Week of October 26...

Sorry I'm late this week, gang... Much to report, but even more work to finish first!

As we head into the final days of October, bearing witness to the final throes of autumn and days of temperate weather, 2 teams' seasons have already ended. The first delivered a plaque that rests upon Mr. Diven's "mantle" in the PAC lobby. The other finished without a victory.

Lest that come across as too somber an introduction to the week's news, let it be known that the girls' soccer team rose to the occasion and managed to put forth a superlative effort while laying to rest their difficult season. Following Monday's loss to the conference's number 2 squad, Bryn Mawr, the girls hoped to secure a rematch by upsetting 7 seed Chapelgate in Friday's preliminary round of the league's playoffs. Without a win to their credit, the girls remained confident in their abilities and motivated towards finally exhibiting them prior to the elimination game. Lead by their seniors, they expected to play well. And they did. With nearly the entire team healthy, a starting 11 envisioned during the preseason to be one of the team's best suited up together for the first time in countless weeks (perhaps all season). The Bruins struck first and pushed the Yellowjackets to overtime before succumbing 1-2. If nothing else, the girls proved to themselves that they've got some skillz, while offering us a glimpse of the desire that will lead next year's group to higher tangible successes in a new conference.

WSC: Season Ended

As has been mentioned in previous editions, the girls' tennis team has toiled away in relative obscurity, playing home matches far from the watchful eyes of the typical sports fan roaming the corridors of the Old Court campus. The daily bus rides to practice, the sparse crowds, and the relative anonimity among their peers... some part of it clicked with these girls. And it did so right from the start. The Bruins finished 10-1 in the B-Conference, trailing only undefeated powerhouse McDonogh in the final team standings. The effort earned the team a runner-up plaque proudly displayed on Mr. Diven's "mantle" in the PAC. All that remained were the individual finals, played Tuesday through Thursday of last week. On day 1, the girls wavered ever so slightly, suffering a loss at the #1 singles position. Everyone else advanced. Of note was the #1 doubles match, pitting senior captains Sophia Macht and Jenn Swirnow against rivals from Friends. That one competition lasted 3 hours and saw 2 tiebreakers, ending 6-7 6-2 7-6 (13-11) in favor of the 2 Bruins, exhibiting the grit and drive that epitomized the team's season. Wednesday panned out to be a replay of the Park-Spalding dual (duel?) in late September. All 4 remaining Park entries faced Cavalier opponents. Park's #2 singles and #1 doubles fell short, each by the score of 6-7 3-6. The numbers 2 and 3 doubles teams played on. Unfortunately, the finals would be swept by McDonogh's junior pros. The outstanding Bruins, freshmen Liz Kuntz and Ashley Suan and junior-senior combo, Chloe Shiras and Carly Basner, each fought unsuccessfully through 2 sets, finishing in second place. What a season. What a tournament. Congratulations girls!

WTN: Season Ended

With losses last week to John Carroll (0-1), Maryvale (0-2) and Glenelg (0-3), field hockey finished their regular season schedule with a record of 2-9-1, not quite what they'd hoped, but enough to earn a 6th place slot in the 8 team B-Conference standings. Furthermore, the seed (not decided until the final day of play) places the girls in a unique position. You see, they'll play the very same Glenelg Dragons team they battled last Wednesday. Will the extra preparation help or hinder their cause (Glenelg has the same advantage, remember?) remains to be seen. Park travels to Ellicott City Tuesday in the first of this week's playoff GAMES OF THE WEEK. Go get 'em Bruins!

FH: 10/27 @ IAAM Prelim/Quarters

The boys' cross country runners had a banner week, beating Mt. St. Joe's here on Wednesday and following it up with several victories (albeit over B-Conference teams) in St. Paul's Invitational on Friday. All that remains is one last trip to John Carroll on Tuesday. Then it's off to Oregon Ridge for the final challenge, both internal and external, as the crew faces the best of the best in the MIAA Final scheduled next Thursday.

