Carroll County Times 2024 girls lacrosse All-County

To the untrained eye, a player like Emma Penczek has nothing left to prove. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

Coming off an undefeated season, state championship, county and metro Player of the Year, the Manchester Valley junior had high expectations heading into 2024.

“We are never satisfied,” Penczek said. “Every year I discuss with coach (Shelly Brezicki) and my teammates everything we want to achieve and what we need to do to achieve our goals.”

Always striving to become the complete lacrosse player, Penczek maintained the same fire and intensity that propelled her to national stardom while developing into more of a leader for a Mavericks team with high expectations and new running mates joining the future Clemson Tiger.

The result? 89 points, 68 goals, 110 draw controls, 22 caused turnovers, 35 ground ball pickups, another undefeated county title and second straight 2A West Region I title.

For her efforts, Manchester Valley junior Emma Penczek has once again been named the 2024 Carroll County Times Girls Lacrosse Player of the Year.

“She was without a doubt the best player on the court,” Brezicki said. “It’s not just her skill, but her ability to see the game and her ability to make an impact wherever she goes.”

While many noted her scoring, it was her play on the other end of the court that carried the Mavericks in the rare moments when they were in a close game. Down two goals against Century, it was her defense that sparked the comeback.

“On defense, she was willing to take a lot of risks,” Brezicki said. “Her risks usually mean rewards for us. She is intense, she wants the ball back and so she understands how to put herself in a position to make that happen.”

When Penczek got the ball back, she was dangerous, adding to her already impressive numbers, reaching 300 career points this season.

Her top performances included her game-winning goal in that tough county game against Century, the time she scored eight goals against Towson, a pair of six goals – one against eventual 4A state champion Broadneck and another against Mount Hebron – and her five goals. goal performance in the state quarterfinals against C. Milton Wright. Her work in the core business area was also highlighted as she also achieved over 200 career draw checks.

“I’m just doing what I can to make sure we win,” she said. “I know I can score, but I want to be known as a player who does more.”

After taking the next step as a player, the steps Penczek took to become a leader further highlighted her impact.

“Emma’s energy makes her a catalyst for our team,” said Brezecki. “She can pick up her teammate’s energy and lead us to the finish.”

With new players scattered throughout the Mavericks’ starting lineup, Penczek was a claiming force, taking pressure off her teammates and helping them thrive.

Addison Meyer quickly became one of the most productive players for the county champions, while freshman Taylor Fique proved to be a good running mate for Penczek on offense, all resulting in an even more dangerous Manchester Valley team that once again swept the county withdrew and region unscathed.

“It was fun this year learning to work with different people,” Penczek said. “We’ve been working on a lot of things in practice and using practice to work with everyone and build confidence for all the younger players.”

With Penczek already preparing for a senior season in which she looks to lead the Mavericks back to the state title game, her efforts this season have gone a long way, not only for the program, but for her evolution into the complete lacrosse player.

“It’s been a great year,” she said. “The way it ended just didn’t sit well with us and we want to get back to that state championship. I will come back stronger and faster.”