Ryn Feemster laid awake all night before Severna Park’s Class 3A girls soccer state championship game. A waking nightmare played across her mind: penalty kicks. And she’d be the last one to take the potential winning shot — or the reason they’d fall short.
That last practice before states was devoted to that possibility. It was the reason, after all, the Falcons fell short of the title in 2019, but it wasn’t something this Severna Park team treated with nerves.
“There was some sort of energy between us all,” Feemster said. The bittersweetness of it being their last practice as a group outweighed any fears around what they were about to do. Not that they really needed to be afraid.
“There was something there, that we just knew going into that championship we were going to win,” Feemster said. “It was just crazy. I can’t stop reminiscing.”
That’s the thing about this Falcons team. They were prepared for anything, and yet, they rarely needed to dig that deep to win. They were consistently unbeatable, an empire encased in a single season. One that claimed every single one of the 16 games it played, decorated with a Class 3A state trophy — its first in 20 years — and a county championship plaque — the first since 2018.
Feemster was the epitome of that steady perfection. As the anchor of the Severna Park back line, she was lightning before thunder: always there to lead to the goal. It earned her spots on the coaches’ All-County first team and the All-State first team. And the Capital Gazette 2023 girls soccer Player of the Year.
“She’s a complete player,” Broadneck coach John Camm said. “Skillful, composed, physical and difficult to beat off the dribble.”
For the four years Feemster started in the back, Falcons coach Rick Stimpson watched the other players grow more comfortable with her and vice versa. There came a point by this fall that Feemster became unafraid to take risks, because her most beloved people in the world would protect her as she did it. And her teammates were equally unafraid to make mistakes because Feemster’s unwavering defense would cover them.
So, on top of directing the Falcons to 12 shutouts, Feemster chipped in four goals and four assists. Stimpson toyed with moving her up to forward if Severna Park needed a jumpstart in that department, which “fortunately,” he said, it never did.
“She was our best player at any position to be honest,” Stimpson said.
Feemster felt it’s cocky to say, but knows it’s true. She is a major a reason the Falcons transformed their game from a more direct style to a full field. Always a striker in her youth, she transitioned to defense just before high school after her club coach tried her out as a center back — and she fed a perfect pass to a fellow defender for a goal. Come high school, Feemster had adapted so smoothly she started for Severna Park a few games into her varsity career. She could read the forwards, because she was once one.
But the confidence in the back line wasn’t quite there at the time, Feemster said. She knew if they could play out of the back, they control the game themselves.
“And I think that was my role,” Feemster said. “How I transitioned the team from more of a direct playing back line, not really being able to gold the ball, into a team that could more cohesively build it out of the back. Set it up there.”
That said, Feemster feels the focus has been given too disproportionately to her defense (a hard thing to ignore when it only surrendered two goals this year). The entire field of Falcons, top to bottom, is an evenly-contributing system. But in truth, she was a notch above.
“Everyone around her was really strong, but there was always one thing they could get better at. With Ryn, there really wasn’t,” Stimpson said. “She has a great speed that allowed her to bail us out in any difficult situations that came up.”
While Feemster and her teammates cultivated what this team could become, Severna Park slipped from the top and let Broadneck and Chesapeake muscle their way in. It hurt Feemster to lose to the Bruins for three years. Her team suffered one loss as a junior: a season-ending defeat to Broadneck.
“It was just so unfortunate. It was a handball,” Feemster said. “I always go up on corners. I wasn’t really there that game.”
She vowed internally to not let that happen again, and she and her teammates changed how they approached games: breaking down each opponent rather than focusing too much on their own play.
Through the regular season and county championship, Feemster was perfect. Then, on the morning of Oct. 28, South River arrived to play Severna Park in their region semifinal. To this point, the Falcons never gave up the first goal. And then, for six minutes, the Seahawks led the Falcons.
Stimpson can’t pick a single game out of Feemster’s collection this year that exemplified just how good she was. Consistency was her greatest strength, after all. But in this moment, Stimpson remembers it clearly.
Over the years, Feemster’s own confidence as a leader grew. It shined in this game as she collected her teammates together, eventually leading to a win en route to the state championship.
“Good players can stand out as good players,” Stimpson said. “Great players make everyone else better. And that’s what she did.”