MCC: 10/27 @ JC

Boys' soccer continues to defy uniformity, sailing up and down their chosen roller coaster track to the playoffs. The Bruins escaped with a 1-0 victory at (now) 3-9-1 Severn, coasted uncomfortably to a 3-2 win against BL (completing the season sweep of the Lakers!) and, with second place locked up, never really took the field in a 0-2 loss at front-runner St. Paul's. While the boys' playoff position may have been effectively sealed, what momentum they retained entering last week seems to have sifted through their hands like so many grains of sand. The slide persisted into this week as the lads tied St. Mary's (3-9) without a goal. It's as if the boys feel they can simply flip the switch as we head into the playoffs. Let's hope they can find it in the dark. In our second GAME OF THE WEEK, Park will take on none other than the Friends School Quakers this Friday in an MIAA Quarterfinal match on Kelly Field. The start is an early one at 3:15 so get out there early. The boys may require a boisterous wake up call from the sidelines!

MSC: 10/30 v MIAA Quarterfinals

The somewhat unexpectedly fleet-footed girls' cross country team took the week off to prep for our final GAME OF THE WEEK, Wednesday's IAAM Championship Meet at Oregon Ridge. The ladies finished the year 8-7, impressive enough for eighth place among the 17 team B-Conference. Middle-of-the-pack, as joyful a surprise as it may be coming from a group whose majority were "walk-ons" of a sort in that they hadn't participated in earnest prior to this year, may not satisfy these competitors. Striving to better their own times if not knock off more experienced athletes, the Bruins intend to put on a show, smiling all the while. Good luck!

No Meets
WCC: 10/27 @ IAAM Finals

Stay tuned for more playoff news as well as All-Conference selections and other awards!

GO BRUINS!

Update...

A quick note of correction... Due to last Friday's rain, the start of the girls' tennis playoffs have been shifted back one day. As a result, the preliminary round will be played today (Monday, 10/19). The Bruins will not play until tomorrow's quarterfinal at 2 PM. The rest of the week remains the same: Wednesday semifinals at 3:30 PM and Thursday finals also at 3:30 PM, all at McDonogh.

GO BRUINS!

Week of October 19... Fall's Home Stretch

Almost there... At week's end, barring any further weather-induced scheduling overhauls, there will remain exactly 2 contests (MSC @ St. Mary's 10/26 & MCC @ John Carroll 10/27) on Park's regular season schedule. The playoffs begin in earnest this week for several teams, triggering unbridled hope in some, stress in others, and relief among a select few. So, pull out that Bruins sweatshirt and take some time this week to enjoy the Fall sun while rooting ferociously for the Brown and White.

One group without the highest of expectations, perhaps, but certainly a handful of aspiration, is the girls' cross country team who, last Tuesday, completed their schedule with a success-laden 8-8 B-Conference record. They'll now have a solid 10 days to prepare for the championship meet to be held on our very own home course at Oregon Ridge October 28. The long layoff provides time to heal and refocus. Do your best to congratulate the girls among the classrooms and hallways this week while motivating them for the task ahead.

WCC: No meets.

The boys' cross country runners, in contrast, have had little to cheer about as a team this year, and their calendar holds 3 more competitions before they sniff the postseason. The meets this week, 10/20 versus Mt. St. Joe and AACS and 10/23 at St. Paul's, will likely do little to advance the Bruins in the standings, but they'll certainly serve to further groom our top runners for the finals still some time away (11/5). There, the boys hope to challenge some of the upper tier, larger schools' athletes after the next 2 weeks' improvement upon their own personal times. This Tuesday will be your last chance to catch the boys at home and in person as the final 2 meets of the season and the championship will all occur away from the friendly confines of the Park School woods.

MCC: 10/20 v MSJ & AACS, 10/23 @ SPSB

The good news on Girls' Varsity Field last week; the field hockey team notched a goal. The bad; McDonogh scored 5. After keeping the game tight in their initial contest earlier in the year, the Bruins' ambitions were significantly loftier this time around. While the wins haven't exactly been piling up, the team has improved, but the Eagles outplayed Park, still shorthanded due to injury and illness. The team hopes to have some of those players back this week, and they'll need them. The girls face 3 games in 3 days (originally it was 4!), starting Monday with a home tussle against John Carroll, whom Park handled 2-1 in late September. Another win Monday would mean a great deal to the girls, as would a good showing from their fans.

