More News

Thirteen.

That is how many boys soccer state championships Montgomery County has won in the last decade. Making the number even more striking is that no school has won more than two of them.

Some teams are always good. But picking them is a crapshoot.

Last year's Class 3A champion, Clarksburg, had never even won its region before. The questions were even more severe for eventual 4A winner Whitman.

"I didn't think we'd win a game," Vikings coach Dave Greene said. "Talk to any of the coaches, and that's what I told them. We didn't win a single preseason game."

They won just two of their first seven games. Suddenly, the goals started flowing — 11 of their 24 were in the playoffs — and the crown was theirs.

Three All-Gazette first-teamers are gone, but two heroes from last year are back. Senior Elliot Markus scored the only goal of the regional semifinal, and classmate Johnny Mehrez notched the overtime game-winner in the state final. Throw in center midfielder Sebastian Cahe and the Vikings could be just as good.

"In 4A, I say it's still Whitman and B-CC until it's someone else," Wootton coach Doug Schuessler. "I'd go Sherwood right after that."

The regional runner-up Barons are young. Their leading goal-scorer from a year ago was a freshman, Freddy Nzekele. Classmate Collin Martin has U.S. Soccer experience.

The Warriors may in fact be the favorite right now, after starting last season 10-0 and returning four-year starters Tyler Rudy, Henry Bain and Mauricio Navarette.

"The Churchill boys have been working their tails off all summer; watch out for them," Sherwood boss Hector Morales said. "We did summer league with Northwood and Clarksburg and they look real good, and actually, Wheaton really has a core group."

Last year's two 3A West Region finalists could go at it again. Northwood played the better 40 minutes in last year's game and return studs Dennis Runikera, Julian Saldana and Dallas Aminzadeh.

The Coyotes have integral pieces back in Nick Civetti, Jon Kukapa and goalie Austin Fiedler. Lying in wait is dangerous Watkins Mill with junior striker William Youngia.

In 2A, Wheaton has won eight games in back-to-back seasons, earning a top seed in last year's West Region. It faltered in the postseason, but returns its entire spine.

"We played Clarksburg even last year," Wheaton coach Oscar Amaguana said. "I told the kids I expect regional finals or further."

In 4A, Northwest was less than one minute from the regional final, Churchill brings back a host of starters and national-caliber youngsters and Wootton has its deepest team in years.

Magruder was down last year, but former coach Steve Pfeil said "I see them as a state contender." Richard Montgomery had its best record in a decade with a junior core.

Translation: Who knows?

One private school stood out in 2009. Good Counsel set a benchmark with 15 wins, but lost Hugh Roberts to George Mason (Va.) University and Malcolm Harris to McDonogh.

"That was 90 percent of our offense," Falcons coach Julio Zarate said. "We don't have that talent, but we'll be much better than we used to be."

dgreenberg@gazette.net

Fast facts

Players to watch: Kevin Fallet, George de Rossi

Outlook: "We're returning a lot of our good players and we only have a couple seniors, so we've got some pieces; it's just getting through the injury bug." — coach John Haigh

Churchill Bulldogs

Players to watch: Ryan Beckett, Patrick Tschiani

Outlook: "We're not very physically imposing, but we got back sophomores who started last year; we have some good players." — coach Arnold Tarzy

Players to watch: Nick Civetti, Austin Fiedler

Outlook: "People keep assuming we're going to be down, but we've got guys like Austin in goal, Howie Fischer, and this is our hardest-working class ever." — coach Jeremy Spoales

Players to watch: Yaw Amankwa, Eddie Flynn

Outlook: "We won seven games, but collectively, this group coming back felt it was a lost season last year. They're dedicated to making up for it." — coach Andre Wise

Players to watch: Joe Pratt, Mark Plaisance

Outlook: "We tied Whitman last year and they won states, so you never know." — coach Nick Matesa

Players to watch: Anthony Lozupone, Ben Rozek

Outlook: "Sure, I'm like, ‘Oh, my God. How do we replace them?' But we really have a better team in terms of skills." — coach Julio Zarate

Players to watch: Michael Tillman, Jerry

Madden

Outlook: "We have a good class of young guys. I'm really excited, being on the new field, and I don't look for excuses." — coach Mike Williams

Players to watch: Moussa Traore, Ricardo Vigil

Outlook: "We have extremely strong team chemistry to go along with our talent; we had our largest turnout for tryouts." — coach Kristin

Werdann

Players to watch: Russell Olson, Alex Steren

Outlook: "There will be no easy games in the IAC and we will have to be mistake free if we want to have a chance at winning the league." — coach Bill Reed

Players to watch: Brandon Weiner, Torsten Meuschke

Outlook: "We should be much better this year than last year." — coach Trevin London

Players to watch: Colin Dillon, Yoshio Fujimoto

Outlook: "The team is very young, however I expect the team to do very well once again." — coach Christos Nicholas

Players to watch: Diego Gomez, Alden Green

Outlook: "MoCo is so tough that every game is a battle, but I think we'll build on ... and be even

better than last year." — coach Chamara Wijeratne

Players to watch: Joseph Clarke, Robert

Hernandez

Outlook: "Do we have as much talent? I don't know, but we still have enough and you can make up for that if you're cohesive." — coach Kert Mease

Players to watch: Dallas Aminzadeh, Dennis Runikera

Outlook: "We've never beat Clarksburg, we've never beat Blair. But you can see, they really want it this year." — coach David Edlow

Players to watch: Billy Brady, Brett Lively

Outlook: "We will be very young this year, without much varsity experience ... We did have a good turnout of ninth-graders." — coach Mike Kogok

Players to watch: Cheick Keita, Gianluca Capraro

Outlook: "We've got two freshmen and four sophomores that could be starters, so a lot of talent coming up." — coach Kirk Myers

Players to watch: George Suarez, Connor Speer

Outlook: "You know my system. They're going to play together and cause headaches." — coach Nougais Metellus

Players to watch: Tyler Rudy, Henry Bain

Outlook: "I'm looking at 25 kids for 21 spots and we've got 13 seniors. We lost Baby Juice in the back, but we'll be OK." — coach Hector Morales

Players to watch: Edgar Escobar, Marshall

Botto

Outlook: "We have experience, talent, and we're working on playing as a team." — coach Wesley Wise

Players to watch: William Youngia, Obed Agyei

Outlook: "I think we've got seven, eight starters from the Tuscarora playoff game last year. They're young in the sense that they're not seniors." — coach Jeff Heckert

Players to watch: Bertrand Chephygang, Fred Garcia

Outlook: "We're not here for no reason. Last year we got knocked off in the regional semis, and now we know what we're up against." — coach Oscar Amaguana

Players to watch: Johnny Mehrez, Sebastian Cahe

Outlook: "We lost everything right down the middle of the field, but we do have some good returning players." — coach Dave Greene

Players to watch: Dan Riggio, Antoine Plante

Outlook: "I think we're going to be strong. That's different from great, but the basis is going to be our depth." — coach Doug Schuessler