Before a new fall season begins, a look at some girls soccer and football history

It's almost time to begin practice for fall high school sports, and in early September a new season will be underway.

Week 1 for county football teams takes place Sept. 2, and a handful of girls soccer teams have their first official games Sept. 3.

So, I figured this was a good enough time to take a look at recent history in both girls soccer and football for Carroll County.

Girls Soccer

Century heads into the fall as the reigning Carroll County Athletic League champ, and the Knights will be replacing a prolific scorer in recent grad Haley Greenwade. Last season's CMSportsNet Offensive Player of the Year finisher her high school career with 44 goals, which gets her close to all-time territory among the county's top scorers.

Liberty alum Shanna Ziegenfuss had 77 goals, the most in Carroll history. South Carroll's Amber Clutter netted 70 goals, and Winters Mill's Anna Diffendal collected 69 goals.

Consider that Greenwade only got eight games in the spring 2021 season (moved from the fall of 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic), and played in seven of them, and it's safe to say she would have had a shot at cracking the top three by playing a full season.

But, such is life -- Greenwade still helped the Knights win the last three CCAL championships.

Here's a look at the county champion teams of this century, so far.

2021—Century

2020 (spring 2021)—Century

2019—Century

2018—Winters Mill

2017—Winters Mill

2016—Century

2015—Century

2014—Century/Manchester Valley

2013—Century

2012—Century

2011—North Carroll

2010—South Carroll

2009—Winters Mill

2008—Century

2007—Winters Mill

2006—Westminster

2005—Westminster

2004—Westminster

2003—Century

2002—Century

2001—Liberty

2000—North Carroll

Football

South Carroll ended a 5-year drought last fall when the Cavaliers won the county title, ending a 2-year run by Westminster. The Cavaliers return a wealth of talent from last year's 12-1 team that reached the Class 2A-1A state final, but other county teams have their own top-notch returners.

More on that in a later blog. And I'll have some county football history to share as well.

For now, here's a list of the 21st century Carroll County football team champs.

2021—South Carroll

2020 (spring 2021)—Westminster

2019—Westminster

2018—Liberty

2017—Westminster

2016—Liberty

2015—South Carroll

2014—South Carroll

2013—Westminster

2012—Westminster

2011—Westminster

2010—South Carroll

2009—Century

2008—Century

2007—North Carroll

2006—Francis Scott Key

2005—Westminster

2004—Francis Scott Key

2003—South Carroll

2002—South Carroll

2001—Westminster/South Carroll/Liberty

2000—Liberty