Centennial and Oakland Mills, two teams that are no strangers to state championship soccer games, are charged up and ready for tomorrow's playoffs at Old Mill.
The Class 2A game at noon features Oakland Mills and Middletown of Frederick County. Centennial takes on C. Milton Wright at 5 p.m. in the Class 3A championship game.
Both Centennial and Oakland Mills have an ax to grind.
A year ago, Oakland Mills lost to Glenelg in the region finals, ending a 6-5-2 season.
Centennial had a strong 1993 season at 13-2-1, but lost to Whitman in the state final. It marked the first year since 1978 that a Howard County team did not win a state boys soccer championship.
Oakland Mills (14-2) started with low expectations after last season's disappointment, and the Scorpions have surprised many people by losing only to Centennial and Loyola.
The Scorpions start five seniors, five juniors and one sophomore: junior defenders Simon Bwalya, Mark Zirkle, Dan Stoutenborough and Paul Sanin; senior goalkeeper Kyle Stephens; senior midfielders Keith Murphy, Mike Jenkins and Kevin Gardner; sophomore midfielder Jason Gotis; senior forward Matt Sutton and junior forward Zuri Barnes.
Senior midfielder/striker Matt Cartwright, senior striker Robert Atkins and junior fullback Chris Miller are key subs.
Bwalya leads the team with eight goals and two assists. Barnes is next with six goals and eight assists. They are followed by Gotis (3, 7), Murphy (2, 7), Jenkins (3, 4) and Stoutenborough (4, 2).
Coach Don Shea likes knowing that 15 different players have scored
and that the Scorpions have allowed only two second-half goals this season. They've outscored their opponents, 42-9, and have 10 shutouts. They are unscored upon in four playoff games and have won five 1-0 games.
Stephens, who has allowed two goals, split time at goalkeeper with Aaron Dane until the playoffs when Stephens took over full time.
"We have 16 juniors and were built for next year," Shea said. "Traditionally, juniors don't win state championships."
This is not one of Oakland Mills' most skilled teams, but it compensates with a high work ethic, fitness and heart.
"I always felt that if you were fit and had the right attitude you could win a lot of games," Shea said.
Oakland Mills has won seven state titles -- more than any other Maryland school. Its last state title was in 1990. It lost in the state semifinals in 1992.
Middletown (14-0-2) is the defending state champ and starts 10 seniors. This will be the Knights' 10th trip to the championship, where they've won three times.
"They are a stylish team, a lot like Wilde Lake," Shea said. "They are supposed to be slow across the back, so we are hoping our speed up top can get them."
Centennial (14-0-2), fresh off a 2-1 overtime victory over Whitman in the semifinals, makes its fourth straight trip to the championship. It won in 1991 and 1992, as well as in 1983, 1984 and 1987.
The Eagles, ranked No. 22 in the nation by the UMBRO coaches poll, must overcome a C. Milton Wright team that has tied them two straight years in regular-season games.
Centennial senior goalkeeper Brock Yetso fought off a concussion in overtime to save the tie this sea
son. He has eight shutouts, and no team has scored more than one goal. Centennial has outscored its opponents, 41-8.
The Eagles are young, starting three seniors, four juniors and four sophomores. But they have an all-star cast of players.
In addition to Yetso, junior striker Brian West, sophomore striker Matt Stephenson, and sophomore midfielder Matt Laycock are national team players. And sophomore sweeper Ben Stephenson is a regional team player.
Centennial's strength is defense. In addition to Yetso and Ben Stephenson, the Eagles have junior Kumi Walker and sophomore Cort Yetso as the marking backs, and senior stopper Doug Ulman, who is the team captain.
The Eagles' midfield has senior Kris Dramby, one of the league's
most creative players; junior Cory Piette, who is talented with either foot; junior Mike McDonald, whose strength is defense, and either Laycock or sophomore Brian Otten.
The strikers are West, an All-Metro selection last season, and Matt Stephenson. Senior Brad Terrill can start at striker or midfield, but has been injured recently. Junior Andrew Peverly is one of the first players off the bench.
Centennial's only losses in the past four seasons were two games to Whitman last season.
No. 5 C. Milton Wright (12-1-4) has played a rugged schedule that included Centennial, No. 3 Calvert Hall and No. 6 North Harford.
"They are a hard-working team that plays well together," Centennial coach Bill Stara said.
C. Milton Wright lost in the finals in 1987.