Calvert Hall soccer coach Rich Zinkand embraces the lofty goals facing his team each season.
The Cardinals are one of the most-decorated programs in the country and any setback is often magnified because of those expectations.
As a former player at Calvert Hall, Zinkand was part of some of the most successful teams in school history. This past year, he guided the Cardinals to perhaps their finest season ever.
Calvert Hall put together a 21-game winning streak and finished 24-0-1 after beating John Carroll 2-1 in overtime in the MIAA A conference title game. The Cardinals also were crowned co-national champions by United Soccer Coaches with St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, N.J., which also went unbeaten.
“This group was very special,” Zinkand said. “We were fortunate to have very talented players at every position and guys who were ready to contribute who weren’t in the starting lineup. This was one of the most talented rosters at Calvert Hall. All the players bought into doing their specific job and doing it well. We had a great combination of talent, a strong work ethic and a positive attitude. Our assistants, Geoff Foltyn and Frank Assaro, talked often about just getting better every training session, working for each other, and controlling what we could control.”
As Calvert Hall climbed the national rankings, every game became even more pivotal. A loss would have knocked them from their perch. Nonetheless, the team handled the pressure really well and the players and coaches set goals early in the season and talked about taking it game by game.
The Cardinals had plenty of experience with seven seniors who had been on varsity at least three years and started last season – Nate Jones, Gabe Glikin, Josh Nagy, Cody Angelini, Ben Madore, Rich Monath and Tyler Flynn.
Calvert Hall also had Ben Ramsey, Rocco Pastore and Ryan Belal as returning starters from the 2021 championship team that beat McDonogh in the final.
“We did not want to get caught looking ahead,” Zinkand said. “We never mentioned going undefeated. I think we all knew that if we played to our potential this was going to be a great season. We had a great group of seniors who understood what it was going to take to win back-to-back MIAA championships.”
The Cardinals played one of the toughest schedules in the United States. The team not only played its conference schedule in a league widely regarded as one of the best, but the Cardinals also traveled to Cleveland, Ohio, to play St. Ignatius, which was ranked No. 2 in the nation at the time. Calvert Hall came away with a 4-2 victory after trailing by two goals.
“The trip to Ohio to play St. Ignatius was a great experience,” Zinkand said. “We listed going out there and defeating them as one of our goals. Everyone had this game circled. Our alumni and administration made this trip possible and we wanted to show those who organize the national polls that we were one of the best teams in the country. … We talked after the game about returning home and finishing out the MIAA season and letting our record speak for itself.”
The Cardinals faced even more adversity in the title game against John Carroll.
Calvert Hall fell behind 1-0 in the opening minutes on an own goal when Austin Hoffman’s long throw-in skidded off the wet turf at UMBC and past Calvert Hall senior goalkeeper Nate Jones.
However, the Cardinals tied the game on a goal by Belal with 8:28 remaining. In the second overtime, Monath scored the game-winning goal for the second straight year.
“John Carroll came out strong and was well-prepared to play,” Zinkand said. “Credit to Coach Jim Fendryk and the players. We were a little anxious at the beginning of the match, but we eventually settled down and started getting a hold of the ball and creating some chances going forward. We talked at halftime about being behind like we were against St. Ignatius and just needed to continue to compete and work in transition. We knew we would create, just needed to continue to defend.”
For Zinkand, the season was extra special. He is a 1987 graduate who played under legendary Coach Bill Karpovich. His teams won two MSA Championships and included a perfect 21-0 season in 1986.
This one ranks up there as one of the best.
“It’s a great feeling to see the Calvert Hall soccer program back to where it once was in the 1980s and 1990s with Coach Karpovich,” he said. “So many great players have come through this program and gone on to great careers on and off the field. With the support of our alums, we have been able to attract some of the top players in the area to attend Calvert Hall and bring back the pride so many of us have in the soccer program.”
Mercy High School finished 25th in the United Soccer Coaches girls national rankings after winning the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference crown.
Editor’s note: Coach Bill Karpovich is the great uncle of Todd Karpovich.
MIAA Fall 2022 Champions
Soccer
A Conference – Calvert Hall
B Conference – Severn
C Conference – Gerstell
Football
A Conference – Archbishop Spalding
B Conference – St. Mary’s
C Conference – Severan
Cross Country
A Conference – Calvert Hall
B Conference – Severn
C Conference – The Key School
Volleyball
A Conference – Mount St. Joseph
Water Polo
A Conference – Gilman
IAAM Fall 2022 Champions
Soccer
A Conference – Mercy
B Conference – Maryvale
C Conference – Gerstell
Field Hockey
A Conference – Garrison Forest
B Conference – John Carroll
C Conference – Catholic High
Cross Country
A Conference – McDonogh
B Conference – Mercy
C Conference – Catholic High
Volleyball
A Conference – Maryvale
B Conference – Mercy
C Conference – Glenelg
Tennis
A Conference – McDonogh
B Conference – John Carroll
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