Severna Park Gunners Finish Tied Atop County League

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The Severna Park U9 Gunners girls soccer team continued its growth and improvement this spring by tying for first place in Division 1 of the Anne Arundel Youth Soccer Association.

Coached by Steve Kaminskas and Bob Thomas, the team of Addison Mallia, Anna Mescher, Ava Thomas, Brooke Barton, Carys McKenzie, Delainey Kaminskas, Kaylen Burnam, Kendall Austin, Kendall Day, Kendall Kemezis, Layla Perry, Malin Jones and Sydney Pasko posted a 6-2 record in spring play, good enough for a split of the top spot in the league and an improvement over the team’s second-place finish in the fall 2017 season.

“We had such a fun year playing together as teammates and friends,” said Kemezis.

It was not easy work to get there. Many of the girls were playing another sport in addition to soccer for the spring season.

“The girls were constantly being challenged on the weekends with their fitness with games sometimes being back to back,” said coach Kaminskas. “The fact that they were able to pull out the season tied for first is a tribute to the girls’ grit and perseverance and giving their all in each and every game.”

The Gunners’ key victories through the season came against the Bowie Bulldogs and Broadneck Lightning, both by 2-1 scores. The victory against Bowie avenged an early-season loss, and the win over Broadneck was crucial to the Gunners’ pursuit of the top spot in the league, which they shared with Broadneck on final overall records.

Kaminskas noted the notorious challenge that the Broadneck team brought to his Severna Park players.

“Broadneck Lighting was another tough team that the Gunners remember very well from their loss to them in the fall,” he said. “The Gunners had the opportunity to play against them in a friendly match at the beginning of the season where they tied them 1-1 and learned from their mistakes in the fall. Coming out against them when it counted and pulling out the 2-1 victory showed the girls that they were gelling as a team and that everyone was contributing to their success. It was a key win that showed everyone we are on the right track.”

Part of the team’s ability to triumph over these two teams can be credited to the skills they gained during their training sessions. Each session, the girls “received over 2,500 ball touches,” according to Kaminskas. “As a result, it was evident each and every training session and game that the girls’ skill level was improving each and every week.”

The Gunners’ championship can be attributed to not only the girls’ skills in soccer but also to their teamwork, as noted by Kemezis.

“After playing together all season, we really learned to spread out and make good passes to each other,” she said.

Day agreed with Kemezis on the importance of the team’s contact and connection on the field.

“I think the most important thing that led us to winning was to work together and to communicate on where the ball was so we could get a goal,” Day said.

Coach Kaminskas believed every girl starred in her role.

“I am proud of the fact that we were a team in the sense that not one player felt that they were above the team. Every girl worked hard and treated everyone as an equal,” he said. “When one player was down, they were there to pick each other up. They enjoyed being around one another. They were the epitome of the definition of a team.”

Not only is Kaminskas filled with pride over the Gunners’ success this season, he is also confident for their future as both a team and as individual women.

“We are a team and we win as a team. I am very proud of what we have been able to accomplish in a short time,” he said. “We will stay the course with the development program we have established and follow for their age. The wins will come as a result of this development. The girls will continue to develop into solid soccer players and, with the right encouragement and positive reinforcement, each of these girls will go far.”

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