CO-PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
Kwaku Boateng
Hammond
Guarded more heavily than any player in Howard County, the senior led the Bears to their second straight Class 2A regional title. A first-team All-Metro performer and Howard County Player of the Year last season when he scored 29 goals, his total was cut to 15 this season, because county teams marked him with two men and sent a third to help out as soon as he touched the ball, and his supporting cast was not as strong. He had six assists. Boateng carried the Bears with seven playoff goals.
Josh Burford
Glenelg
A two-time, first-team All-County player for the Gladiators, Burford scored 15 goals and had five assists while leading Glenelg to its first Howard County championship. The four-year starter scored a hat trick in a 4-0 victory against Class 3A state champion River Hill, a team that allowed only 11 goals all season. Often marked, his field vision, knowledge, strength, leaping ability and defensive ability made him a complete player. "He could play anywhere on the field," coach Peter Klisas said.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Don Shea
Oakland Mills
Winner of 12 state titles, Oakland Mills gears its season to peak for the playoffs. County titles mean nothing. So, faced with a brutal schedule of three games in four days at midseason, Shea benched his starters to prevent injury and lost to Hammond, 6-2, amid catcalls of "over-rated." The Scorpions excelled at long throws and set plays, but had scored only four of 18 goals from the field at that point. Shea knew that the wide, Astroturf UMBC field, site of the state final, was more conducive to scoring from the field. So, he ordered his team to score only from the field in a 5-0 loss to Glenelg, a 3-0 win over Howard and a 3-0 loss to Mount Hebron. But the injury-free Scorpions (13-4) were finally ready for the playoffs. Remarkably, both goals in the 2-1 Class 1A championship victory over Smithsburg were scored from the field.
FIRST TEAM
Randy Collins
Centennial
A two-time first-team All-County player, the senior attacking center midfielder scored 12 goals and had six assists. The three-year starter had four game-winning goals. He's looking to play at Salisbury.
Brad Costantino
Glenelg
The 6-foot-2 central defender could strike a ball 45 yards downfield and took all of his team's direct kicks and corner kicks. Glenelg gave up only 13 goals, three of them on penalty kicks, and had eight shutouts. Much of that defensive credit belongs to Costantino, a four-year starter.
Jonathan Csanady
River Hill
The Hawks' senior sweeper was one of their most dependable players. He could win balls in the back and start the attack. His ability to read the game was impressive. He had enough speed to defend outside.
Jerome DeFrances
Atholton
An aggressive player who was good in the air and a skilled passer, the senior sweeper had a definite field presence for the Raiders, who upset Glenelg in the regional quarterfinals. DeFrances scored four goals, two on long free kicks.
Marco Filipponi
Wilde Lake
A tremendous breakaway threat, Filipponi scored 15 goals and had six assists. Four of his goals were game-winners. A two-year starter, the senior striker preferred the ball played to space rather than to his feet. His heading ability was outstanding.
Mo Hamzeh
River Hill
Skilled at turning the corner and creating or finishing, Hopkins-bound Hamzeh had the ability to hold the ball up top and let other people play into space. The senior led the league in scoring with 18 goals and nine assists, and scored the only goal in the Hawks' 3A state title victory.
Justin Hughes
River Hill
A great one-on-one player, the senior scored to beat Liberty, 2-1, in the state semifinals. The two-time, first-team All-County player also scored the game-winner in a 4-3 overtime victory against Centennial.
Saah Johnson
Oakland Mills
The junior scored both goals in a 2-1 state 1A championship victory over Smithsburg to finish the season with five goals and seven assists. On a team that had 13 players score, mostly off set plays, the transfer from Mount St. Joseph created numerous scoring chances.
Stanley Kaweesi
Oakland Mills
The driving force and personality of the 1A state champs, Kaweesi split his season between striker and center midfield. The four-year starter's toughness and speed were crucial to his team's success.
Evan Rodway
Wilde Lake
His passes and leadership were outstanding. Without him, teammate Marco Filipponi would not have been nearly as successful. A four-year varsity player, the senior midfielder had seven goals and six assists.
Dan Rogers
Oakland Mills
With him in goal, the Scorpions gave up one goal in the playoffs. He allowed just eight goals all season, and had eight shutouts in 15 games. The Scorpions lost two more shutouts after he left the game early.
Brian Swiech
Mount Hebron
The two-time first-team All-County player acted as the traffic cop for the Vikings, making sure they kept the ball moving through the midfield into scoring position. "He was a good leader and our best player," said coach Mike Linsenmeyer.
Brian Walter
River Hill
The 5-11 senior stopper had the ability to transform into a fifth midfielder to help create more offense. Strong in the air, the ball-winner helped the Hawks keep their rhythm, especially after losing center midfielder Brian Chun to injury.