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Less than a week removed from a 1-0 loss to Pocomoke in the Class 1A state semifinals, Brunswick High sophomore keeper Drew Howard is already itching to get back into the goal.

Though the disappointment of last Friday's season-ending loss at Washington College lingers, Howard and his teammates still treasure the program's first region title since 1990 and cannot wait to take another stab at a state championship.

"Right now I can't wait to get back onto the field and start playing," said Howard, who made 12 saves in the loss. "The confidence this run gave me is tremendous. Knowing we got this far in my first varsity season it makes me think of what we can do the next few years."

Pocomoke's Jordan Becker netted the game-winning score in the second half. On Saturday afternoon the Warriors (15-2-1) will vie for their fifth straight 1A state championship against Loch Raven at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County.

Few, except the Railroaders (8-6-2), imagined they could advance to state play. Brunswick finished the regular season at a less than impressive 5-6-2 and had dropped three straight matches. However the Railroaders lone loss to a 1A opponent was 2-0 setback against Williamsport on Oct. 12.

Drawing the third-seed in the 1A North, the Railroaders earned a first-round bye before throttling Joppatowne 10-0 in the quarters. They squeaked by Havre de Grace 2-1 on penalty kicks, then edged out Paterson Mill 2-1 for the region title on a pair of goals from freshman strike Drew Hemich, including a title-clinching penalty kick late in the second half.

Brunswick's historic run was built largely on the backs of underclassmen. Putnam routinely started a majority of seven freshman and sophomores, who thrived under the leadership of their senior colleagues. He also moved mush of the Railroaders' junior varsity for the postseason. Twelve of the 17 players listed on the Railroaders' varsity roster are eligible to return.

Demich paced Brunswick with 14 goals, seven of which occurred during the postseason. Howard recorded six shutouts.

"I don't think I could be any more proud of them," Putnam said. "I think about them and immediately a smile comes to my face. They had a great attitude the entire year. They worked hard no matter what the result of our games were."

The Railroaders don't plan on much of a vacation. Howard said he's already spoken to teammates about playing together over the winter at the Frederick SportsPlex and meeting for informal workout sessions.

"A lot of the guys who are underclassmen, were telling me after the game, and even on Monday, ‘don't worry coach, we're going to make another run,'" Putnam said.