More News

Undefeated.

You might hear the word tossed around from time to time, but it's usually a pipe dream in soccer. It's a game where the losing team can dominate, only to lose on a momentary lapse.

The Magruder boys team had no such lapses a year ago. It walked the hallowed grounds of immortality, going 19-0-0 en route to a Class 4A State Championship.

In setting school records for goals (85) and shutouts (12), the Colonels became one of the best public school squads in Montgomery County history, finishing the year ranked 10th in the nation by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America's high school boys soccer poll.

The problem with undefeated is, there's nowhere to go but down. The Colonels lost a ton of their big names to graduation, including All-Gazette first-teamers Alex and Justin Lee (Maryland and Penn State Universities, respectively) and Mike Lansing, not to mention Draymond Washington (George Mason), who tied a school record with 21 goals scored.

It's unlikely they'll be flawless again, but with a dynamic back in senior Ifiok Akpandak, several returning midfielders including senior Jeremy Moyer, and second-year starting goalkeeper Steve Magliaro, The Colonels have a chance to be great this season, too.

"Last year, I said something like ‘We have a confident, competent player at every position,' said Magruder head coach Steve Pfeil. "I still think that's true."

As great as the Colonels were a year ago, they came within an eyelash of falling to Churchill in the 4A West Region championship game, needing overtime to eke out a 1-0 victory.

The Bulldogs could be the preseason favorites in 4A this year, thanks in large part to fleet-footed senior striker Kevin Dansky, who scored 15 goals a year ago. The balanced lineup also returns center back Jamie LaFleur and another outstanding defender, senior Max Rutherford.

"I think we have some nice talent here, but there are no individual egos," said first-year Churchill head coach Arnold Tarzy. "We're going to be a very blue-collar team."

In a balanced 4A West Division, Whitman could again be one of the county's top teams, fresh off 10 wins, a division championship and a run to the regional semifinals. It returns one of the county's best players in Maryland commit Paul Torres, an All-Gazette first-team midfielder a year ago, who will create chances for returning striker Scott Gerfen and be joined in the backfield by D.C. United Academy teammate Dominick Yin.

"It's one of the youngest groups I've ever had," said Whitman head coach Dave Greene. "A lot of it will depend on how guys mesh with kids like Paul and Dominick."

Walter Johnson will be one of Whitman's stiffest competitions once again. The Wildcats won 11 games a year ago, and also trekked to the 4A West Region semifinals. Though they lose two-time All-Gazette striker Lucas Szabo, second-leading scorer Pablo Torano returns, as does exceptionally skilled midfielder Fabio Cardenas.

"The talent here is still good but I think all of the schools here are," said Walter Johnson head coach Mike Williams. "When you talk the Churchills, the Magruders, the Whitmans, I think all of us will always have a base of talent where we can all make a run."

Wootton lost arguably the top talent in the county with the graduation of midfielder Ryan Gracia, who trained at the U.S. Soccer Under-17 Residency Program in Bradenton, Fla., as a junior. But the Patriots return talented pieces, including senior midfielder Skylar Olson, who could be moved to the back, and promising junior forward Stephen Ho, who started a year ago.

"I think we have a starting 11 where every player that steps on the field, you'll say, ‘Okay, that's a player,'" said Wootton head coach Doug Schuessler.

Quince Orchard hasn't been in the county's elite like the aforementioned teams, but this year could be different. The Cougars have talented club-level players in D.C. United Academy U-15 Developmental center midfielder Nick Njuki and Potomac Academy back Josh Singer.

"Our thing is we haven't always had that," said Quince Orchard head coach Jim McEvoy. "We usually have maybe one or two, now we have seven or eight. We want to drum up the interest in guys to play club."

Rockville hopes to return to its winnings ways, a year after finishing last in the 3A/2A/1A West Division. Ravaged by injuries a year ago, the Rams have reason to be optimistic, with talented newcomers Adam Shrazi in the midfield and Rene Martinez in goal, along with returning forward Luis Rivera.

"Last year was our first really bad year" said Rockville head coach Abdel Makhlouf. "We've won some scrimmages, so I think this team can turn it around. We have some seniors this year who couldn't make it out last year, so I think with some them, I'm kind of putting the pieces together."