FH: 10/19 v JC, 10/20 v Maryvale, 10/21 @ Glenelg

Girls' soccer continues to search for the bright side of their season, falling to Severn last Tuesday. Though they remain winless on the season, the team looks set to reclaim several stars from the injured reserves just prior to their postseason's kickoff. The once gimpy girls will have 1 opportunity to shake off the rust Monday at conference co-leader Bryn Mawr. The matchup could benefit the Bruins in more ways than one, as it could foreshadow a second round playoff matchup. Getting there would of course require a victory in the year's initial Playoff Edition GAME OF THE WEEK this Friday. The girls will most likely face the 7th place team, currently Chapelgate or Catholic, in the preliminary round before taking on the top of the heap next week.

WSC: 10/19 @ BM, 10/23 @ IAAM Prelims

Today's blog also includes a carryover GAME OF THE WEEK as the boys' soccer team confronts Boys' Latin here at Park Tuesday after getting rained out last week. The test was made even more difficult with the postponement as the boys must now tackle the Lakers on no rest, following Monday's game at far-away Severn. Furthermore, both games are near "must-wins" due to the congestion within the conference standings. Currently, according to the MIAA website, the Bruins (5-3-1) occupy a shaky second place perch, behind 9-1 St. Paul's and just ahead of none other than Boys' Latin at 5-5 and Pallotti at 3-5. So, not only is 2nd place in jeopardy, but the playoffs themselves could be lost with poor play in their final 4 games, 3 of which occur this week. Stay focused boys.

MSC: 10/19 @ Severn, 10/20 v BL, 10/23 @ SPSB

Girls' tennis pulled off yet another 5-0 sweep (against Pallotti, their 6th shutout of the season) last Tuesday, thus locking up 2nd place with a regular season record of 9-1, sandwiched between McDonogh (10-0) and Spalding (9-2). There was little time to celebrate, however, as the squad's attention immediately refocused on the postseason which begins (and ends!) this week. What has been a phenomenal Fall for the Bruins ultimately comes down to these 4 days in October. No pressure though... In playoff GAMES OF THE WEEK, the girls challenge all comers Monday in the IAAM Quarterfinals, Tuesday in the Semifinals and, finally, Thursday in the Finals. I plan to do my best to make the tournament. Hope to see you there!

WTN: 10/19 @ IAAM Quarters, 10/20 @ IAAM Semis, 10/22 @ IAAM Finals

Remember, don't miss a game (especially a playoff!) due to my scattered brain! Check the website to be sure!

GO BRUINS!

Week of October 12...

There's (finally) a chill in the air and campus is just starting to show signs of the turn towards autumn. For some, the dip in temperature is the first sure indication that "put up or shut up" time is officially upon us. For others, donning a fleece or hoodie for the first time stirred thoughts of winter and the hope of a new season yet to begin. The field hockey team may count among its diminishing throng several of the latter folk. Illness and injury have hounded several squads this year, but hockey has been all but dessimated by the duo. Last week started well enough, one might say... The girls dominated Monday's contest against Friends school, but were unable to find the goal, settling for a 0-0 overtime tie. Wednesday's game against Mt. de Sales provided another blow to the team's morale when the already depleted group lost another key starter to injury. The 1-3 loss in the record book was far less worrisome than the new gaping hole left in the roster. A white flag of (temporary) surrender was finally lifted Friday, when the girls were forced to postpone both their JV and varsity games against Maryvale due to the mounting player shortage. The day off heading into the weekend surely must have done some good for both the health and spirits of the team, but several injuries will continue to handicap the girls' chances this week as they face McDonogh at home on Monday, 10/12 and Glenelg away on Thursday, 10/15.

FH: 10/12 v. McDonogh, 10/15 @ Glenelg

The girls' soccer squad appears to be riding the heels of those dismayed few mentioned above (or, perhaps, it's the other way around), in that they've had trouble scoring, they've subsequently had difficulty winning, and their players are dropping like flies. The difference might be that this young team seems set to regain a bit of its muscle in the near future. At least 2 experienced starters appear ready to return to full strength this week and others may be on the way. Last Friday, unlike hockey, the soccer girls were able to scrape together a team to travel to Catholic. Another loss followed but, once again, the winless Bruins battled and kept things close, falling 0-2. The week ahead holds only 1 game, against 4-2 Severn at home on Tuesday.

