Century
Coach: Scott Booker, ninth year
Last year's record: 10-6-2, 3-4 county
First game: Sept. 2 vs. Glen Burnie, 6:30
Key losses: Chris Gladden, Sawyer Kennell, Jordan Hunt, Austin McClelland, Anthony Palatella, Matt Pfarr, Matt Schrodel, Brian Smith
Key returners: Sean Lippincott, senior D; Chris Yanchoris, junior MF.
Outlook: Century made a regional playoff run last fall all the way to the 2A West final, where Middletown prevailed 2-1. Now the Knights look to move forward after losing 12 seniors to graduation, but they return their leading scorer in Yanchoris. "We've been very pleased with their work rate and development," Booker said via email.
Francis Scott Key
Coach: Larry Haines, 3rd year
Last year's record: 7-6, 3-4 county
First game: Sept. 6 vs. Catoctin, 6:30
Key losses: Devin Cole, Garrison Cook, Trent Copenhaver, Jake Gosselin, Ethan Rhoten
Key returners: Wilfredo Flores, senior MF; Nicholas Haines, junior MF; Skylar Larkin, senior GK; Liam Risell, senior D; Luke VanderMeulen, senior D.
Outlook: The Eagles will have a new look this fall, Haines said via email, and a major point of emphasis will be replacing the reigning Times Player of the Year in Gosselin (20 goals, 44 points). Rhoten's graduation may also be felt (he had 102 saves in 2015). "This season will be about the growth of our athletes," Haines said.
Liberty
Coach: David Abarbanel, third year
Last year's record: 7-7-2, 5-2 county
First game: Sept. 2 vs. Westminster at River Hill tournament, 5:30
Key losses: Jack Boyer, Matt Hawkins, Brendan Sudol, Ryan Turlik
Key returners: Justin Brookhart, senior GK; Zach Brumbalow, senior D; Tony Cirri, senior MF/F; Chris Martin, senior D/MF.
Outlook: The Lions won the 2015 county title in thrilling fashion, a 1-0 victory over rival South Carroll. They'll look to repeat with several veterans leading the way. Brumbalow earned Times all-county first-team honors last fall on defense, but Liberty lost its top two scorers in Turlik (six goals, five assists) and Boyer (five, seven).
Manchester Valley
Coach: Andrew Harrell, first year
Last year's record: 4-10, 1-6 county
First game: Sept. 6 at Patterson Mill, 6:45
Key losses: Colin Piper, Mitch Rickabaugh
Key returners: Trent Gardner, senior MF; Elijah Houck, senior D; Jake Meredith, senior MF; Griffin Potter, junior GK; Vilius Matalavage, junior F.
Outlook: Harrell comes over from North Carroll, as do standouts such as forward Austin Lowe, goalie Cameron Keith, and defender Nik Gordon, to name a few. Keith had 72 saves and a 77.7 save percentage for the 1A state champs. "We're hoping to find our identity early and hit our stride throughout the season," Harrell said via email.
South Carroll
Coach: Tim Novotny, 9th year
Last year's record: 9-5-2, 5-1-1 county
First game: Sept. 3 vs. Chesapeake at Chesapeake tourney, 5
Key losses: Ethan Gass, Nick Ellis
Key returners: Spencer Gleeson, senior D; Kevin Morris, senior MF; Chris Nunez, senior GK.
Outlook: Ellis (five goals, six assists) and Gass (eight, three) both earned Times first-team all-county honors in 2015, so the Cavaliers have some talent to replace. Morris netted five goals last fall and is SC's leading returning scorer, while Nunez had a 76.3 save percentage in goal. "The expectations are high for the team," Novotny said via email.
Westminster
Coach: Robert "Bird" Brown, third year
Last year's record: 10-6-1, 4-2-1 county
First game: Sept. 2 vs. Liberty at River Hill tourney, 5:30
Key losses: Justin Buberl, Dam Rampolla, Blake Ruby, Robby Walsh
Key returners: Joey Conklin, senior GK; Logan Imbraguglio, senior MF; Ryan Mills, senior D; Sam Schoberg, senior MF/D; R.P. Walsh, senior D.
Outlook: Last fall ended with the Owls holding eventual state champ Oakdale scoreless until the final seconds before losing 1-0, and Brown said via email Westminster is building off that loss for a better finish in 2016. He'll look to find a replacement for Buberl, the county's assists leader (13), and Rampolla (nine goals, 20 points).
Winters Mill
Coach: Kirk Kucharski, first year
Last year's record: 4-9, 2-5 county
First game: Sept. 3 at Chesapeake-AA, 7
Key losses: Kyle Golden, Tim Johnson, Brendan Kemp
Key returners: Tommy Alascia, senior D; Ryan Kurtz, senior MF; Danny Over, senior MF; Jacob Paschall, senior F; Cade Zophy, senior D.
Outlook: The Falcons' fitness level is high, Kucharski said via email, and that usually goes a long way in soccer. WM's new coach, who replaces Andy Hicks, returns a bulk of talent. Paschall led the Falcons in scoring a year ago (nine goals, two assists) while Alascia earned Times first-team all-county honors.
—Compiled by Pat Stoetzer
