior, goalie: Buscher made 93 saves, finishing with eight clean sheets in 16 games and is continuing her career at Lindenwood University.
All-County second team
Maya Avery, Centennial, senior, forward
Madison Berge, River Hill, junior, defense
Brenna Carter, Oakland Mills, senior, defense
Allison Custer, Marriotts Ridge, sophomore, midfield
Iva Damyanova, Mt. Hebron, senior, midfield
Nia George, Reservoir, senior, midfield
Nia Green, Hammond, senior, goalie
Maya Gunning, Reservoir, senior, defense
Lucy Larson, Howard, senior, midfield
Kaitlyn Magdar, Mt. Hebron, junior, defense
Sierra Phillips, Glenelg, sophomore, midfield
Taylor Riismandel, Marriotts Ridge, junior, forward
Sydney Rhodes, Howard, junior, forward
Katie Wood, goalie, Atholton, senior
Alexis Wright, Hammond, sophomore, defender
Final Season Standings
1. Mt. Hebron (15-2, 10-0 Howard County Champion, 3A State Runner-Up); 2. River Hill (13-4-1, 8-1-1, 3A state semifinalist); 3. Long Reach (9-3-1, 8-2-1); 4. Glenelg (11-2-3, 6-2-2, 2A state semifinalist); 5. Marriotts Ridge ( 7-3-2, 6-2-2); 6. Howard (7-6, 6-5); 7. Wilde Lake (6-7-1, 4-6-1); 8. Centennial (5-7-1, 3-6-1); 9. Atholton (3-11, 2-8); 10. Reservoir (3-10, 2-9); 11. Oakland Mills (1-12, 1-10); 12. Hammond (2-10, 0-5).
IAAM C Conference Glenelg Country (10-2-1, 10-1-1); Chapelgate Christian (10-9, 6-6).