PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Ben Pardew
Calvert Hall
Pardew's brutal, straightforward and physical approach to the game wasn't pretty, but it was effective -- particularly in the big games. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound senior forward scored 15 goals with one assist, often enduring harsh double-teams to do so. Still, eight of his goals were game-winners. Pardew scored both goals in a 2-1 championship win over McDonogh. In fact, of the seven goals Calvert Hall scored against the Eagles, Pardew buried six of them. Pardew, who is considering UMBC, Towson and Maryland, doubled as a kicker on the Cardinals' No. 3 football team.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Andy Moore
Calvert Hall
Moore inherited Calvert Hall's dominant program from the legendary Bill Karpovich five years ago. But under that kind of pressure, and as his teams went 20-18-2 over his first two seasons, Moore said, "There were times I wished the ground would open up and swallow me." He gradually won over Calvert Hall's faithful over the past three seasons, going 48-10-6 as he incorporated his blue-collar style. His patience paid off with this year's No. 1 area ranking, a 20-0-2 record and his first A Conference title -- all played over one of the area's toughest schedules.
FIRST TEAM
Will Bach
Calvert Hall
The senior moved from forward, where he played his first two years, to the defense, where the co-captain anchored the Cardinals to eight shutouts. He took all of the Cardinals' long throw-ins and scored three goals and five assists.
Ryan Callinan
Calvert Hall
The junior midfielder scored nine goals and assisted on 11 others while helping to control the action in the middle. Callinan, a starter since his freshman season, showed that veteran poise with an assist on the game-winning goal in the title game victory over McDonogh.
Tom Franklin
Towson
The senior goalie anchored a solid defense, allowing only 11 goals in 19 games as Towson finished at 15-2-2 and as Class 2A state runners-up. The three-year starter registered 10 shutouts. He came up big (nine saves) in the state semifinal win over last year's champ, Bethesda-Chevy Chase.
Nick Gill
Calvert Hall
The senior co-captain was often matched against his opponent's best scorer. He limited McDonogh's Brian Yi to five shots, no goals, no assists in three games. Gill was great at standing up attackers and denying them the ball.
Patrick Healey
Calvert Hall
The third-year varsity midfielder, though only a junior, was the Cardinals' field general and the one who "made us go," said coach Andy Moore. Healey had eight goals and eight assists, and has 17 goals and 17 assists for his career. Healey took all of the Cardinals' free kicks and corner kicks.
Danny Keppeler
Dulaney
This repeat first-team All-City/County performer led the Lions to their second straight Baltimore County and 3A state runner-up finishes. The junior is perhaps the best one-on-one defender in the county. He was the veteran on a defense that graduated an All-City/County goalie and two marking backs.
Kyle McHugh
McDonogh
Yet another repeat All-City/County performer with impeccable credentials, McHugh scored 25 goals and 26 assists. His versatility allowed coach Steve Nichols to use him at either forward or midfield. The senior is headed for Princeton.
Kevin Mezzadra
Loyola
The 6-2, 190-pound senior was an imposing figure, scoring 22 goals to go with nine assists. Mezzadra's 71 career goals make him the No. 1 scorer in Loyola history, coach Don Kraft said. Mezzadra, who scored in 15 of 20 games, has signed with UMBC.
Bryan Moffa
Eastern Tech
This creative junior midfielder was considered "our most dangerous player" by coach Peter Glaudemanns. He often worked against double teams, but his 17 goals and four assists led the Mavericks to their second straight Baltimore County title.
Isaiah Ramsey
Eastern Tech
Ramsey was a speedy defender who could come forward and produce offensively. The senior scored four goals and had 10 assists. He also excelled in the classroom, carrying a 4.45 adjusted grade-point average.
Jeff Routh
Towson
The third-year varsity player scored 20 goals and assisted on eight others to help the Generals become state finalists. The junior was as good dribbling as he was winning balls in the air. One of his prettiest goals was the game-winner from 30 yards with 1:30 left in the Generals' 2-1 regional championship win over Eastern Tech.
James Russo
Dulaney
The senior had a penchant for striking at just the right time, scoring 17 goals with three assists. He had six game-winning goals, including against Towson, McDonogh, Perry Hall and Leonardtown -- the latter coming in the state semifinal win.
Sean Rush
Dulaney
The diminutive midfielder scored only one goal -- but he assisted on 13 others. Often marked, Rush broke free to score the game-winning goal in the Lions' regional championship victory. The 5-5 senior's playmaking ability was only rivaled by his heart.
Brian Yi
McDonogh
This repeat All-City/County performer never had any breathing room, thanks to constant double- and triple-teams. Still, the senior finished with 29 each in goals and assists. A national team pool player, Yi will play soccer at Duke.