Coach: Chuck Beaver, eighth year
Assistant coaches: Fran McCullin
Last year's record: 5-7 overall, 5-1 and second in the Central Maryland Conference, 2-3 and third in the county
Top returnees: Seniors, forward Darby Ashmore, forward Chuck Breidenbach, halfback Eric Farrow, halfback Matt Avery, halfback David Brewer, halfback Rob Bauhof, goalkeeper Mark Myers, fullback Dale Sullivan; junior, halfback Tony Fiore
Top newcomers: Juniors, fullback Scott Smith, fullback Chris Maynard, fullback Chris Ahrens, fullback Jeff Seaman
Coach's comments: "The thing we need to work on most is finding a proven finisher. We've got players capable of doing the job, it's just a matter of them putting it in the net. We'll use different combinations and find the one that's working best."
The Carroll County Sun's outlook: The Owls finished last season on a high note, winning four of its last six and coming within a whisker of beating Liberty (a 2-1 overtime loss) for the Central Maryland Conference title. Beaver is hoping the Owls can carry that late season surge over to this year. The Owls enter the season with an almost entirely new defense, only goalie Myers and fullback Sullivan return. Beaver appears more concerned with finding a reliable goal scorer. With experience up front, Beaver may not need one single scoring threat. He has a number of returning forwards and midfielders he is hoping can step up and do the job. The young defense will be the key, how soon they gel will tell the tale of the Westminster season.
