Soccer

SATURDAY'S HIGHLIGHTS M. bask. UNC-Asheville@Ohio State BIGTENNoon East Carolina@North Carolina ESPNUNoon Akron@Detroit Mercy FCSNoon Western Carolina@Georgetown MASNNoon Crossroads: Butler vs. Indiana 13, 92 Marshall vs Cincinnati CBSSN2 Oklahoma vs. Texas A&M ESPNU2 Big Four: Iowa vs. Northern Iowa BIGTEN2:30 Louisville@Memphis FCS2:30 ...

Three former Aberdeen Eagles played a significant role in the success of the 1975 men's socer team at Pfeiffer University that recently was voted into the Misenheimer, N.C., school's hall of fame. Robert Hinch and Roger Gompers both played on the attack and Alfred Kaye played defense. All three were four-year starters for Pfeiffer from 1975 through 1978. In the history of the Pfeiffer men's soccer program, the 1975 team ranks at the top of some rankings. They rank first for goals scored in a season-90; goals scored in a game-15; and tied for most wins in a season-13.

College football Navy LB Wetzel chosen as FBS Independent Player of the Week Navy senior linebacker Keegan Wetzel was named Football Bowl Subdivision Independent Player of the Week for games played Nov. 24 to Dec. 8. Wetzel set a career high with 11 tackles Saturday, including 1.5 tackles for loss, helping the Midshipmen to a 17-13 win over Army at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia to clinch the Commander in Chief's Trophy....

Three area soccer standouts were named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) High School All-America Teams.  Loyola senior defender Michael DeGraffenreidt and Archbishop Curley's Michael Sauers were named to the boys' team, while McDonogh junior midfielder Anna Bialczak made the girls team. DeGraffenreidt, who was named The Sun's All-Metro Player of the Year, led the No. 1 Dons to the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference championship this fall.   The four-year starter is set to play at Lousville.

1. River Hill (19-0) 2. Archbishop Spalding (15-3-3) 3. South River (18-2) 4. McDonogh (16-3) 5. C. Milton Wright (17-2-1) 6. Arundel (16-2) 7. Fallston (14-3-2) 8. Catonsville (14-2) 9. Eastern Tech (13-1-2) 10. Perry Hall (10-4-2) 11. Atholton (10-6) 12. Broadneck (11-3-2) 13. Long Reach (12-6) 14. Manchester Valley (13-3-2) 15. Century (9-4-2) Other teams considered: Chesapeake-AA (10-5-1), Institute of Notre Dame (15-4-1), John Carroll (10-8-1)

Kevin Flynn Marriotts Ridge Flynn led the Mustangs to their fourth consecutive Class 2A state championship, joining Pocomoke, River Hill and Wilde Lake as the only boys soccer programs in Maryland history to win four straight titles. Marriotts Ridge dominated Queen Anne's, 4-0, last month at UMBC Stadium to win this year's title. The Mustangs finished the season with a 17-0 record, extending their unbeaten streak to 24 games. "Every state title is hard, you don't take any of them for granted," Flynn said.

Alli Cislo, Old Mill, forward, senior Megan Frailer, Fallston, forward, senior Alex Hamer, River Hill, forward, sophomore Katrina Macadoff, Atholton, forward, senior Ellie McNulty, Broadneck, forward, junior Ariana Rinda, Westminster, forward, senior Teresa Berg, Bel Air, midfielder, senior Gracyn Bryant, Archbishop Spalding, midfielder, senior Eliza Harris, Friends, midfielder, junior Danielle Hogarth, Bryn Mawr, midfielder,...

Michael DeGraffenreidt Loyola, defender, senior With the ability to completely take over the game, DeGraffenreidt entrenched himself this season as one of the top players in the nation. DeGraffenreidt anchored the Dons' defense to the second best goals-against average in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference and led the team to two shutouts in the playoffs en route to its first league championship since 2005. "Michael DeGraffenreidt is perhaps the best defensive player in high school soccer in the country," Dons coach Lee Tschantret said.

John Sis South River The No. 4 Seahawks (18-2) faced a number of obstacles -- injuries, tough competition in Anne Arundel County and two second-half deficits in the postseason -- but they were able to successfully fend off each to claim county, Class 4A East regional and state titles. South River's strong team play was on full display when the Seahawks came from behind to knock off four-time defending Class 4A state champion Bethesda-Chevy Chase in penalty kicks to claim the program's third title and first since 1997.