McDonogh's Marquez Fernandez is the All-Metro Player of the Year for boys soccer. (Baltimore Sun photo by Gene Sweeney Jr. / December 2, 2008) |
Player of the Year
Marquez Fernandez
McDonogh, defender
Fernandez was one of the main cogs in McDonogh's 20-1 season and second consecutive Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference championship.
Fernandez is considered one of the top high school players in the nation. A defender, he moved forward to score 10 goals and anchored the back line for the Eagles, who had 16 shutouts. The junior also had the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Archbishop Curley in the conference semifinals.
McDonogh's only loss this season was against Perry Hall, a game in which Fernandez did not play. He has drawn interest from the U.S. national team and participated in the Adidas/ESP camp over the summer, which invites the top 110 high school players in the country.
Fernandez also led the Baltimore Bays to back-to-back national club championships.
"In most publications, he is considered the best defender in the country for his age group," McDonogh coach Steve Nichols said. "He is special. We probably can't win without Marquez. He has that special quality not many guys have."
Fernandez is expected to draw interest from some of the nation's top colleges.
Coach of the Year
Danny Skelton
Perry Hall
Expectations were high entering the season for Perry Hall, which finished last year with an 18-2 record and a state final appearance. Skelton and his squad embraced the challenge and were determined to prove they were among the elite programs in the state. The Gators finished this season 17-3 and were a state finalist for the second consecutive year.
Perry Hall opened the season with a stunning 2-1 victory over No. 1 McDonogh and another big win over a tough Urbana team. The Gators also avenged last season's loss to Magruder in the state championship game, beating the Colonels in the state semifinals on penalty kicks.
"The team's confidence grew as the season went on, and we developed into a very solid possession-oriented team that took pride in playing soccer the way it should be played," Skelton said. "We knew coming into the season that we would be a different team from last year, in that we would have to rely more on our skill than our size and athleticism that carried us last year."
Skelton attributes this year's success to overall chemistry and the work the players did in practice. The team was led by goalie Zach Kane, who had 12 shutouts, and strikers Joe Glos and Kevin Medrano. Phil Saunders helped anchor the back line and had 11 assists.
Marquez Fernandez
McDonogh, defender
Fernandez was one of the main cogs in McDonogh's 20-1 season and second consecutive Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference championship.
Fernandez is considered one of the top high school players in the nation. A defender, he moved forward to score 10 goals and anchored the back line for the Eagles, who had 16 shutouts. The junior also had the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Archbishop Curley in the conference semifinals.
McDonogh's only loss this season was against Perry Hall, a game in which Fernandez did not play. He has drawn interest from the U.S. national team and participated in the Adidas/ESP camp over the summer, which invites the top 110 high school players in the country.
Fernandez also led the Baltimore Bays to back-to-back national club championships.
"In most publications, he is considered the best defender in the country for his age group," McDonogh coach Steve Nichols said. "He is special. We probably can't win without Marquez. He has that special quality not many guys have."
Fernandez is expected to draw interest from some of the nation's top colleges.
Coach of the Year
Danny Skelton
Perry Hall
Expectations were high entering the season for Perry Hall, which finished last year with an 18-2 record and a state final appearance. Skelton and his squad embraced the challenge and were determined to prove they were among the elite programs in the state. The Gators finished this season 17-3 and were a state finalist for the second consecutive year.
Perry Hall opened the season with a stunning 2-1 victory over No. 1 McDonogh and another big win over a tough Urbana team. The Gators also avenged last season's loss to Magruder in the state championship game, beating the Colonels in the state semifinals on penalty kicks.
"The team's confidence grew as the season went on, and we developed into a very solid possession-oriented team that took pride in playing soccer the way it should be played," Skelton said. "We knew coming into the season that we would be a different team from last year, in that we would have to rely more on our skill than our size and athleticism that carried us last year."
Skelton attributes this year's success to overall chemistry and the work the players did in practice. The team was led by goalie Zach Kane, who had 12 shutouts, and strikers Joe Glos and Kevin Medrano. Phil Saunders helped anchor the back line and had 11 assists.
The Baltimore Sun's All-Metro selections in baseball, softball, boys and girls lacrosse, and boys and girls track and field. Other teams are listed below:
