{"id":11515331,"date":"2025-06-26T06:00:27","date_gmt":"2025-06-26T10:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.baltimoresun.com\/?p=11515331"},"modified":"2025-06-25T16:08:44","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T20:08:44","slug":"emma-penzcek-carroll-county-girls-lacrosse-player-of-the-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.baltimoresun.com\/2025\/06\/26\/emma-penzcek-carroll-county-girls-lacrosse-player-of-the-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Emma Penzcek named Carroll County girls lacrosse Player of the Year for third time"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whenever Manchester Valley coach Shelly Brezicki talks about Emma Penczek, her expression instantly brightens as she offers unparalleled praise for her star player.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve had a lot of successful players in this county, but I don\u2019t think we\u2019ve seen someone this dominant on both sides of the field,\u201d she said. \u201cHer skill and what she\u2019s accomplished in her four years makes her the best to ever play this game at the high school level in Carroll County.\u201d<\/p>\n

Through her first three seasons, Penczek already built a resume that told anyone they were watching someone special when she stepped on the field: two county titles, two regional championships, a state title, two county Player of the Year awards and All-Metro Player of the Year honors.<\/p>\n

So when her senior season arrived, expectations were sky-high locally and nationally for what her grand finale would entail. The future Clemson Tiger didn\u2019t just meet those expectations, she exceeded them.<\/p>\n

Penczek recorded 89 goals, 56 assists and 124 draw controls, leading the Mavericks to a 19-0 record that included another Carroll County title, a regional title and the Class 2A state championship. Along the way, she put her name in the record books as Carroll County\u2019s all-time leading scorer.<\/p>\n

For the third straight season, Emma Penczek has been named Carroll County girls lacrosse Player of the Year.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was incredible to finish my senior year with a moment like that,\u201d Penczek said reflecting on the 17-9 championship game win over Glenelg<\/a>. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t have been here without my teammates and the people behind me. The whole season was just unreal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her stats alone tell the story of a dominant season. But look past the numbers and you see a player who constantly found ways to elevate those around her in every phase of the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen she\u2019s not scoring, she\u2019s assisting,\u201d Brezicki said. \u201cShe\u2019s creating turnovers, opening space for teammates, winning draws. Emma asserts herself in every aspect of the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

From the opening draw this season, Penczek was relentless \u2014 chasing down attackers to force turnovers, absorbing contact and fighting through physicality to win draws, even shouting across the field at the top of her lungs to ensure Brezicki\u2019s defensive calls were executed to perfection. Her presence and energy kept Manchester Valley composed in high-pressure moments.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome of my goals this season were to play more confidently and calmly,\u201d she said. \u201cI wanted to be a better leader and make sure everyone was at their best so we could achieve everything we\u2019ve worked so hard for.\u201d<\/p>\n