Over in the 3A/2A/1A East, Bethesda-Chevy Chase is coming off a really good year, a state championship-winning year, to be exact. The Barons' magic carpet ride included dramatic overtime victories over Watkins Mill and 3A North Region champion Franklin of Baltimore County, prior to a 1-0 title-winning ouster of Harford County's Bel Air.

Their two big guns from a year ago are back, leading scorer David Williams and All-Gazette first-team midfielder Ethan White, who recently committed to Maryland.

"We're looking good, man, really good," said B-CC head coach Sean Karns. "Ethan's back; I didn't even know he'd be back. And Dave, he's on fire right now. It's going to be fun."

Another returning champion with plentiful returning studs is Georgetown Prep, fresh off its second consecutive Interstate Athletic Conference title. Though Gazette Player of the Year Garvey Young is gone, the Little Hoyas have more than enough talent to make up for it.

Their midfield line is, simply put, probably the best in the state, anchored by explosive senior Mike Hocker, steady senior Andy Reimer and U-15 U.S. National-Team sophomore Nat Eggleston.

"It's hard to have that many at a high level," said Georgetown Prep head coach Guy Fraiture. "I'd have to go way back to think of a better group."

Their top competition will likely again be Landon, which split the 2006 crown with the Little Hoyas and finished second a year ago. It loses top midfielder John Tiernan, but with four-year varsity midfielder Ben Sandalow and returning starting goalkeeper Michael Gorrell, the Bears remain in good shape.

"On paper, Prep looks really good," said Landon head coach Bill Reed, "but anything can happen."

St. Andrew's had one of its best years ever in the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference, thanks in large part to graduated forward Ian Hendrie, who led the county with 34 goals. The Lions may be just as balanced this year, with returning striker Alexander Kurn (19 goals a year ago) and his basketball athleticism, along with improved junior midfielder Noah Platt.

"Last year was what I kind of called the perfect team," said St. Andrew's head coach Alex Haight. "But this year is going to be great. We only lost two seniors off last year's team."

Bethesda-Chevy Chase Barons

Head coach: Sean Karns, 2nd year

Last year's record: 12-3-2

Last state title: 2007 (5th)

Players to watch: Ethan White (Sr., M), David Williams (Sr., F)

Churchill Bulldogs

Head coach: Arnold Tarzy, 1st year

Last year's record: 12-4

Last state title: 2002 (7th)

Players to watch: Kevin Dansky (Sr., F), Max Rutherford (Sr., D)

Georgetown Prep Little Hoyas

Head coach: Guy Fraiture, 31th year

Last year's record: 13-1-3, IAC champions

League affiliation: Interstate Athletic Conference

Last conference title: 2007

Players to watch: Mike Hocker (Sr., M), Andy Reimer (Sr., M)

Walter Johnson Wildcats

Head coach: Mike Williams, 4th year

Last year's record: 11-4-1

Last state title: 2006 (3rd)

Players to watch: Fabio Cardenas (Sr., M), Pablo Torano (Sr., F)

Magruder Colonels

Head coach: Stephen Pfeil, 2nd year

Last year's record: 19-0

Last state title: 2007 (2nd)

Players to watch: Ifiok Akpandak (Sr., D), Steve Magliaro (Sr., G)

Quince Orchard Cougars

Head coach: Jim McEvoy, 3rd year

Last year's record: 3-8-3

Last state title: None

Players to watch: Nick Njuki (Soph., M), Malu Mbungi (Sr., M/F)

Rockville Rams

Head coach: Abdel Makhlouf, 8th year

Last year's record: 6-9

Last state title: 1996 (7th)

Players to watch: Rene Martinez (Sr., G), Luis Rivera (Sr., F)

St. Andrew's Lions

Head coach: Alex Haight

Last year's record: 13-4-2

Last conference title: N/A

Players to watch: Alexander Kurn (Sr., F), Noah Platt (Jr., M)

Whitman Vikings

Head coach: Dave Greene, 13th year

Last year's record: 10-5-2

Last state title: 2000 (7th)

Players to watch: Paul Torres (Sr., M), Dominick Yin (Jr., D)

Wootton Patriots

Head coach: Doug Schuessler, 12th year

Last year's record: 8-6-2

Last state title: None

Players to watch: Skylar Olson (Sr., M), Stephen Ho (Jr. F)