Coach of the Year
Kreghan Rebstock-Lane, Glen Burnie
Before this season, Glen Burnie girls soccer never won a region championship. This year, under Rebstock-Lane’s stewardship, the Gophers did.
Glen Burnie turned in a 13-5-1 mark, beating last year’s Class 3A state champion Crofton in a 4A region final. Three of the Gophers’ five losses were by only one goal.
“Overall it gives me a strong sense of gratitude and admiration for my student athletes and my staff who work really hard to be successful,” Rebstock-Lane said. “Ten years ago I was the one lacing up in cleats playing with ‘GB’ on my jersey, so seeing where we are now as a coach really brings it full circle when we hit new markers of success and it sets a new standard of this is who we are when we work hard and play for each other as a program and as a school with pride.”
All-County first team
Maddie Capps, Broadneck, senior, forward
The physical and dynamic senior capped off her Bruins career with 10 goals and four assists, a coaches’ All-County First Team selection with a “great touch and powerful shot,” per coach John Camm.
Riley Wills, Archbishop Spalding, junior, forward
An All-State honorable mention as well as IAAM All-Conference, Wills split her scoring with eight goals and seven assists to lead the IAAM A Conference finalist Cavaliers in points.
“She is dangerous going to goal and finds herself in the right positions to generate attacking chances outside the box or from services,” coach Ashly Kennedy said. “She makes runs that make it hard for opponents to defend her and is a great technical player.”
Olivia Nardone, Archbishop Spalding, junior, forward/midfielder
The All-State second team and IAAM All-Conference pick unleashed 11 goals (a team high) as well as four assists for the IAAM A Conference runner-ups. She also scored the team’s lone goal in the championship game against McDonogh.
“She is able to adapt to any role being asked of her and is able to find ways to positively affect the game in our favor,” Kennedy said. “She is aggressive, and diligent up top and has an all-around willing mentality. She finds ways to win and puts herself in the right spaces for scoring chances.”
Reagan Chilton, Old Mill, senior, midfielder
A McDaniel College commit, the senior captain and four-year varsity starter spearheaded the Patriots’ scoring with 12 goals and six assists. She earned recognition on the coaches All-County first team.
“Reagan is not only a true leader for the Old Mill girls soccer program, she is one of the most talented players to come through the program,” coach Katharine Barry said. “She is extremely talented, driven, and a fantastic individual and team player.
Jasmine Escobar, Glen Burnie, junior, midfielder
A bright orange headband was only one factor that got Escobar noticed by coaches across the state. The center defensive midfielder earned All-State honorable mention and a spot on the coaches’ All-County First Team.
“Jas is easily one of the most consistent players in the county, she is good on the ball and plays the game at a very high level,” Rebstock-Lane said. “She commands in the middle. We run a ton of stuff through her as a team she helps us keep and possess the ball.”
Mia Orso, Broadneck, freshman, midfielder
Named to All-State honorable mention list in her debut season, Orso splashed onto the scene with seven goals and 11 assists. She was also a coaches’ All-County first team pick.
“Mia is very athletic and has great touch and vision,” coach John Camm said.
Ava Scott, Severna park, sophomore, midfielder
One of Scott’s four goals set the tone in the first half of the Class 3A state championship, helping the Falcons secure their first title in 20 years. She was named by coaches to the All-County second team and competes for Bethesda SC at the club level.
“[She] plays every position when needed to an incredibly high level,” Stimpson said. “She’s great on the ball and makes other players around her better.”
Marley Shaw, Southern, sophomore, midfielder
Shaw proved herself with seven goals and 11 assists, garnering her selections to the coaches’ All-County first team and All-State honorable mention team. County coaches ranked her fifth overall among field players.
“Marley is one of the most versatile players that I have ever coached,” coach Laura Coe said. “She can hold down the defense, with seemingly effortless effort, while at the same time, lead the team in goals, because of her lethal ball control and shots. We cannot wait to see Marley continue to evolve as a player and a leader.”
Gracie Boritz, North County, junior, defender
Ranked as the ninth-best field player and named to the All-County first team by Anne Arundel coaches, Boritz — a member of the Elite Clubs National League — was a necessary force for the Knights up to a Class 4A region semifinal.
“She kept us in many games this season,” coach Nicholas Tackett said, “by tracking down and effectively tackling many offenders.”
