Carver Bears
1994 record: 4-8. Coach: Jason Green.
Top players: William Butler, Sr., M; Carl Hutley, Sr., M; Antwaan Bennett, Jr., D; Brandon Summers, Jr., G.
Outlook: The Bears have won four games in each of the last two seasons for a combined 8-14 record. They were 4-4 last year before losing their last four games, but return all but two graduates. "I'm changing my name to Doctor Frankenstein, because all I do is create monsters," said Green, a former middle school league coach. "Some of the kids played in middle school. I'm very proud of our attack, which I think is second to none. I think I have the best keeper in the city."
City Knights
1994 record: 6-6. Coach: George Petrides.
Top players: Frank Hutson, Sr., D; Chris Cranson, Sr., M; Aaron Roberts, Sr., M.
Outlook: Two years after splitting the league crown with Forest Park and Poly, coach Petrides faces this season with an underclassmen-laden lineup. "Three of four defensemen, and four of six midfielders are ninth-graders, and I've got one ninth-grader and two 10th-graders on the attack," Petrides said. "Hopefully, we're a team of the future, because this will be a year to get experience."
Edmondson Redskins
1994 record: 12-4. Coach: Crawford Dennard.
Top players: Willie Taylor, Sr., D; George Hendricks, Sr., G-A; Corey Brown, Jr., M-A; Maurice Bease, Jr., M-A; Donald Goodman, Jr., G-M-A; Qwunta Curry, Fresh., M.
Outlook: Dennard returns just four starters from last year's 4A regional championship squad that avenged losses to Poly and Lake Clifton, but the Redskins are no less a talented group. Still, Dennard is playing it low key. "We lost six seniors who were instrumental in our success last year, so we could be in a rebuilding process," Dennard said.
Forest Park Foresters
1994 record: 13-1. Coach: Obie Barnes.
Top players: Jamaine Dickerson, Sr., G; Troy Morton, Jr., M; Sean Markley, Jr., A; Eddie Wood, Jr., M.
Outlook: Barnes, whose record is 59-6 over the last five seasons, returns just three starters from last year's city champion and regional runner-up squad. "Last year was the best team I've ever had, and we've got some kids back who rubbed shoulders with those players," Barnes said. All-City player Markley, the team's second-leading scorer last year, returns, as does Dickerson, whom Barnes calls "the best goalie in the district." Besides, Dickerson, "we have an all new defense, but I think they'll rise to the occasion," Barnes said.
Lake Clifton Lakers
1994 record: 10-3. Coach: John Baker.
Top players: Paul Preston, Sr., A; Tory Gilliard, Sr., D; Dave Fulgham, Sr., G; Nate Moyd, Sr., A; Anthony Jefferson, Soph., A.
Outlook: It's going to be extremely difficult for any city team to beat Lake Clifton, which returns among its nine starters All-City players Preston (72 goals, 12 assists), Gilliard (6-3, 280) and Fulgham. Moyd (16, nine), Jefferson (four, six) and Davis (two, 10) all should improve their numbers. "Fulgham and Preston played in an indoor league in Cockeysville and made its all-star team," said Baker. "Hopefully, one of them will step up and be a leader, but we're pretty pumped up."
Mervo Mustangs
1994 record: 3-9. Coach: John Hammond.
Top players: Andre Lofton, Sr., M; Tijuan Long, Sr., G; Aaron Brown, Jr., A; Kenny Brown, Jr., M.
Outlook: The Mustangs, under new coach Hammond from Southwestern, have four returning starters. "Overall, we have some potential, we're just looking for some team chemistry," said Hammond. "I'm concerned about the defense, but we do have some kids who can go to the goal."
Northern Vikings
1994 record: 0-12. Coach: John Cooper.
Top players: Kalish Hicks, Jr., M; Josh Sher, Jr., A; Terrance Towns, Soph., M; Antoine Covington, Soph., M; Kelvin Williams, Fresh., D.
Outlook: The Vikings' program, said Cooper, has nowhere to go but up. "After losing my attack and the goalie from last year, I just want to improve," Cooper said. Five starters are back,
including Hicks, who showed poise as quarterback on the Vikings' football team.
1994 record: 8-4. Coach: John Baumann.
Top players: Sadique Allison, Sr., M; Robert Pouncey, Sr., M; Timothy Isaacs, Sr., A; Kevin Watson, Sr., D; David Medlin, Sr., G; Demonta Stanton, Sr., M
Outlook: The Wildcats' first midfield is strong, led by All-City player Allison, who led the team with 31 goals and 21 assists, and Pouncey, who had 30 goals and 21 assists. Isaacs, who had over 20 assists last year, leads the attack. If Baumann solves his defensive questions, look for the Wildcats to easily reach the playoffs and to challenge for top honors in the city league.
Patterson Clippers
1994 record: 6-7. Coach: Bob Ecklund.
Top players: Joe Mechlinski, Sr., M-A; Charles Lund, Sr., G; Charles Bates, Jr. M; John Kaburopulos, Jr. D; James Hagan, Soph., M.
Outlook: Ecklund was "pleased with last year, but I'd like to see us improve, and I would say we're going to have a successful season." Mechlinski, an All-Metro football player, and Lund, each returning as fourth-year starters, will have the support of experienced underclassmen. In all, nine veterans are back, so this could be the year of the Clippers.
Poly Engineers
1994 record: 12-2. Coach: Augie Waibel.
Top players: Mike Alt, Sr., A; Gary Davis, Sr., M; Dave Neuberger, Sr., M; Thong Vu, Jr., M; Mike Bayne, Jr., D; Jeff Hamm, Jr., D.
Outlook: Poly is among the teams to beat in a five- or six-team race for the city crown that should include Edmondson, Lake Clifton, Patterson, Northwestern and Forest Park. Poly returns seven starters from last year's league runner-up squad. "The public school programs are improving," Waibel said. His Engineers, led by Alt, were titlists with Forest Park and City two years ago, and still are a major hurdle for most teams.
Southern Bulldogs
1994 record: 3-9. Coach: Bill Nagle.
Top players: William Blue, Sr., M; Tyrone Brown, Jr., M; Carl Randell, Jr., A; Jason Campbell, Jr., A; William Lewis, Jr., D.
Outlook: The Bulldogs return five starters -- only one of whom is a senior -- from a team that struggled last season. But Nagle thinks the program might be on the upswing, having been competitive the two previous years before last season. "We have a lot of underclassmen, but we hope to do better," said Nagle, whose best keeper transferred to Glen Burnie.
Southwestern Sabers
1994 record: 4-8. Coach: Martin Church.
Top players: Sean Cummings, Sr., A-M; Antione Smith, Sr., D; Eugene Warren, Sr., G; Steve Cummings, Sr., M; Danilo Punnett, Soph., A; Daniel Punnett, Soph., M; Corey Warrell, Soph., A.
Outlook: Only three starters return from last year's squad, and they are the only seniors on a team that includes 28 players -- one of whom is a junior, with the rest being sophomores and freshmen. "We look good in practice, but we didn't have any scrimmages," said Church, who coached at Mervo last year. He'll rely on four-year starter Warren for leadership.