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There's a different feel atop the County 3A/2A/1A League boys' soccer scene this year, one of confidence.

The county's struggle against out-of-county opposition during the postseason has been well documented. But a single game last season could prove to the be start of an upward trend.

Last year, Crossland defeated Southern Maryland Athletic Conference foe Westlake in the 3A South Region playoffs, giving the county 3A/2A/1A League its lone victory over an out-of-county opponent in either boys' or girls' soccer. It also was the first time in four years that a 3A/2A/1A boys' team had beaten a non-county opponent in the playoffs.

But the reality was that Westlake won just once last season, and the Cavaliers managed only a 3-2 victory. First-year Crossland coach Joe Willoughby said his team is primed for more playoff success this season.

"They're pretty much confident that they can outwork the majority of the teams out there," Willoughby said of his team, which drew the No. 2 seed in the 3A South Region playoffs. The Cavaliers (7-1-1) have a first-round bye and will have a home game at 3 p.m. Tuesday against the winner of Friday's first-round game between No. 7 seed Westlake and No. 10 Chopticon.

Freshman Holy Mbah and sophomore Hector Irigollen have provided much of the scoring punch this season along with seniors Dennis Cornejo and Sergio Gonzalez.

"They are a bunch of good boys," Willoughby said. "They're fit, ready and stronger than they've been all year. Physically and mentally, they're psyched and ready to go."

Elsewhere in the 3A South, Largo drew the No. 5 seed and will travel to take on No. 4 La Plata Tuesday afternoon. No. 6 seed Friendly will visit third-seeded Huntingtown on Tuesday.

2A South Region

No team in the County 3A/2A/1A League this season was as impressive as Central.

The Falcons were 9-0 in the league, which earned them a spot in the annual county championship game against Bladensburg. The contest was scheduled for Wednesday evening after The Gazette went to press.

The Falcons enter the postseason with optimism after upending last year's County 3A/2A/1A League champ Crossland. But the league's lack of success in the playoffs is a looming concern.

"The [county] competition we played against during the season really doesn't stack up to the competition that we're going to be playing in the playoffs," said Central coach Karl Cain. "Basically how it goes is we beat everyone in Prince George's, and we're told that we can't match up against out-of-county teams. That's our challenge this year."

The Falcons will get their first taste of non-county competition on Tuesday in the 2A South Region playoffs, when top-seeded Central plays host to the winner of Friday's game between Glenelg and Long Reach.

Cain said senior captain and defender Kossi Aziakonou is back to full health after suffering from a lingering hamstring injury most of the season. Midfielder Milkayis Bayisa was the team's leading goal scorer with eight. Cain expects good efforts from standouts Souleymane Diallo, Floribet Musong and George Akobundu.

Elsewhere in the 2A South Region, No. 6 Gwynn Park hosts No. 11 Southern (Anne Arundel) on Friday in Brandywine, with the winner traveling to take on No. 3 Patuxent on Tuesday afternoon.

No. 12 seed Frederick Douglass travels to take on No. 5 McDonough on Friday, with the winner traveling to take on No. 4 Hammond on Tuesday.

1A South Region

Surrattsville has the No. 2 seed and will be at home Tuesday against No. 7 Carver of Baltimore. No. 6 Forestville will travel to take on No. 3 Pikesville on Tuesday afternoon. No. 8 Fairmont Heights hosts No. 9 Sparrows Point on Friday with the winner traveling to take on No. 1 seed Loch Raven Tuesday afternoon.

E-mail Terron Hampton at thampton@gazette.net.