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Gazette Guru

"Circle Sept. 15 on your calendar: Clarksburg at Northwood. I think one of these teams will reach the state finals."

Quick-hits

Bethesda/Potomac: During the 2008 regular season, Churchill scored the most goals [35] and allowed the fewest [7].

Damascus/Germantown/Gaithersburg: Watkins Mill alumni Daniel Ankrah, Ben Hanson and Karl Digbeu all play for the Loyola men's soccer team.

Olney/Rockville: Magruder had a 40-game regular-season unbeaten streak snapped by Sherwood on Oct. 13.

Burtonsville/Silver Spring/Wheaton: Good Counsel's Malcolm Harris won a U-15 national title this summer with the Baltimore Casa Mia Bays.

Fast facts

B-CC Barons

2008 record: 9-1-4

Players to watch: Ben Fernandez, Nick Van Hollen, Patrick Mehlert

2009 outlook: "It's our first season with the big boys in 4A, but we've got quite a few boys coming back. I think we have just as good of a chance as anyone." — head coach Sean Karns

Blair Blazers

2008 record: 8-4-2

Players to watch: Aaron Baldwin, Alexander Baldwin

2009 outlook: "I thought Blair was one of the most talented teams that we faced last year [while I was] at Springbrook. … We have a hard-working group." — head coach John Haigh

Churchill Bulldogs

2008 record: 11-1-2

Players to watch: Brendan Warshauer, Cameron Kidwell, Dylan Regan

2009 outlook: "I'm pleased to be with the group that I have. I like our chances and I'm confident." — head coach Arnold Tarzy

Clarksburg Coyotes

2008 record: 11-3-1

Players to watch: Julio Arjona, Henry Reyes, Joel Houapeu

2009 outlook: "Julio's back, but it's about more than him. This is our first senior class, and I know Northwood's going to be tough, but our kids think it's their year." — Jeremy Spoales

Damascus Hornets

2008 record: 3-8-1

Players to watch: Yaw Amankwa, Eric Diehl, Ben Gaughan

2009 outlook: "It's completely different than previous years. In terms of talent, there are quite a few players with impressive resumes, some academy players that have a lot to prove." — head coach Andre Wise

Gaithersburg Trojans

2008 record: 8-4-3

Players to watch: Joseph Pratt, Mark Plaisance, Joseph Tchimou

2009 outlook: "I know we will be one of the top teams in the county and have a lot of talent to continue the strides we made last year." — head coach Nick Matesa

Georgetown Prep Little Hoyas

2008 record: 11-5-1

Players to watch: Marcus Salandy, Nat Eggleston, Niall Cochrane

2009 outlook: "What we will have, I think, is a good team that is better balanced at most positions over the field. We have solid players in front, solid players in the middle, and a solid goalkeeper." — head coach Guy Fraiture

Good Counsel Falcons

2008 record: 15-3-3

Players to watch: Hugh Roberts, Malcolm Harris, Anthony Lozupone

2009 outlook: "We open with Gonzaga and DeMatha, unfortunately. … We should be a bit stronger in every department than last year." — head coach Julio Zarate

Walter Johnson Wildcats

2008 record: 8-3-1

Players to watch: Matt Wojnar, Nick Castro, Freddie Mata

2009 outlook: "There's no secret we lost a lot of guys from last year, but hopefully we're hungry, and I think we've got some good young players." — head coach Mike Williams

Kennedy Cavaliers

2008 record: 8-6-3

Players to watch: Noe Rivera, Sam Yarjah

2009 outlook: "Sam had some phenomenal moments last year. In the playoffs, some kid launched a bullet at him and I still can't believe he saved it." — head coach Kristin Werdann

Magruder Colonels

2008 record: 9-2-6

Players to watch: Brandon Weiner, Torsten Meuschke, Caio Fonseca

2009 outlook: "I think most people are saying that this will be rebuilding year. What I'll say is that I think we have a competent player at every position, maybe even better depth." — head coach Steve Pfeil

Richard Montgomery Rockets

2008 record: 0-11-2

Players to watch: Diego Gomez, Alden Green, Dominic Degoia

2009 outlook: "You know, we couldn't go any lower than last year. I think we're going to compete with the rest of the guys in the division." — head coach Chamara Wijeratne

Northwest Jaguars

2008 record: 8-4-1

Players to watch: Kevin Andino, Kyle Dipeppe, Hernan Angulo

2009 outlook: "I challenged Kevin Andino to break Nirav Kadam's scoring record of, I think, 12 goals. We've got him healthy and Hernan, who was our leading scorer last year." — head coach Kert Mease

Northwood Gladiators

2008 record: 9-3-2

Players to watch: Dallas Aminzadeh, Julian Saldana, Bush Yormie

2009 outlook: "Our potential is completely unlimited. We've just got to finish. If we can get to the regional final, anything can happen." — head coach David Edlow

Paint Branch Panthers

2008 record: 7-6

Players to watch: Eduardo Sartor, Billy Brady, Jesse Valdez

2009 outlook: "We graduated 14 seniors. We've got some young talent, but put us down for rebuilding." — head coach Mike Kogok

Poolesville Falcons

2008 record: 6-4-4

Players to watch: Ryan Campbell, Alex Pfister, Logan Wilson

2009 outlook: "Our attacking team has been reinforced and will be a great standout this year." — head coach Christos Nicholas

Quince Orchard Cougars

2008 record: 5-5-3

Players to watch: Josh Sanger, Fombod Chunga, Raphael Sepenou

2009 outlook: "People make a big deal out of moving to 3A, but we've still got a bunch of good teams. I'm really interested to see how these guys gel and how good we can be." — head coach Jim McEvoy

Rockville Rams

2008 record: 2-7-3

Players to watch: Ryan Hoppman, Dave Zuniga, Brian Beiglarbeigi

2009 outlook: "With only four players returning, we are a completely different team. Now if we exceed expectations, we'll win the division, but I think we can be .500." — head coach Abdel Makhlouf

Seneca Valley Eagles

2008 record: 1-11-1

Players to watch: Mike Kirakau, Oscar Velasquez, Daniel Paz, Lionel Kenmegna

2009 outlook: "We've got to win more games, man. We were division champs the year before. It's going to be a good, young, talented team." — head coach Nougais Metellus

Sherwood Warriors

2008 record: 8-5-2

Players to watch: Tomi Adewole, Drew Hock, Tyler Rudy

2009 outlook: "We do have quite a few players back. The best part about our loss to Magruder in the playoffs is the horrible taste it left in their mouths, and hopefully that stays with them all year." — head coach Hector Morales

Springbrook Blue Devils

2008 record: 3-8-2

Players to watch: n/a

2009 outlook: "This is my first time coaching these boys, so everything is new and fresh. But I think I'm working with a bunch of talent." — head coach Michael Saunders

Watkins Mill Wolverines

2008 record: 5-7-2

Players to watch: Spencer Williams, William Youngia, Obed Agyei

2009 outlook: "I'm really excited about this group. We've got a lot of good young talent, but we need to find someone to score goals." — head coach Jeff Heckert

Whitman Vikings

2008 record: 4-7-2

Players to watch: Scott Gerfen, Dominick Yin, Zach Khalifa

2009 outlook: "We have quite a few starters coming back, so expectation doesn't change. We did not have a good season last year, but it's a new year, and I'm pleased with what I see so far." — head coach Dave Greene

Wootton Patriots

2008 record: 5-6-4

Players to watch: Stephen Ho, Jason Greenberg, Matt Harlow

2009 outlook: "Unfortunately we lost a couple really talented players in the summer. … We're trying to join that top tier of teams." — head coach Doug Schuessler