Mike Mathews
FROSTBURG — Quincy Hegeman may know Mountain Ridge Stadium — yard by yard and perhaps even inch by inch — better than anyone.
That’s because when it comes to soccer, there’s likely not a place on the field she hasn’t been. From leading the area’s best defense to helping the Miners control the middle of the field to being the team’s second-leading scorer, Hegeman has proven her value all over the field.
None of it has gone unnoticed, either, and for the second year in a row area coaches voted Hegeman the Cumberland Times-News girls soccer Defensive Player of the Year.
Hegeman will receive her award at the 62nd Dapper Dan Awards Banquet on Sunday, Jan. 31 at the Ali Ghan Shrine Club. Dinner will be served at 4 p.m. and the awards program begins at 5.
Hegeman led Mountain Ridge to a record-breaking 17-1 season that included the Appalachian Mountain Athletic Conference and West Region championships. The Miners fell to Loch Raven 2-1 in the Class 1A state semifinals.
Mountain Ridge set school records for wins in a season and longest winning streak (17). The Miners broke area records for consecutive wins in a season (17) and shutouts (11).
Hegeman becomes a two-time defensive player of the year with her senior year still ahead of her. In her two player-of-the-year seasons, Mountain Ridge had two undefeated regular seasons and a 32-2 overall record.
“Quincy is a very unselfish player whose skills are second to none, and she had another outstanding year,’’ said Mountain Ridge coach Martha Mauzy. “She controls the middle of the field for us and loves the challenge of stopping another team’s top scorer.
“She very quietly goes about performing unbelievable skills while playing goal line to goal line and consistently turns defense into offense.”
Mountain Ridge outscored its opponents by 83-12, including 44-3 in eight conference games. The defense posted shutouts in seven of its final eight regular-season games.
“Quincy has played a key role in our back-to-back undefeated regular seasons, said Mauzy, whose team is 42-7-2 with 34 shutouts in Hegeman’s three seasons as a starter. “Quincy has a tremendous personal drive to put in the time necessary to perform at the level at which she plays.”
The versatile Hegeman, listed as a defender/midfielder on the Mountain Ridge roster, scored 11 goals and had nine assists for 31 points and a 1.72 scoring average, an average that was ninth in the area and second, behind only Stephanie Fazenbaker, on the Miners team.
Hegeman is also an exceptional student with a 3.6 grade-point average.
“Quincy has deceptive speed and grace while maneuvering the ball down the field and has the ability to control the tempo of a game,’’ said Mauzy. “She makes intelligent decisions with and without the ball and makes outstanding plays look routine.
“Quincy has the complete game and we are certainly happy to know we have her returning for another year.”
Hegeman is the second Mountain Ridge player to win the Defensive Player of the Year Award, the other being Jenna Delaney in 2007. The only two-time winners of the award Hegeman and Southern’s Miriam Sincell (2000, 2001).
For Dapper Dan Banquet ticket information, call The Original Sports Shoppe at (301) 722-5490.
Mike Mathews is a Cumberland Times-News sportswriter. Contact Mike Mathews at mmathews@times-news.com.
Defensive Players of Year
2009 - Quincy Hegeman, Mountain Ridge
2008 - Quincy Hegeman, Mountain Ridge
2007 - (tie) Christina Russo, Allegany
Jenna Delaney, Mountain Ridge
2006 - Bethani Gillum, Allegany
2005 - Sarah Moreland, Allegany
2004 - Emily Mathews, Allegany
2003 - Rachel Armstrong, Beall
2002 - Laura Bonser, Southern
2001 - Miriam Sincell, Southern
2000 - Miriam Sincell, Southern
1999 - Becky Gostomski, Beall
1998 - Becky Martin, Southern
