The Olympic Development team consists of the top under-21 players in the country. The Futures Elite team represents the top three percent of the Futures program athletes in the U.S. Playing in these programs will give Gerzabek an opportunity to be chosen for international competition.

The U.S. under-16 team is slated to selected this month.

"I was surprised at first by my selection but very happy," said Gerzabek, who was picked last spring to train at the New Jersey High Performance Center. There, younger star players compete against college players and U.S. National team members. She represented the U.S. at the Junior Olympics this summer in Iowa City.

Gerzabek has been a three-year starter for Notre Dame, which is 9-1 and ranked fifth by The Inquirer.

On Tuesday, Gerzabek had half of her team's goals in an 8-1 win over Agnes Irwin. She has 12 goals this season.

"Katie's a very skillful player and is very exciting to watch," said Irish coach Adele William.

Gerzabek joins 18 other players from Southeastern Pennsylvania on the Futures Elite team: Annie McLaughlin, Nicole Goff, Brittany Grzywacz, Nicole Schuster, Ali McEvoy, Meghan Plank, Lauren Becker, Lauren Purvis, Elizabeth Fedele, Alyssa Chillano, Molly Murphy, Cassidy Arner, Olivia Salindong, Sarah Hospodar, Anna Zarkoski, Lindsay McArdle, Madison Hardin, and Samantha Ostoich.

Ranks dwindling

The latest teams to fall from the unbeaten ranks were Owen J. Roberts and Ridley.

The Owen J. Roberts Wildcats were stunned last week by Upper Perkiomen, 2-0, on a pair of first-half goals by Paula Heimbach. It was the first time the Wildcats were shut out this season. Owen J. has outscored its opponents, 50-5.

Ridley suffered its first loss at the hands of Radnor, 1-0. The winning Red Raiders made a first-half goal by Helene Caniglia stand up. It was also the first time this season that the Green Raiders had been shut out.

So far this season, the most dominant teams have been from Chester and Delaware counties. There's been a switch in power from Bucks and Montgomery counties, where the Suburban One League usually holds sway.

Neshaminy, which won the District 1 Class AAA championship last year, is rebuilding after some big graduation losses. Central Bucks South, which had a good run into the playoffs last season, is in a similar situation.

No big outcry

In the past, the presence of boys in field hockey usually led to a ruckus. Under a court ruling, the PIAA cannot ban boys from playing on sports teams traditionally reserved for girls.

"Yes, it has been rather uneventful," said Great Valley coach Joe Tornetta. "Zach doesn't start, but he gives us solid minutes."

This is Davis' first year playing field hockey. He ran cross-country in the past.

"The girls were comfortable with him playing. They welcomed him. The only one who complained was my brother," Tornetta said with a chuckle.

John Tornetta is the field hockey coach at Phoenixville.

or dbeideman@phillynews.com.