December 13, 1999|By RICK BELZ
Player of the Year
Adom Crew,
River Hill
Since coach Bill Stara often sat his starters when his team had a comfortable lead, Crew's significant totals of 15 goals and 16 assists could have been much higher. Crew (6 feet 1, 165 pounds), a three-time All-Metro first-team pick and two-time Howard County Player of the Year, led his team to its third straight No. 1 ranking, third straight state title and fourth straight state title game. The Hawks went 18-1 this season and were ranked No. 21 nationally. Over four seasons, the Hawks were 67-6, as Crew scored 56 goals and made 41 assists. Twice the senior forward was named to the All-State first team by the Maryland Association of Coaches of Soccer, and this season was named an All-American. He carries a weighted 4.56 grade-point average on a scale of 4.0, and scored 1,300 on his SAT. He has narrowed his college choices to Brown, Yale and Maryland.
Coach of the Year
Jeff Doolan,
Mount Hebron
Doolan possesses the ability to communicate and to motivate. Facing an internal crisis when his team started bickering following a 2-0 loss to Howard County rival Oakland Mills, the first-year head coach sent his team a message by walking out of practice, saying it didn't deserve a coach. The unorthodox move worked. The team righted itself, winning eight of its last nine games and the school's first state title. Doolan inherited a team that had lost three straight regional finals. His team ended that streak by defeating Centennial, 2-0. Mount Hebron edged James M. Bennett in the state final, 1-0, to finish the season 16-3. Doolan's smartest decision may have been moving Christian Chacon from offense to defense. As a sweeper, Chacon earned All-Metro first-team honors.
Steve Althoff,
Curley
Althoff again dominated the backfield for the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association champion Friars, who produced 13 shutouts and a 19-1-3 season, making them 36-2-4 with 30 shutouts over the past two seasons. Forced to work harder this season due to the graduation of three defenders, the senior repeatedly delivered the Friars from dangerous situations. "He is a tremendous leader and the MVP of our team," said Friars coach Pep Perrella. Althoff, 6-1, 185 pounds, a two-time All-Metro and MACS All-State selection, also won most balls in the air. He scored three goals and had one assist.
Kaiser Chowdhry,
McDonogh
He earned his second All-Metro selection by continuing to pressure defenses with his speed and knack for going to goal. His 17 goals and eight assists helped this season's less-experienced Eagles squad again reach the MIAA finals against Curley. In a regular-season 2-2 tie with Curley, the 5-8, 152-pound junior forward scored both goals. "He's always dangerous and no fun to play against," said Eagles coach Steve Nichols. Chowdhry, also selected to the MACS All-State first team, has a 3.7 GPA. He has played at the state, regional and national Olympic Development Program levels.
Devin Barclay,
McDonogh
Difficult to contain, Barclay is a total package of speed, technique and toughness. He played his best in big games and had two assists against Loyola in the MIAA playoffs. The 5-8, 145-pound sophomore midfielder can attack, defend, hold the ball, dribble past multiple defenders, is dangerous on set pieces and strong in the air. After a 12-goal, 11-assist freshman season, he moved from forward to midfield this season and produced five goals and a school-record 19 assists. Barclay, an MACS All-State first-team selection, is a five-year regional ODP player who made the under-17 national pool Thanksgiving weekend in Cocoa Beach, Fla.
Chris Ebeling,
Oakland Mills
The four-year starter had only four goals scored on him this season, as the Scorpions went 17-1-1 and repeated as Class 1A state champions by not allowing a goal during the five-game playoffs. Ebeling made his three most crucial saves during a 13-penalty-kick shootout against Glenelg in a first-round regional playoff game, including one on Glenelg's final shot. He made two saves on breakaways during a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Howard, and also excelled in a 1-0 regional championship win over Poolesville and a 2-0 win over Class 2A state champion Mount Hebron. He had 11 shutouts.
Christian Chacon,
Mount Hebron
He scored the game-winning goal off an 18-yard direct kick in a 2-0 regional championship victory over Centennial, ending a three-year streak of Vikings losses in regional title games. His powerful left foot, speed and good size (6-0, 170 pounds) led the Class 2A state champion Vikings to 13 shutouts. They were unscored upon during the five-game playoffs. A four-year varsity starter, he moved from offense to defense this season. "He was a huge factor in our season by solidifying our back," said coach Jeff Doolan. Chacon scored eight goals and had four assists. An MACS All-State second-team pick, he has a 4.19 GPA.
Justin Gotis,
River Hill
