Oakland Mills coach Don Shea remembers a time, not so long ago, when county coaches used to joke that it was harder to win a Howard County title than it was a state championship.
From 1997 to 2002, there were double as many state titles won by county squads, 12, as there were county champions. Shea's Oakland Mills teams could attest to that fact as well as anyone as the Scorpions won four state crowns during that stretch without winning the county title.
The talking quieted some recently with county teams winning just two state titles from 2007 to 2009. However, if last season was any indication, the county may be poised to turn back the clocks.
"There is no question that Howard County prepares you for the playoffs," said Reservoir coach Paul Linkins, whose team won last year's 3A state championship. "We lost three out of four games last year (in county), but we probably don't go on the run we did without learning what we did from that (stretch)."
Last fall, Marriotts Ridge joined Reservoir in the state winner's circle, giving the county two winners in the same year for the first time since 2006. In addition, Wilde Lake won the District V title and all four of the semifinalists in 3A East were county schools.
The only question now is whether or not this year's crop of talent can keep the ball rolling.
The list of potential contenders is long, with county coaches naming eight different teams when asked who to keep an eye on this fall. Among the common threads is an abundance of solid goalies throughout the league, which should make for a lot of close games.
"This is not the year to not have a goalie," said Shea, who should have one of the county's top keepers in junior Hassan Mustafa. "You fall behind 1-0 against a lot of these teams and it's going to be awfully difficult to get those two goals you need to win."
River Hill brings back a first-team all-county goalie of its own in Nick Voyton, while Atholton has second-team all-county goalie Kyle Forbes returning as well.
There's also talent returning in other areas of the field around the county.
Reservoir's Colin Bonner, Atholton's Derek Chan, Centennial's Peter Vorel, River Hill's Jack Noonan and Tomi Williams, along with Wilde Lake's Matt Flyr and Zach Johnson, were all all-county selections a season ago.
The opening kick
With the regular season set to kick off Sept. 2, here's a look around the area:
Atholton
2010 record: 5-5-1 county; 6-7-1 overall
Top players: Seniors Jesse Burns (MF), Derek Chan (D), Kyle Forbes (G) and Matt Romeo (MF).
What you need to know: There are no secrets when it comes to the Raiders. Lock-down defense and opportunistic offense have been the keys to success more than five years running now. No county team has more returning talent and experience in the back end of the field with Chan, Forbes and Romeo all serving as captains with several years of varsity experience. Chan, a two-time first-team all-county player with international experience, is among the best the county has to offer. Overall six starters are back. The key is simply getting the defense a lead, which is something Burns, who had two goals and five assists last fall, will try to help with.
Centennial
2010 record: 3-4-4; 6-5-5
Top players: Seniors Ethan Adams (D) and Andrey Pavlov (MF); juniors Peter Vorel (D), Mike Ward (F) and Max Yarosh (MF).
What you need to know: It was a mixed bag last season for the Eagles, which finished with twice as many ties as any other county team. The hope is that having seven starters back, bringing with them the experience of so many close games, will pay dividends. There aren't a whole lot of proven scorers on the roster, but Ward and Josh Poole are intriguing players up top. If the defense is as good as it could be, the offense might not have to carry the majority of the load. The back four of Vorel, Adams, Bradley Benson and Danny Mooney started most of last season together and should ease the transition of a new goalie between the pipes. Coach Jim Zehe also is very pleased with the team's depth in the central midfield.
Glenelg
2010 record: 1-9-1; 2-12-1
Top players: Seniors Jeff Jacoby (D), Tae Lim (F) and Mike Messina (MF); juniors Brett Kellaher (D), Ian Vincent (F) and Christian Von Rautenkranz (MF); sophomore Zack Haussler (G).
What you need to know: Coach Andrew Shearer already sees some improvements in team chemistry and leadership. In particular, his three captains Jacoby, Messina and Von Rautenkranz "are good vocal leaders who are determined to make us better than last year."
There are six starters back that will be charged with breaking in a batch of newcomers Shearer is very excited about. Haussler is among the new faces, taking over at goalie. The hope is that some of the momentum from last season's opening-round playoff victory over Oakland Mills carries over into this fall.
Hammond
2010 record: 5-6; 6-8
Top players: Seniors Will Sandish (G) and Michael Waters (D); juniors Elliott Quinteros (MF) and John Lippitt (MF); sophomore Michael Peprah (D).
What you need to know: The Golden Bears will have a completely different look this season after graduating 14 seniors and changing head coaches. Included among the departures were Jake Nelson, Ty Reamer and Ian Evans, who all finished with 17 or more points. Brett Cutler, who was Oakland Mills' head coach in 2009, takes over and he said his strategy is to build from the back up with a roster that features 11 sophomores. To help that plan, Peprah and Waters are changing positions to help on defense. Sandish split time in goal last season, but the job is now his full time. Expect both Quinteros and Lippitt to play all over the field to take advantage of their versatility.
Howard
2010 record: 1-8-2; 2-10-2
Top players: Seniors Nick Blackburn (D) and Todd Blackmon (D); juniors Ryan Binkley (MF), Shane Flynn (MF) and Jake Spalding (G).
What you need to know: Coach Nils Schroder hopes the Lions can turn over a new leaf, To that end, he has switched around some of his old players and mixed in some new ones. "I think that it will be a positive because it is fresh and new and we can forget about years past," Schroder said. Blackburn is among the returners and is a three-year varsity player that will serve as captain. He leads a group in the back that also includes Blackmon and a seasoned goalie in Spalding. Keep an eye on the brother combination of seniors Austin and Spencer Phillips, who Schroder said possess "lots of technical ability."
Long Reach
2010 record: 1-10; 1-12
Top players: Juniors Jamie Sylvia (MF) and Jacob Greenberg (MF).
What you need to know: The Lightning were competitive against several good teams last fall, including a 1-0 loss to county-champion Wilde Lake, though the record did not indicate it. Harnessing those kind of efforts and translating them into wins is something coach John Horner said may come down to chemistry. "Our team last year, while we had a couple of skilled players, the team dynamic wasn't there. Already that has improved," he said.
Sylvia is a returning captain and Greenberg was the only sophomore on the varsity team last season. The two of them should make the midfield an area of strength. A lot of the other faces are new, either up from junior varsity or new to the school, but are capable of contributing immediately. How the team defends around a new goalie is key.
Marriotts Ridge
2010 record: 10-1; 18-1
Top players: Senior Sean Corcoran (D); juniors Nick Applegate (MF), Brad Martinelli (MF) and Pat Moore (G); sophomore Amir Najib (F).
What you need to know: The Mustangs have some top-level talent returning on the back half of the field in a program that has won two consecutive Class 2A championships. The key for a third straight title will be finding goal scorers — the team lost 80 percent of its scoring from a season ago to graduation. Martinelli (12 points last season) and Najib are leading candidates to step up offensively on what should be a more balanced attack. "We're looking to get goals from a lot of different places, as opposed to trying to find one or two guys like in the past," coach Kevin Flynn said.
Moore is in his third year as a starter in goal and Corcoran is a captain with plenty of experience as well. Applegate should take over the long throw duties. Flynn said expectations are still high despite fielding a much younger team than in year's past.
Mt. Hebron
2010 record: 3-6-2; 6-8-2
Top players: Seniors Tommy Lee (MF), Justin Morgan (MF), Josh Palin (F), Will Rice (MF) and Drew Staedeli (G); juniors Stone Chen (D), Luke Richardson (D) and Lucas Rose (MF); sophomore Justin Roberts (D).
What you need to know: There's experience all over the field for the Vikings, which has hit the ground running this preseason. "It's a good position to be in, having some kids that know what we're trying to do, and hopefully we learned some lessons from last season," coach Mike Linsenmeyer said. The athletic Staedeli will start his fourth straight year in goal and can be a game-changer. He has help in the back from underclassmen Chen, Richardson and Roberts, alll starters last year. The midfield could provide some scoring punch oh what is expected to be a balanced offense.
Oakland Mills
2010 record: 4-6-1; 5-8-2
Top players: Senior Tim Haines (D); juniors David Bruno (F), Edder Bruno (MF), John Joseph (F), Ben Kale (D) and Hassan Mustafa (G); sophomore Eli Phillips (MF).
