By Amy Russell

The Severna Park Surge continued a strong season with a second place finish in the classic division of the SAC United Premier Columbus Day Tournament. The team, which faced elite competition from across the state, went 2-1-1 in the tournament.

To get things started, the Surge topped cross-county rival, the Severn Athletic Road Runners 2-1 off goals by Reilly Metzger and Laura Milleker - a key duo in the tournament. Severna Park then tied SAC United II Crush of Columbia with more goals from Metzger and Milleker before they went into the final game of bracket play where they earned their second, 2-1, win of the tournament, this time over a talented Seneca Whirlwind squad.

In the playoff final, the Surge met the SSA Blink Magic, who hadn’t given up a goal throughout the tournament. Reilly Metzger ended that streak with a first half goal, and at the break the scored was knotted, 1-1.

Things were a little different in the second half though as the Blink Magic exploded for four goals. Despite a second tally by Metzger and one by Laura Milleker, Severna Park fell just shy of the title, 5-3, in a hard fought contest.

"We played them toe to toe in the first half," said Coach Guy Klingensmith afterward. "Their team experience came through in the second half… you could see they have played together for a few years."

Just the opposite, Klingensmith’s team is relatively new this year, formed by girls from three different 2009 teams as well as a handful of newcomers.

"The tournament was a coming together for the girls," said Coach Peter Bielski. "They started to gel, become closer and became a better team."

Currently 2-1-2 in BBSL play, the Surge is tied with the Catonsville Cobras for second place in the U-13B division – just below the Frederick S.C. Legacy ’97 team, which is 3-0-2 on the season.

The team has shown great improvement since the beginning of the year starting with back-to-back ties against the PVYA Athletica and the Severn Road Runners. Severna Park’s only league loss was a mid-season encounter against Frederick, which proved to be a turning point for the team. After the loss, the Surge started a run of improved play with a 2-0 shutout over the Gyldon Inferno and then the second place finish in the SAC tournament. They followed that with another good showing, defeating the Catonsville Cobras, 4-3.

"We have mixed and matched talent throughout the year to put the girls in a position to excel," said Klingensmith. "The adjustment to playing together has been tough, but the girls are starting to believe in one another."