2A West boys soccer: Home to abnormally deep field
It's playoff season in boys soccer: the time to separate the men from the boys, the contenders from the pretenders. With the Class 2A West Region draw taking place Monday and first-round games tentatively set for this Friday, it's also time to discuss top candidates to win what is, surprisingly, one of the toughest brackets in the state.
"I mean, it's a very, very tough region," said Clarksburg coach Jeremy Spoales. "Middletown is the top seed; they've got a kid named Chase Nichols who is terrific. Then you've got Liberty, who was just an overtime penalty kick away from winning the state final last year. Then you've got Walkersville, and they have a kid named Matia Mellello, who committed to George Washington. So it's a tough, balanced region."
As tough as Middletown and some of the other Frederick County teams may be, the team to beat from Montgomery County is Clarksburg. In just their third year of existence, the Coyotes have had a phenomenal year, finishing 9-1-1, winning the Montgomery 3A/2A/1A West Division championship, and outscoring opponents 33-10 through Friday's games.
The leader has been West Virginia University commit Peabo Doue, who has scored 13 goals on the season. But his bigger coup may be the nine assists he's accumulated, many to Dylan Muise (5 goals). A senior center midfielder, Muise also leads the team with 12 assists.
Clarksburg doesn't have any holes, which makes its postseason outlook bright.
Northwood has followed a similar path to the top. It will be the third seed in the draw, having just as significant a season as the Coyotes, tying for the 3A/2A/1A East Division title with an 8-1-2 record.
Like their third-year partners at the varsity level, the Gladiators are allowing the fewest goals (eight) in their division, led by senior goalkeeper Eric Swarth. But it's been the additions of sophomore DeMatha transfers Dallas Aminzadeh and Julian Saldana to the midfield, along with junior center middie Bush Yormie, that make them legit contenders.
Rockville (2-6-2) rounds out the county's 2A West representatives.
Check www.gazette.net/montsports for exact dates and times
First Round (Oct. 23-24)
No. 9 Walkersville at No. 8 Century
No. 10 Rockville at No. 7 Winters Mill
No. 11 South Hagerstown at No. 6 North Hagerstown
Quarterfinals (Oct. 28)
Century or Walkersville at No. 1 Middletown
Winters Mill or Rockville at No. 2 Clarksburg
North Hagerstown or South Hagerstown at No. 3 Northwood
No. 5 Liberty at No. 4 Francis Scott Key
Semifinals
Friday, Oct. 31, matchups TBD
Final
Tuesday, Nov. 4
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