What you need to know: The Scorpions will be young again this year with the core of the team made up of juniors. Haines is the only starting senior and part of a defense that should give teams fits. Don't expect too many shootouts with Division I prospect Mustafa in goal. David and Edder Bruno and Joseph will be among those asked to provide the defense with a goal or two to work with. David Bruno and Joseph each had 10 points last year as sophomores. Coach Don Shea said it will take a few weeks to determine how improved the team is on offense.
Reservoir
2010 record: 7-3-1, 15-3-1
Top players: Seniors Colin Bonner (F), Cam Britton (MF), Ryan Dooley (G), Paul Park (MF), Peter Park (D) and Jimmy Rager (D).
What you need to know: The Gators have some notable players returning from last year's Class 3A title run. At the front of that group is Bonner, who is the county's leading returning scorer after notching 12 goals and seven assists as a junior. He's particularly dangerous on balls in the air and Rager, who is moving back to defense and taking over long-throw duties, will be among those trying to take advantage of that. The Park brothers started every game last year and are very good with and without the ball. Britton missed last season because of an anterior cruciate ligament injury, but will be a key piece in the midfield while Dooley is at the front of a group of three solid goalies. Coach Paul Linkins expects his core group of seniors to "push everyone physically and mentally."
River Hill
2010 record: 9-1-1; 14-2-1
Top players: Seniors David Kaiser (D), Jack Noonan (F) Nick Riso (D), Nick Voyton (G), Tomi Williams (F); junior Michael Behrman (MF); sophomore Jake Turney (F).
What you need to know: The Hawks have more all-county players returning, six starters back overall and new faces that have talent as well. Voyton posted a 91.1 save percentage last year and is an all-state caliber goalie. Riso has starting experience on defense and gets help from Kaiser, a transfer from Mount St. Joseph. Williams has a tremendous long throw and finished with 14 points last year. The combination of Williams and Noonan (nine goals, three assists in 2010) give the Hawks one of the county's most proven tandems up top.
Wilde Lake
2010 record: 10-0-1; 14-1-2
Top players: Seniors Matt Flyr (MF), Quinn Gornto (D), Zach Johnson (D) and Devon McNeel (F); junior Jadon Ramsing (MF).
What you need to know: Coming off one of the best seasons in program history, the Wildecats want to carry over the magic that led them to county and district championships. Possession-oriented play will be the team's calling card again. Johnson, who led the team with six goals last season, will be moving back to his more natural position on defense. He and Gornto will help the transition of a new goalie and the loss of first-team defender Alex Driessen. McNeel (12 points in 2010) and Flyr will be charged with leading the offense. The Wildecats should generate more scoring chances this year, if things progress as Pickett expects. Ramsing and the rest of the midfield should be an area of strength as well.
Glenelg Country
2010 record: 3-8 MIAA B; 4-8
Top players: Seniors Jeff Curan (D), Sam McAuliffe (F) and Lee Papas (MF); junior Jake Davis (MF).
What you need to know: McAuliffe is the centerpiece of a team that wants back into the top half of the MIAA B Conference. A gifted goal scorer and an MIAA All-Star a year ago, McAuliffe is the perfect guy for new coach Cliff Walcott to build around. "He's very clearly the leader of our team and my job is to figure out ways to hide him and get him space," Walcott said.
Junior Alex Chernoff and sophomore Max Goodwin will see time in goal and will get help defensively from Curran, Papas and Davis. Walcott, who will be assisted by former Glenelg Country coach Lionel Frances, is focusing on the tactical side of things in the early going.
Chapelgate
2010 record: 5-8-1 MIAA C; 6-9-1
Top players: Seniors Brian Handy (D), Wale Soniregun (MF) and Jonathan Thomas (F); freshman Kunle Soniregun.
What you need to know: There are 11 seniors on the Yellowjackets' roster as they attempt to rebound from a sub-.500 record last fall. Scoring more goals tops the priority list and Thomas should lead that charge. He is the team's leading returning goal scorer. "He seems hungrier. Actually, the entire offense seems hungrier for goals. It's something we're definitely focusing on," coach Jason Bennett said.
There are two seniors and two juniors on defense with Handy the leader after making the all-conference team last year. Junior Jonathan Hamilton is the new goalie, taking over for four-year starter Steve Handy.