CSM women's coach not such a stranger

Experience-minded Sanchez played for Rams boys soccer team in the mid-90s

Friday, Aug. 28, 2009

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Adam Sanchez remembers his senior season with the McDonough Rams soccer team like it was yesterday. The 31-year-old did not arrive to McDonough until his final year of high school after spending the first three at Oxon Hill in Prince George's County.

"I was happy just to make the team. There were a lot of great players on that team," the 1996 McDonough graduate recalled of his arrival to the Rams program for his lone season. "I earned a starting spot after two preseason games."

In those two preseason games in the fall of 1995, Sanchez recorded a pair of goals and two assists –– gaudy production for a defender. Ironically, his first preseason game came against his former Oxon Hill team and his new McDonough coach did not let him start that game despite his wishes.

"I was a versatile player and could play anywhere on the field," he said. "You don't really want to transfer for your senior year of high school. My family moved to get away from a situation at Oxon Hill that wasn't good. I wanted to stay at Oxon Hill, because I had friends there even though it was not a good situation."

Once Sanchez settled in at McDonough, he realized how fortunate he was to compete in such a talent-laden league at the time. During the 1990s, the Southern Maryland Athletic Conference was arguably the most elite in the state with three teams in the county –– McDonough, Thomas Stone and La Plata –– capable of winning it all.

"It was a lot of fun. I loved the atmosphere in the SMAC; it was a good competitive environment," said Sanchez, who started as a center-back line defender to give then-standout captain Kris Mount freedom to move forward. "There were a lot of rivalries down here. We had a big win at La Plata –– we shocked them at their place and La Plata was one of the best in the state. We lost in the regional final versus Thomas Stone, 1-0, in a very good game."

After attending college in Utah and then spending the last 10 years there after graduating, Sanchez has returned to the SMAC in full-circle form –– sort of.

He is now the new head coach of the College of Southern Maryland women's soccer program after he and his family moved back to the area last December to be closer to relatives.

Instead of playing in the SMAC, Sanchez will now be recruiting from its ranks in the girls side of the sport.

"I never went to CSM but when I transferred to McDonough [in high school] and looked at colleges, CSM was an option for me," the Hawks first-year frontman said. "It feels like I'm coming home. I loved the environment I was in my senior year and loved the area. I'm really happy to coach and be able to recruit from the SMAC.

"I really wanted to get involved in soccer again."

It's not like Sanchez has been away from the game that long. He previously coached just last fall at Timpview High School in Utah. There, he was at the helm of the high school's boys and girls varsity programs for four years. The boys played in the spring, while the girls laced it up in the fall –– unlike the SMAC where both compete during the fall.

During that time, he also coached several age groups of boys and girls for a sophisticated travel soccer club, which featured a youth academy for 5- to 8-year-olds and teams from 10-Under through 18-Under. He was with the Utah soccer club from the time of its 2001 inception until he moved to Southern Maryland last year.

So there is no shortage of experience and enthusiasm about the game on Sanchez's resume as he embarks upon the challenge of reenergizing a CSM program that fell off last year to 3-7 as a club team after going 7-5-1 in 2007.

"The school definitely has some high expectations," Sanchez said of CSM for its women's soccer program. "There is a strong core of players to build around. It's just about letting the girls get out there to compete and give them opportunities."

He added, "I have the experience. I have the knowledge. I love getting out there with the girls and coaching them. I feel I'm a players' coach. They appreciate the way I coach and respond to that."

Returning defender Kelsey Worrill (Stone) has already caught the eye of Sanchez with her ability.

"She's a fantastic player," the Hawks head coach said. "There are a lot of things she does that go unnoticed. She looks to get her teammates involved."

Sanchez graduated from Utah Valley University, which only had a club men's soccer team. He was on the roster but never competed for his college's club team as his focus was on his academics.

dcogle@somdnews.com

CSM women's soccer

Head coach: Adam Sanchez (first season)

Last year: 3-7 (club status)

Athletes to watch: M/F Alex Baker (So., Great Mills), D Kelsey Worrill (So., Stone), F Rachael Shapelow (So.), M/F Kristi Tewell (So., La Plata), D Jamie Palmer (So., Stone), F Taylor Ramsey (So., Ryken)

Key personnel losses: G Lacey Johnson (Patuxent), D Tiffany Kurtz (Great Mills), HC Rodney Fugitt

Strengths: Sanchez brings plenty of optimism and experience as the new frontman for the Hawks. The 1996 McDonough graduate spent 10 years living in Utah after attending college there. He returned to the area last December. In Utah, he developed an extensive coaching resume at the helm of Timpview High School's boys and girls varsity teams while also involved with leading several age groups for a competitive travel club.

Sanchez is impressed with the soccer IQs of his Hawks players, which possess speed and athleticism that should allow for versatility in moving them around in different positions and within different systems. A solid core of returners – headlined by Worrill – will pace the team, and the new CSM coach is already fond of his players' communication and their chemistry on the field.

Weaknesses: After a seemingly corner-turning season in 2007 when the Hawks 7-5-1 record was the program's best mark in seven years, last year did not fare so well. The Hawks were just 3-7 a season ago and took a step back into club status as a program. Rebounding from the down 2008 season may take time as the team adjusts to a new coaching staff while teammates familiarize themselves with each other, all while learning how to be a winning program again. Johnson transferred her goalie skills to St. Mary's College of Maryland, while Kurtz is out of commission with an injury. Both represent significant voids in the Hawks lineup.

Coach's comments: "Our program's goal is to always compete for a region title, and this year is no different. The quality is there and the players are motivated and excited about the season. I feel we can compete with any team in the region as the team continues to improve every practice. With the season opener in a couple of days, the key will be how fast we can become a cohesive unit, develop our style of play and find out who we are. We still have a lot of question marks about our team, but we're excited to find those answers and have a successful season."

Key games: Aug. 29 vs. Rhode Island; Sept. 9 at Catonsville; Sept. 15 vs. Essex