Boys soccer: Players to watch

OUMAR BALLO

•Archbishop Curley, defense

•Few players can dominate a game in the back, but the gifted junior sweeper does just that with fine size, speed and skills to go with smart decision-making.

GEATON CALTABIANO

•Mount St. Joseph, midfield

•One of the area's most creative midfielders, the dynamic junior will be in the middle of the Gaels' success on offense this fall.

JOHN CONNOLLY

•Archbishop Curley, goalkeeper

•The ultimate safety valve, the four-year senior is sound tactically, keeps the Friars' back line organized and has the invaluable experience of playing in the past two MIAA A Conference title games.

MAMADOU KANSAYE

•McDonogh, midfield

•Fresh off helping the Bays' under-15 club team to a national championship this summer, the junior standout is primed to emerge as a go-to player for the MIAA AConference champion Eagles.

PAUL KWENAH

•Poly, midfield

•Able to take over games with his fine ability to finish (13 goals last season), the talented senior has the Engineers in position to successfully defend their Baltimore City championship.

PHIL MARTINELLI

•Marriotts Ridge, midfield

•The play-making senior (seven goals, nineassists last season) controls the middle of the field and has the Mustangs primed for a run at River Hill for bragging rights in Howard County.

GARRETT NICKLES

•Mount Hebron, midfield

•An important piece of the Vikings' state championship team in 2006, the senior midfielder brings experience, consistency and a relentless work rate.

JAKE PACE

•River Hill, midfield

•The Maryland-bound senior (nine goals, nine assists last season) is one of the area's most versatile players, doing a lot of everything all over the field in leading the Hawks to last year's Class 2A state title.

BEN TRITSCH

•Bel Air, midfield

•A senior in his third season as a starter, Tritsch will be counted on for steady play and a knack for scoring timely goals, as the Bobcats look to take it one more step after reaching the Class 3A state final last season.

ALEX WORKMAN

•Broadneck, midfield

•A four-year varsity player and two-time captain, Workman brings relentless effort in the middle with sound, physical play.

Other Notables

•Josh Chellah, Long Reach; Matt Evans, Liberty; Marquez Fernandez, McDonogh; Matt Jablonski, Loyola; David Janati, Oakland Mills; Zach Kane, Perry Hall; Paul Killian, Marriotts Ridge; Daniel Koch, Reservoir; Mike Krebs, C. Milton Wright; Colin Lay, Severna Park; Luke Maslow, Franklin; Greg McBride, Gilman; Miguel Medrano, Perry Hall; Joseph Meyer, McDonogh; Joe Mirabile, Poly; Tim Peitsch, Loyola; Connor Rigby, Liberty; Tony Riso, River Hill; Phil Saunders, Perry Hall; Guy Skord, Broadneck; Josh Stover, Marriotts Ridge; Jon Talbot, River Hill; Mikias Teketele, Archbishop Curley; Joe Vidmar, McDonogh; Matt Yates, Franklin