WSC: 10/13 v. Severn

Boys' cross country limped home after a double loss at Curley last Tuesday, heading into a much needed week off. Park remains winless in the A-Conference, outclassed by the majority of their foes in this season of youth and inexperience. Indeed, it seems as though success might be best measured by individual performances among the Bruins' top runners, while the team hopes to knock off B-Conference teams and an unsuspecting rival or two as the year wears on. An escape to winter sports, however, is not on the minds of these Bruins. With only a few meets remaining over the next 2 weeks, the MIAA Championships loom in early November, and it is there that several hope to make their mark.

MCC: no meets scheduled

For those of you still reading, thanks for wading through what has turned out to be a significantly dreary opening to this week's blog. Let's begin the upswing with girls' cross country. If pressed for a sincere answer, the girls themselves, clad in black and white uniform tanks and runners kicks, might admit that not even they expected much from this group at the onset of practice in late summer. No matter their final record, which remains above 500 on the season, these Bruins may count themselves a success story, one that will hopefully continue to reverberate among the youngest Bruins competing, helping to rebuild a tradition of motivated participation and accomplishment. Not only did the girls achieve a double win at last Tuesday's meet at Pallotti, but 2 Bruins chopped minutes from their personal bests. That's minutes! Potential has been the story of this team all along. As we said, not much else was anticipated. As October wanes, however, one is now forced to wonder whether potential might yet transform into something more tangible. Only 1 regular season meet remains, Tuesday at Oregon Ridge, before the Championship on that same course. Run Bruins, ruuuuuuun!

WCC: 10/13 v. Multiple

The boys' soccer squad has had its ups and downs, both recently and all year long. They too have been nipped by the illness bug, playing the last 2 weeks or so down up to 6 players per game, but the greatest hurdle for this team might indeed be itself. The boys have shown an uncanny ability to play to the level of their competition, winning the big games as underdogs while struggling in the more obscure games as favorites. Last Monday's loss at Pallotti 0-1 could be partially explained away by missing players, but there's no hiding the day's poor play. The same weakened lineup managed a 1-0 double overtime victory against Gibbons on Wednesday followed by a 2-0 decision at Severn on Friday, keeping them in second place (and in the playoffs) in the B-Conference's Black Division, at 5-3-1 just a couple steps behind St. Paul's. The Bruins look to keep up the pace this Friday in our GAME OF THE WEEK, as they face Boys' Latin in a showdown on Kelly Field. The Lakers will no doubt be bent on revenge after an earlier loss, as if the rivalry needed any further tinder. If the season's trend holds, the boys should be playing their best and up to the challenge. The BL faithful will certainly be there. Let's be sure to crowd the sidelines and drown out the Lakers!

MSC: 10/16 v. BL

The brightest star of the year thus far, albeit it perhaps the least noticed, has certainly been the girls' tennis team. Last week turned out to be just another ho-hum dual drubbing. Tuesday, Oldfields fell 4-1. Thursday, it was John Carroll by a score of 5-0. The Bruins are now 8-1 and trail only McDonogh in the B-Conference. The lone regular season opponents that remain are Pallotti (0-9) and St. Tim's (4-5) before Friday's official start of the IAAM Tournament. It's still unclear whether or not any Bruins will see the court Friday, as they may qualify without the extra play-in round. Stay tuned for the final scores and news regarding our run to the championship!

WTN: 10/13 @ Pallotti, 10/14 @ St. Tim's, 10/16 @ IAAM Prelims

As always, check the website for late changes, venues and times!

GO BRUINS!

Week of October 5...

The forecast was ominous as Friday afternoon approached, heralding the official start of Brown and White weekend. Rain clouds loomed, threatening both days' events, and a Trojanesque St. Paul's bus crept down Park School Drive, full of undefeated, and undaunted, Crusaders. Our own boys' soccer squad had shown fleeting glimpses of brilliance, as recently as the week prior when they upset Boys' Latin and Friends in successive games on the road. For every high, however, there seemed to be a subsequent low waiting in the wings. Even the promise of Homecoming could not fend off the trend as the boys, nearly healthy again and with Coach Mal back at the helm, fell to Glenelg 0-1 on Tuesday. Friday was to be different. With Bruin pride in the air, and perhaps at stake, Park rose to their biggest challenge thus far and buried St. Paul's early, going up 3-0 in the first half on their way to a 3-1 victory. Saturday brought all of the Homecoming festivities in their entirety, including a visit from our All-Star team of alumni who took the pitch along with the varsity that afternoon. Next on the list for the boys are 3 tests against lower-ranked teams: Pallotti (10/5), Gibbons (10/7) and Severn (10/9) all at home. Whether or not this roller coaster ride of a season will continue its ups and downs remains to be seen, but Brown and White weekend had certainly begun with a bang.

