Player of the Year

Adom Crew, River Hill, junior, forward: Crew led his team to a 19-1-0 record, the Class 2A state championship and the metro area's No. 1 ranking. A relentless attacker, Crew always found a way to get the ball and then either shoot or feed someone. Every opposing coach's main objective was to slow him. Crew, who is in a pool of national Under-17 players currently in Florida, was forced to elevate his game this season. He was a first-team All-Metro selection last season when he scored 16 goals and had five assists under mostly single coverage. But this year, the team captain raised those numbers to 17 goals and 14 assists under tight marking and double coverage. He scored twice in the Hawks' most important game, the regional final against Mount ++ Hebron. He has speed, size, reads the game well, and is the county's most dynamic player. He was chosen first-team All-State by the Maryland Association of Coaches of Soccer and has a 4.0 GPA.

Coach of the Year

Don Shea, Oakland Mills: His team went from back-to-back losing seasons and just five wins a year ago to a 17-2-0 record and a Class 1A state championship this fall. The Scorpions lost only to No. 1-ranked Class 2A state champion River Hill and No. 4-ranked county champion Mount Hebron. This was the Scorpions' fifth state title since Shea came to Oakland Mills in 1986. He also coached one state champ during a 10-year stint at Elkton. His career record is 227-64-18. He has coached a six-player nucleus, including his son Trevor, from clinic-age.

First team at a glance

Randal Brown, River Hill, senior, midfield: Brown, a team captain and four-year varsity player, proved his versatility by playing striker or left midfield and was a creative and dangerous player up top who complemented Crew well. He scored six goals and had six assists. He was second-team All-County last season and second-team All-State this season.

Jeremy Catlin, Oakland Mills, junior, forward: ward: He led county goal-scorers with 18 and had seven assists. He produced hat tricks against Howard and Catoctin. The three-year starter -- and team captain has speed and is strong in the air. He's second-team All-State and has a 3.9 GPA.

Michael Dello-Russo, Wilde Lake, sophomore, midfield: more, midfield: His team won 11 games and made it to the Class 3A state semifinals before losing to Thomas Stone. An skilled and knowledgeable center midfielder, he distributed to Wilde Lake's forwards. He was in the national Olympic Development pool in 1997. "He played better and better as the season went on and made a major contribution," said coach Dave Nesbitt. He scored six goals and had six assists. He was second-team All-County last season and honorable mention All-State this fall.

Brett Endler, River Hill, junior, midfield: He played right midfield and was one of the Hawks' best attacking players. He was adept at taking on players near the box and getting corner kicks. He was his team's second-leading scorer with 10 goals and 12 assists.

Justin Gotis, River Hill, junior, midfield: One of three Hawks center-midfielders, Gotis was the workhorse attacking from the left side with his size and speed. He scored several important goals, including one against Mount Hebron in the regional championship and two in the state semifinals. He was strong on the ball. Gotis scored eight goals and had seven assists.

David Lechtrecker, Mount Hebron, junior, midfield: He led his No. 4-ranked Vikings in scoring with seven goals and nine assists. A three-year starter, he is an excellent one-on-one player. Mount Hebron's offense went through him.

Pete Lindahl, Mount Hebron, senior, midfield: field: A four-year starter and two-year captain, Lindahl is technically sound, has speed and could dominate at center midfield. He had eight goals and seven assists, including a hat trick against High Point in the Arundel Invitational title game. He was first-team All-County last fall and first-team All-State this fall.

Elliott Marquis, River Hill, junior, defense: With the Hawks playing a three-man back line this season, he was the rock in the middle. His dependability allowed the Hawks to go with five midfielders and thereby attack more. He reads the game well and is not just a destroyer but starts effective counter-attacks. He scored one goal and had two assists. The third-year varsity player, a regional Olympic Development player in 1996 and state OD player in 1997 and 1998, was second-team All-County last season. He was first-team All-State this fall.

Aaron McKinley, River Hill, senior, defense: fense: He repeats as first-team All-County fullback. He closed down the left side for the Hawks' defense, doing a lot of man-marking. He also played constructive balls forward. He had a goal and an assist.

Matt Midura, Mount Hebron, senior, defense: fense: A four-year starter and two-year captain, Midura was a consistent player and leader of a Vikings defense that recorded 11 shutouts and defeated three state champions -- Class 3A Linganore, Class 2A River Hill and Class 1A Oakland Mills. Sometimes pushing up top, he scored four goals and had six assists. He was first-team All-County last season and first-team All-State this season.

Greg Peters, Mount Hebron, sophomore, goalkeeper: Out injured for the Vikings' first five games, Peters still made his mark with nine shutouts and allowing just four goals. And his outstanding performance in a 2-1 regular-season victory over River Hill, the Hawks' only loss, was one of the season's highlights that enabled the Vikings to win their first Howard County championship. He is second-team All-State this season. He played state Olympic Development ball in 1996-97 as a striker.

Ian Rodway, Wilde Lake, sophomore, forward: ward: Wilde Lake's leading scorer last season, Rodway was constantly marked by the opposing team's best defender, so his job was to feed the Wildecats' other two forwards. He also moved back to midfield when the Wildecats needed more defense. Rodway scored seven goals and had four assists. He was second-team All-County last season and first-team All-State this season. He's an Under-15 regional pool member and has been in Under-16 national team camps.

Trevor Shea, Oakland Mills, sophomore, midfield: He played a double role. He was a catalyst at center midfield and was a valuable scorer on dead-ball plays. He scored nine goals and had seven assists. Shea was second-team All-County last fall and is honorable mention All-State.

Matt White, Mount Hebron, sophomore, midfield: With exceptional touch and strength in the air, the 6-foot-2 White maintained a consistent center-midfield presence. He scored seven goals and had five assists. He's a member of the Under-16 regional pool and is second-team All-State. He has a 4.0 GPA.

Team selection

The Baltimore Sun 1998 All-Howard County boys and girls soccer teams were selected by Rick Belz and Stan Rappaport, respectively, after consultation with The Sun staff and area coaches.

Pub Date: 11/26/98