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The pieces fell into place for Sherwood's boys soccer team last fall. Ten straight victories opened the season, two ousters of rival Magruder added extra vim, and a top seed in the 4A West Region playoffs made for the Warriors' finest season since the state-title winners of 2004 and 2005.

A repeat performance, and then some, will depend on a unique core of veterans.

One of them is Mauricio Navarette, set to become a four-year starter when his senior year begins next month. Highly accomplished as a club player, the midfielder played in the D.C. United program for four years, two in the United Soccer League's Super-Y League and two as co-captain for the U-16 Academy Team.

Now playing for the U-18 Potomac Academy, years of service are getting him noticed. By his count, at least seven colleges have either offered scholarships or "said they were wanted me for 2011": the Air Force (Colo.) Academy, Wesleyan (Conn.), Amherst (Mass.), Mount St. Mary's, Navy, Loyola and Yale (Conn.).

"Yale caught me off guard," he said after returning from a private camp at American University. "The Disney Showcase we ended up winning [last winter], that helped. But I came back home a little bit after Christmas and had a lot of e-mails from people saying they liked the way I played and wanted to keep in touch."

Two Warrior teammates will also add four years each of varsity experience this fall, with at least three of them in the starting lineup. Center mid Tyler Rudy is a reigning All-Gazette first-teamer, played in the U.S. Youth Soccer Region I tournament with the Olney Rangers, and now also plays in the D.C. United Academy.

Henry Bain has an impressive club resume of his own, winning two national championships with the renowned Casa Mia Bays of Baltimore. A starter at the back with Navarette in his sophomore and junior campaigns, he also starred in D.C. United's Super-Y team, being named to its leagues North American Finals Team — earning an automatic evaluation from U.S. National Team coaches.

"I have one school that's offered me some money and that's Virginia Tech," Bain said. "I went up for an unofficial visit to watch a game and meet the head coach [Mike Brizendine], and he said he's seen me play a lot and would definitely take me on their team."

Bain has also met with St. John's (N.Y.), and said the team's scout "told me he likes me and I would be top-10 on his list for recruiting in 2011."

A longtime partner in Sherwood's backfield is gone: two-time All-Gazette first-teamer Tomi Adewole, who now plays at Villanova (Pa.).

"But I think some of our returning players got a lot better," said Navarette. "I know my brother has."

One year younger, Sergio Navarette has played his first two years at Sherwood on varsity, even earning starts as a freshman. Before joining the U-16 Potomac Academy team, he played club soccer (SAC United Premier) for his high school coach, Hector Morales.

He attributes his improvement to training he got last summer at First-Division Peruvian club Sporting Cristal.

"My dad used to play for them so he got us the connections, and we did all kinds of training with the upper-level guys," Sergio said. "Most were close to my age but it was so different, made me tougher. They're all aggressive and will tear you to shreds if you're nice."