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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."

Sandy Spring Friends knows a thing or two about perfection; prior to a 2-1 loss to St. Andrew's in 2006, the Wildebeest hadn't lost in 32 consecutive games, dating back to 2004.

Last season was the first in four that the 'Beest didn't won the Potomac Valley Athletic Conference tournament. While they have to replace holding midfielder and St. Francis (Pa.) signee Aaron Lewis, the first Division I commit in school history, they have the talent to achieve similar success.

Goalkeeper Sam Schneider is getting attention from schools such as Ohio State and Virginia Tech, while junior striker Luke Savonis and freshman Braden Kelly will put plenty of points on the board.

"I think each championship season carried kind of a burden to repeat it," said Sandy Spring Friends head coach Eduardo Polon. "This feels kind of refreshing."

Right next door, 2004 and '05 were also banner years for Sherwood, who won consecutive 4A championships. The last two years have brought them back to the pack, but exciting senior midfielder Jeffrey Juarez and junior goalkeeper Drew Hock return in the starting lineup, and precocious sophomore midfielder Tyler Rudy will also look to help the Warriors build on their 10-win season a year ago.

"This is going to be a team where we're going to play more of possession soccer," said Sherwood head coach Hector Morales, "kind of like those teams we had back then. We'll try to sneak one in when we can. I honestly don't see us being the type of team to lead the county in goals, but I'd love to see us leading the county in fewest goals against."

Wheaton head coach Oscar Amaguana feels his Knights can reach similar heights. They came on towards the end of last year, winning a first-round playoff game over 3A/2A/1A East Division champion Seneca Valley. A sophomore-laden club a year ago, they return almost every important player, including junior forward Adriel DeSouza and senior attacker Hayder Pajaro, along with defenders Elvis Cerpas and Jonathan Martinez.

"I told these kids there's no reason we can't win a regional title," Amaguana said. "You've got to set your goals high. We've got a lot of speed. I think it might take us a while, but I honestly believe once we get it going, we're going to be really good."

Good Counsel figures to be improved from its six-win finish a year ago. Also starting mostly underclassmen, the Falcons will incorporate dynamic club-level players into their starting lineup. U.S. U-15 National Team player Michael Harris up top and fellow freshman midfielder Brian Saway will complement their top returning player from a year ago, midfielder Hugh Roberts.

"My team is looking very good, man, very, very good," said Falcons head coach Julio Zarate. "I'm telling you, this team is going to surprise some people. We want to play like my [Pachuca club team] Dragons play, you know, exciting soccer."

Rockville hopes to become a similar revelation, a year after winning just six games and finishing last in the 3A/2A/1A West Division. Ravaged by injuries a year ago, including a season-ending blow to two-year starting goalkeeper Phillip Dabny, it has reason to be optimistic this go-round.

With talented newcomers Adam Shrazi in the midfield and Rene Martinez in goal, along with returning forward Luis Rivera, don't be surprised to see the Rams flip-flop positions in the standings.

"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."

Blair was one of the county's best teams in 2006, winning its first 13 games of the season. After just three wins last fall, it has the weapons to return to the top.

D.C. United Academy player and senior Mikey Funes returns after spending his junior year at Magruder while Matt McLain, the Blazers' leading goal-scorer from a year ago, is also back. Angular midfielder Greg Kohn also returns to the starting lineup, and is expected to be one of the team's primary playmakers.

Defender Eric Hernandez rounds out a unit head coach Adrian Baez feels can keep his team competitive "under the radar."

"We're a better team, definitely," said Baez. "If we can stay healthy, maybe we can pull a rabbit out of our hat. Obviously, we have Whitman, Sherwood, Magruder — some really tough teams — in our division. If we can hang in there with those teams, and I think we can, we're trying for the top of the division."

Like the Blazers, Paint Branch faltered in 2007 after a successful '06, when it reached the 3A West Region title game. It lost standout goalkeeper Michael Brown, but third-year starter and leading goal-scorer Edwin Granados returns with midfielder Farid Boualam to give the Panthers hopes this fall.

The biggest — pun intended — addition could be 6-foot-4 senior goalkeeper Cody Burns, a starting center in basketball and former All-Gazette first-team volleyball player whose pterodactyl wingspan could cause nightmares for opposing attacks.

"My assistant coach turned Michael Brown into player he was, and Cody's definitely still a work in progress, but we've got a lot to work with," said Paint Branch head coach Mike Kogok. "It all comes down to the defense around him. I won't predict that we'll be at the top, but I certainly wouldn't predict we'd be at the bottom."

Blair Blazers

Head coach: Adrian Baez, 10th year

Last year's record: 3-9-1

Last state title: 1975 (1st)

Players to watch: Mikey Funes (Sr., F), Matt McLain (Sr., F)

Good Counsel Falcons

Head coach: Julio Zarate, 3rd year

Last year's record: 6-18-1

League affiliation: Washington Catholic Athletic Conference

Last conference title: 1989

Players to watch: Michael Harris (Fr., F), Hugh Roberts (Sr., M)

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)

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)

Paint Branch Panthers

Head coach: Mike Kogok, 3rd year

Last year's record: 6-8-1

Last state title: None

Players to watch: Edwin Granados (Sr., F), Cody Burns (Sr., G)

Sandy Spring Friends Wildebeest

Head coach: Eduardo Polon, 13th year

Last year's record: 9-4-3

League affiliation: Potomac Valley Athletic Conference

Last conference title: 2006

Players to watch: Sam Schneider (Sr., G), Luke Savonis (Jr., F)

Sherwood Warriors

Head coach: Hector Morales, 8th year

Last year's record: 10-6

Last state title: 2005 (6th)

Players to watch: Jeffrey Juarez (Sr., M), Drew Hock (Jr., G)

Wheaton Knights

Head coach: Oscar Amaguana, 11th year

Last year's record: 4-8-2

Last state title: None

Players to watch: Adriel DeSouza (Jr., F), Hayder Pajaro (Sr., F)