Caitlyn Boucher, Severna Park, senior, defender
The All-State second team and coaches’ All-County first team selection helped steer Severna Park toward its 12 shutouts and 17 victories while helping generate scoring, including two goals of her own.
“[She] leads the team from the back, starts attacks with her dribbling and passing, while shutting down opponents on the defensive end,” Stimpson said.
Francesca Dunoyer, Severna Park, senior, defender
She was ranked second in the county behind Feemster and to the All-State first team by state coaches for her lethal and versatile play. The senior captain and three-year starter guided the unbeaten Falcons to 12 shutouts while also leading her defense in points and assists, of which she had 12 alongside two goals.
“[She] could play any position, as she is great at breaking pressure with a good passing or by dribbling past players,” Stimpson said.
Eva Gionis, South River, junior, defender
The defender helped lead South River to the county championship and four shutouts, while adding her own goal and three assists. She was named to the All-County first team and ranked sixth among field players by county coaches.
“Eva reads the opposition’s attack incredibly well, has speed to defend 1-v-1 and helps out our fullbacks if they are in trouble,” coach Christine Flanagan said. “Eva is an incredible defender for South River.”
McKenzie Gilbert, Glen Burnie, senior, defender
After losing her junior year to a broken collarbone, the center back anchored a defense that only surrendered 13 goals in 17 games, while also netting four goals — two from 45-yard free kicks — and four assists.
“She has entirely helped me to reshape our program and has taken on a ton of adversity,” Rebstock-Lane said. “We asked a lot of her as a two-year captain in both her junior and senior year, she really made it a mission this year to get us closer towards a state championship.”
Emerson Scott, Severna Park, sophomore, defender
A defender with a clever foot, Scott played a key role in limiting opponents to three goals this year by often initiating takeaways. She also netted two goals and an assist. She was named All-County second team by coaches.
“[She’s] a major threat coming out of the back but also a great 1-v-1 defender,” Stimpson said, “because she reads the game very well.”
Kyleigh Bland, Broadneck, senior, goalkeeper
Bland earned the respect of the county and state as a first team selection for the coaches’ All-County as well as All-State. The keeper made 77 saves in 17 games, recording 10 shutouts.
Pe’la Saunders, Glen Burnie, senior, goalkeeper
The vocal commander from the goalposts stood tall for the Gophers until the Class 4A state semifinal, in which she made 14 saves alone. The coaches’ All-County first team selection tallied 142 stops, 10 shutouts and a 92.2 save percentage this season.
“She is athletic as heck with a insane reaction time,” Rebstock-Lane said. “She also has a solid defense in front of her, but when push comes to shove, she makes huge saves.”
All-County second team
Sara Kreis, Severna Park senior forward
Alyssa Simms, Chesapeake senior forward
Kat Budowski, South River junior forward
Brynn Mitchell, Glen Burnie junior forward
Maisie White, Indian Creek junior midfielder/forward
Ella Benitez, Key senior midfielder
Izzy Burleson, Severna Park freshman midfielder
Laney Preslipsky, Chesapeake sophomore midfielder
Colleen Creswell, South River junior midfielder
Hadley Crooks, Broadneck sophomore midfielder
Eli Valencia, Severn junior midfielder
Sophia Hodges, Northeast sophomore defender
Ellie McGilvray, Broadneck sophomore defender
Mackenzie Kadjeski, Southern senior defender
Abby Makela, Crofton senior goalkeeper
Maeve Konstanoulas, Archbishop Spalding senior goalkeeper
Honorable mention
AACS: Elena Rogers, junior forward, Rachel Oley, senior defender; Annapolis: Helen Sleat, senior midfielder/forward; Arundel: Jessica Gotshall, junior midfielder; Chesapeake: Ella Cieri, sophomore midfielder, Lily Barnum, junior midfielder, Ryleigh Smoot, junior goalkeeper; Chesapeake Science Point: Izzy Martin, freshman forward; Crofton: Alexandra Sarrach, junior forward, Allie Karner, senior midfielder; Glen Burnie: Stephanie Ohl, sophomore midfielder/forward, Chloe Underwood, senior defender; Meade: Isabelle Franklin, junior midfielder; Old Mill: Mackenzie Baldwin, Old Mill junior defender; Severna Park: Abby Cover, junior midfielder, Lily Diedrich, senior goalkeeper