Boys soccer midseason report
What's happening in boys soccer? Who knows?
At this time a year ago, there were more knowns. Class 4A Magruder was unbeaten en route to a perfect season, Clarksburg was far and away the best 2A team in the county, and Bethesda-Chevy Chase was showing signs of its division, region and state championships to come in 3A. But with this year's regional playoff seeding meeting set for Oct. 18, there are no overwhelming favorites, only a plethora of contenders.
That's because of several surprises that have brought parity to the county fields. And no one has been as surprising as Northwood, which currently tops the 3A/2A/1A East standings at 5-1-1 (4-0-1 in the division). The Gladiators are led by a pair of DeMatha transfers, sophomores Julian Saldana — who scored game-winning goals against Seneca Valley and Paint Branch — and center midfielder Dallas Aminzadeh.
The Gladiators' nemesis is still 3A/2A/1A West Division-leading Clarksburg (6-1-1, 3-0-1), which gave Northwood its only loss (3-0 on Sept. 15) and still may be the slight favorite in 2A thanks to West Virginia-bound striker Peabo Doue. But the gap has shrunk.
"That Peabo, he's got our number; that kid just ripped us up," said Gladiator coach Kurt Logsdon. "But we can hang with the best of them right now. Tying B-CC was our biggest coup, I think."
The defending 3A state-title winners might even be a stronger team than they were a year ago. The Barons' most important pieces — striker David Williams and midfielders Chris Woodruff and Ethan White (Maryland) — have buoyed a 5-1-3 start, while senior Willy Koue leads the team in goals.
The county sent two other teams to state-championship games a year ago, both of which are thriving once again.
Poolesville (3-1-4) fell a game short of a 1A title, but looks even stronger this season. Led by strikers Jeyson Ventura and Matt Capozzi, the Falcons boast almost a 2-to-1 goal-scoring advantage over opponents.
And while Magruder doesn't have the firepower of a year ago, when it set a school record with 85 goals, no one has beaten it yet. Led by versatile senior Ifiok Akpandak and two-year starter Steve Magliaro in net, the Colonels are one of just two unbeaten teams in the county (6-0-3).
"We don't look the same on the field," said Magruder coach Steve Pfeil. "No one can dispute that. What we're trying to do is win the right way."
The county's other unbeaten team has been its most dominant. Churchill (7-0-1) has scored the most goals (28) and allowed the fewest (4), primarily by owning the middle of the field at all three levels; center mid Max Rutherford and defensive stalwart Jamie LaFleur are superb, but striker Kevin Dansky is doing unimaginable things up top. Through eight games, he's scored 19 goals.
"He's very quick, which is more important than being just fast," said Churchill head coach Arnold Tarzy. "It's just like ‘Boom,' he's on the ball."
Boys Soccer 2008
Top teams: Churchill (7-0-1), Magruder (6-0-3)
Best offense: Churchill. In two words, Kevin Dansky; the dynamic senior striker has scored 19 of the team's 28 goals. Through Oct. 7, only one team (Blair) has outscored him.
Best defense: Magruder. The Bulldogs have been the stingiest on the stat sheet, but the Colonels are still unbeaten because of their defense, led by all-around seniors Ifiok Akpandak and Jeremy Moyer, and goalkeeper Steve Magliaro
Pleasant surprise (individual): Willy Koue, B-CC. The Barons won a 3A state championship a year ago because of a lot of players, but the senior forward wasn't one of them. Yet he has come out of nowhere to lead the team in goals through nine games.
Pleasant surprise (team): Northwood. Simple: no one felt the Gladiators would be leading the 3A/2A/1A East Division a week into October.
Playoff darkhorse: Walter Johnson. It's just hanging around at 6-2, solid up top and in the back, and look very reminiscent of the Wildcat team that earned a 2006 co-state championship.
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