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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 be the 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.

Girls teams have top seeds

Two County 3A/2A/1A League girls' soccer teams earned top seeds in their respective brackets. Forestville will travel to Owings Mills on Tuesday for a 1A South Region quarterfinal. Gwynn Park is the top seed in the 2A South Region.

Gwynn Park was slated to play Bowie in the county title game Wednesday evening after The Gazette went to press. Late last week, it appeared the Yellow Jackets had been bumped from the county title game in favor of Forestville.

Gwynn Park was forced to forfeit an 8-0 win against Surrattsville for using an ineligible player. That temporarily made Forestville the winner of the County 3A/2A/1A League. But Forestville reported its overall record to the county, and participants in the county title game are determined only by county league records. Both teams were 7-1 in the County 3A/2A/1A League, and Gwynn Park beat Forestville 2-0 in their only meeting. That gave the Yellow Jackets the county title game berth.

Gwynn Park coach Olufolajimi Gbadamosi and his team had been eying a rematch against Bowie all season.

"We were looking forward to playing Bowie and getting a measuring stick of just how far we have come," he said. "We lost to them 6-0 last year, but we've improved. Our girls have put in a lot of hard work this year."

Gwynn Park will open the 2A South playoffs at home on Tuesday against the winner of Friday's Long Reach-Southern game. Elsewhere in the 2A South, Frederick Douglass will travel to Hammond on Friday, with the winner slated to face Marriotts Ridge on Tuesday. Central will travel to Oakland Mills on Friday, with the winner going to Glenelg on Tuesday.