Anyone familiar with Century girls soccer knows that coach Chris Little puts his team through an absolute gauntlet to start the season. His aggressive scheduling has paid off — the Knights have claimed the county title for six straight years.
Century wrapped up another brutal nonconference slate with a 1-1 draw against IAAM opponent Roland Park Tuesday night, bringing the Knights to 1-1-2 on the season.
With county play set to begin Thursday against Westminster, Little couldn’t be more optimistic about how his squad is coming together. This year’s team features a balance of veteran leadership and talented newcomers — all determined to uphold the program’s winning standard that’s been set in stone for years.
“We’ve been really proud of the way we’ve played,” Little said. “Tonight, we hung tough against a really good team in some tough conditions. The girls had a great time.”
This year’s Knights not only embraced the challenge of a demanding early schedule, but they’ve also improved in key areas. So far, they’ve allowed only four goals, a major leap compared to the nine they had given up at this point last season.
“The biggest thing is communication,” senior Mia Savage said. “We do a really good job of making sure we’re prepared and working off each other.”
At the heart of Century’s defense is star goalkeeper Megan Taltavull, a multi-year varsity starter widely regarded as one of Maryland’s top goalies. Known for her quick reflexes and soft hands, it’s her growth as a leader that’s set the tone for this team’s early success.
“I’m very comfortable with myself and my role, and I want that confidence to spread to the rest of the team,” Taltavull said. “The best thing I can do is trust myself and how far I’ve come in these years playing on varsity.”
Taltavull and Savage aren’t the only ones leading by example. Lenah Ham has also emerged as a vocal and productive leader. Together, the trio has been instrumental both on the field and in helping younger teammates prepare for the intensity of county play.
“When those three step on the field, they have the level of competitiveness it takes,” Little said. “Every team needs players like that to be examples of how to compete. They show it every day in practice and games.”
Ham found the back of the net Tuesday night and was instantly mobbed by smiling teammates. The junior savors the moments — not just the goal and celebration, but the simple times where the team does simple things like stretch, growing a strong chemistry that spreads throughout the roster.
“There’s no drama. Everyone respects each other,” she said. “They respect us as leaders, and we’ve all connected really well.”
While Century returns several experienced players with championship pedigree, the development of their young core could ultimately define the season. After graduating multiple starting defenders, Taltavull is depending on a mix of young players and first-time starters in front of her.
Little has shown full confidence in his substitutions, and Taltavull has seen real growth from her new-look defense. Players like Ava Smardon, Makenna Vanderveer and Khloe Schaeffer have already taken on key roles, and their rapid progress has Taltavull excited about the team’s ceiling.
“They’ve learned, they’ve listened, and they’ve really stepped up,” she said. “It’s crazy how well they’re doing at such a young age.”
Filled with youth, led by experience and now battle-tested — just as their coach planned — the Knights might have been soaking wet after Tuesday’s rainy game, but they left ready to defend their county crown. A win Thursday against Westminster would be the first step toward that and everything else Little wants his team to accomplish in 2025.
“We don’t just want to be better today,” Little said. “We want to be at our best in October, when it’s time to make that run toward a state championship.”
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