Boys' Soccer Preview

Around the Area

Magruder's2007 season will be a hard one to top: The Colonels went 19-0, won the second state title in school history and never trailed an opponent. Magruder lost 37 goals in graduated All-Mets Alex Lee (Maryland) and Michael Lansing, but F-MF Ifiok Akpandak heads a team that will start as many as 10 seniors. . . . Look for Churchill, which lost 1-0 in overtime to Magruder in last season's region final, to be strong again, led by potent finisher Kevin Dansky (15 goals). Arnold Tarzy, who coached Freddy Adu when the phenom played for Potomac Soccer, takes over for Dave Kelley at Churchill. . . . Defending 3A state champion Bethesda-Chevy Chase, behind MF Ethan White, is also expected to be strong. . . .

River Hill began last season 1-4, then reeled off 15 straight wins and won the 2A state title. The strongest offensive players from that squad -- Jake Pace, Jon Talbot, Tony Riso, Moni Sallam -- are back, making the Hawks the favorite in Howard County. . . . Marriotts Ridge is also talented, behind standout senior forward Phil Martinelli, goalie Paul Killian and the return of junior D Nick Koutrelakos, who missed the second half of last season with a ruptured spleen. . . .

Severna Park and Broadneck lost eight and seven starters, respectively, from teams that went a combined 26-6-1. But with seniors Colin Lay (Severna Park) and Alex Workman (Broadneck) leading the offense for their respective squads, these two teams will likely battle for the county title come October. . . .

For the past two seasons, Gonzaga has won the WCAC, and last year's title was especially sweet: The Eagles beat DeMatha for the first time in five years, coming from two goals down to force overtime. Senior forwards Chris Perez and John McMurray (two goals in the title game) will key the Eagles' offense. . . . DeMatha should again be a title threat behind a slew of offensive weapons and stout defenders Tobi Iguade and William Gebelle. . . .

All-Met John Stertzer (43 goals, 19 assists last season), makes Flint Hill a dangerous squad, but if the Huskies are to capture another regular season MAC title, they'll need to contain Sidwell Friends. Sidwell manhandled Flint Hill, 5-0, in the tournament final and has one of the area's top goalies in Sam Kernan-Schloss. With scorers Nathaniel Howell and Frank Shaw back, the Quakers will be hard to slow. . . .

Georgetown Prep went 13-1-3 and won its second straight IAC crown last season, and despite the loss of goal machine Garvey Young, look for the Little Hoyas to shine behind senior MF Michael Hocker. . . .

In the DCIAA, Wilson and Bell Multicultural have won every title since 1995, with Wilson capturing last year's crown, 2-0 over Bell. Kenny Owens, a Wilson grad (1998) and former Georgetown and under-18 national team player, takes over as coach. The Tigers, however, graduated several key scorers and their starting goalie. . . .

Walkersville and Middletown are the class of the Frederick area teams, and Walkersville features talented MF Mattia Melillo, a national coaches' association academic all-American.

-- Dave Yanovitz

Player to Watch

MF Jake Pace, River Hill, Sr.

Built more like a football player (6 feet 2, 210 pounds), Pace's ability to outmuscle opponents has paid dividends for River Hill. Case in point: In overtime of last season's 2A state championship against Loch Raven, teammate Tony Riso sent a corner kick into the box. Pace freed himself from the Loch Raven players, then headed in the game-winner for River Hill's eighth state title since the school opened in 1996. He has signed with Maryland.

Dates

Sept. 9: Sidwell Friends at Flint Hill, 4:15

Oct. 2: Severna Park at Broadneck, 7

Oct. 16: Churchill at Magruder, 7

Oct. 24: DeMatha at Gonzaga, 4

Nov. 2: WCAC championship at Catholic University, TBA

Nov. 13-15: Maryland state championships at UMBC