MSC: 10/5 @ Pallotti, 10/7 v. Gibbons, 10/9 v. Severn

For those of you keeping up out there, you may have noticed that the excitement actually began earlier in the week when our girls' tennis team similarly stepped up to the plate and swatted one out of the park, knocking off the then first-place Spalding Cavaliers. To date, according to the IAAM website, Spalding has lost exactly 5 individual matches (there are 5 individual matches within 1 team competition) in 7 contests. That statistic, of course, does not include the 3 they dropped to Park's finest last Tuesday. As an aside, and speaking of the IAAM website, I'd like to point out that while you'll find 3 Spalding headlines among the news stories on the tennis page, the Bruins are not mentioned. But I digress... The girls completed their Homecoming sweep by blanking the Gators of St. Paul's 5-0 on Friday and trouncing Friends 4-1 on Saturday. As successful (and tough) Brown and White weeks go, Bruins' tennis may have had the biggest of all. If the girls haven't yet piqued your interest, you're simply not paying attention. Fear not, however, for there are 3 regular season matches left for you to attend, including 10/6 versus Oldfields and 10/8 against John Carroll, both hosted by Park at Chestnut Ridge. Get out there and see these girls play!

WTN: 10/6 v. Oldfields, 10/8 v. JC

I won't pretend that the week was all butterflies and rose petals for field hockey, but considering the season thus far, it wasn' t bad. Aside from a superlative Saturday in the sun (that's alliteration, kids) complete with more outstanding alumni toiling alongside current Bruins, including appearances by none other than current coaches Kara Hickok and Robin Lowe, the girls nailed down their second conference win, beating John Carroll on their own field 2-1. While the exuberance of the win may have been short-lived (the girls lost at home to Seton Keough 2 days later), things may be looking up. In losing, the girls gave up only 1 goal to a second place team who'd trampled them early in the year. Hopefully we're seeing the defense stiffen while our offense prepares to go on the attack. This week's schedule includes 3 home games, our GAME OF THE WEEK 10/5 against Friends, 10/7 against Mt. de Sales, and 10/9 against Maryvale. The hockey squad needs your support... see you Monday!

FH: 10/5 v. Friends, 10/7 v. MDS, 10/9 v. Maryvale

Girls' soccer, on the other hand, may be about to leap from the frying pan squarely into the fire. Last week, the team lost not only 3 more games, but another couple of starters due to injuries. By the end of Saturday's game against Garrison, approximately 6 original starters remained on the field. Hopes are high that many will soon return and that others' injuries are minor. Will the re-infusion of lost talent be enough to turn the season around? Who knows. At the very least, young players are seeing the field and gaining experience while the girls appear to be maintaining morale. A portion of the team will get a much-needed rest as the first half of the week features only 1 "B" game before Friday's matchup with Catholic at home.

WSC: 10/5 "B" v. Cardin, 10/9 @ Catholic

Boys' cross country continues their uphill climb, finishing a runner or two near the front pack, but lacking the depth to significantly affect the outcomes of races. Losing at McDonogh last week, the boys have yet to win an A-Conference meet this year, but maintain that the experience gained during the regular season's struggle will aid them both mentally and physically next month at the finals. This year's successes may be measured, as they are (or should be?) for so many teams and athletes, by personal bests, levels of improvement from beginning to end, and simple fulfillment. Keep at it boys.

MCC: 10/6 @ Curley

Speaking of unique measurements of success, following the absence of half his team for a meet the week prior, Kent Walker, coach of the girls' cross country team, posted a personal "win" by accompanying all 13 members of his squad to IND last Tuesday. Happy to have everyone together again, the girls were only mildly dismayed by the loss to St. Paul's which left them with a record of 6-6 on the year. If you haven't had the opportunity to meet the team in person, your opportunities are dwindling. Left with only 2 more regular season races (the next is at Pallotti this Tuesday), the girls hope to cause a ripple among the contestants at the finals at month's end.

WCC: 10/6 @ Pallotti

A great weekend it was. Now begins the home stretch run to the playoffs. Best of luck all. Get healthy injured!

GO BRUINS!