Opponents never had it easy while competing against Loch Raven’s Christie Moyer, a 5-foot-3, three-sport senior standout who frustrated and intimidated foes with a hard-nosed style of play.
“I was mostly a defensive-minded player,” Moyer said. “I am scrappy and feisty on the field. A lot of refs think I am overly aggressive, but I just think it’s part of the game. I just go out and play as hard as I can in every single practice and game.”
The 2012 Northeast Booster Reporter Athlete of the Year earned All-County honors in lacrosse, was named unsung hero of the soccer team and led the basketball squad in rebounding and steals.
Moyer, who carried a 3.5 grade point average and plans to play club lacrosse at James Madison University, also co-captained all three Raider teams.
Loch Raven basketball coach Allyson Sieka said the 18-year-old Moyer is practically irreplaceable, given all the things she does on and off the floor.
“After our loss to Owings Mills in the regional final, I couldn’t look her in the face,” the coach explained about Moyer’s burning desire to win. “It was so emotional. You won’t get another Christie Moyer.”
The same spirit applies to lacrosse for Moyer, who has played for the renowned Skywalkers club team the last six years.
She began her career as a four-year-old in the Parkville Rec program and stayed with the program until joining the Loch Raven junior varsity as a freshman.
After three years on the varsity, Tracy Hanley named her the team’s most valuable player this spring.
She also was selected for the Baltimore County Senior All-Star team, was second on the Raiders’ scoring list and alternated taking draws with Sammie Knapp for the 9-7 Raiders.
Moyer’s season got off to an especially strong start after she scored a whopping eight goals in a 17-8 rout of Patterson Mill on March 23.
“She was my go-to player,” Hanley said. “She could play any position and was an amazing defensive player. One of the most commendable things about her is that she never tires. She is a true athlete and can run at the same speed for hours.”
Moyer was the top basketball defender and valued for her ability to pick the pocket of opponents in the paint, averaging seven rebounds and four steals per game.
“She always knew where to be on the defensive end of the floor,” Sieka said. “She always had good position. In 90 percent of our games, she led the team in rebounding. And what is she, 5 (feet)-2 (inches)?”
Swiping the ball from rivals gave her the biggest thrill on the court.
“A lot of times I would sweep the ball from right under them,” she said. “I would press the girl who was coming up the floor with the ball.”
Despite not being the most vocal player on the team, Moyer led by example.
“She was first in every single sprint,” Sieka said. “Her work ethic is what made her a great leader. She inspired her teammates to work that much harder.”
On the soccer field, the two-year starter finished with a flourish, helping ignite the Raiders’ transition and marking the other team’s best offensive players.
“Besides being a good playmaker and setting up her teammates, she was a shut-down defender on the outside,” Loch Raven soccer coach Anthony Menegatti said. “It will be hard to replace her hard-nosed defense out there, being able to run with players. She made it look easy.”
Menegatti feels that Moyer would have excelled at any sport she attempted.
“She would probably be the best player on the field hockey team or the cross country team,” he said. “She could do anything. She is just one of those great athletes you loved to coach.”
