Players To Watch

Boys Soccer

Scott DeFrances

Atholton, sweeper

The senior led the Raiders to their first regional title since 1990. After he moved to sweeper, they won eight of their last 10 games.

Akira Fitzgerald

Loyola, goalkeeper

The All-Metro pick's sensational play led the Dons to a school-record 17 wins. The fearless, agile junior should keep the Dons in most games.

T. J. Jager

Loch Raven, sweeper

He led his team to the state semifinals for the first time in 23 years. Dangerous on set pieces, the senior scored a team-high 10 goals and had 15 assists.

Sean Locklear

Liberty, midfielder

The senior makes things happen in the middle for the defending Carroll County champs, and hopes to improve upon his 10-goal, nine-assist performance last season.

Nino Mangione

Calvert Hall, sweeper

After the senior moved to sweeper late in the season, the Cardinals made a run that carried them to their second straight MIAA A Conference title.

Steve Romeo

Century, midfielder

Highly skilled, his superior field vision helps him distribute well. The senior had 11 assists while leading the Knights to a Class 2A state title.

Jeremy Smith

River Hill, forward

A strong finisher inside the 18-yard box, the senior was second in Howard County in scoring with 12 goals and nine assists for the Class 3A state co-champs.

Josh Taylor

Archbishop Curley, sweeper

He missed the Friars' semifinal MIAA A Conference tournament loss with a knee injury, but the fourth-year varsity starter anchored a defense that posted 10 shutouts.

Justin Turco

Archbishop Spalding, forward

A first-team MIAA selection and second-team All-Metro and All-State pick, the senior speedster scored 25 goals and had four assists for the Cavaliers.

Tyler Zentz

Towson, forward/midfielder

A second-team All-Metro pick, the four-year starter was the second-leading scorer for the Class 3A state co-champs as he scored 14 goals and six assists.

Other notables

Antonio Alamario, River Hill; Dan Bailey, C. Milton Wright; Graham Becker, Hereford; Taylor Van Brackle, Liberty; Theo Byrd, River Hill; Rob Carper, Mount Hebron; Kevin Chapman, Century; Luke Cox, Eastern Tech; Mike Deasel, Loyola; Max Dell, Catonsville; Greg Fenton, Severna Park; Brandon Fischer, Fallston; Brendon Foard, Dundalk; Kevin Gibson, Oakland Mills; Matt Higgins, Franklin; Tyler Hodgins, Dulaney; Shawn Houseknecht, Archbishop Curley; Jay Huntley, Broadneck; Chris Jones, Century; Stephen King, Archbishop Curley; Seth Michael, Glenelg; Evan Minarik, Fallston; Eric Mullins, Mount St. Joseph; Michael Novotny, Towson; Dominic Pagliaro, Kenwood; Kyle Quigley, Severna Park; Mike Ratcliffe, Perry Hall; Eric Shadoff, Mount Hebron; Brandon Smith, Glen Burnie; Brent Snyder, Patapsco; Kyle Wittman, Calvert Hall; Andy Wilhelm, Centennial; Taylor Young, Severna Park.