Previewing the 2015 Maryland state boys’ soccer tournament

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/highschools/previewing-the-2015-maryland-state-boys-soccer-tournament/2015/10/28/700e912e-7cf9-11e5-b575-d8dcfedb4ea1_story.html

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The 2015 Maryland state boys’ soccer tournament kicks off Thursday across the state, and local teams will be in action through championship weekend from Nov. 19-21. Here’s a look at the field.

Maryland 4A vital stats

• 49 teams (Bracket)

• State semifinals: Nov. 14, 12/2:30/5/7:30 p.m. at Richard Montgomery

• State final: Nov. 19/20/21 at Loyola University of Maryland

• Defending champion: Whitman

No. 1 sectional seeds: Quince Orchard, Blair, South River, Meade, Perry Hall, Mergenthaler, Northwestern, Eleanor Roosevelt

Local favorites: Quince Orchard, Blair, South River, Meade, Northwestern, Eleanor Roosevelt, Walter Johnson (12-2)

Potential game to watch:

Whitman at Walter Johnson - 4A West quarterfinal – Nov. 3

Severna Park at Meade - 4A East semifinal – Nov. 6

Northwestern vs. Eleanor Roosevelt - 4A South Final – Nov. 10

Breakdown: The most competitive roads to the state semifinals reside in Montgomery County which has produced 10 of the last 15 4A state champions. No. 1 seed Blair is led by senior forward Jimmy McMillan’s 14 goals this season, and if the Blazers advance to the section final, an intriguing matchup with either Whitman or Walter Johnson awaits. The defending 4A state champion Vikings handed Blair its only loss of the season, while the Wildcats were 9-0 and No. 1 in the Post rankings before a 2-0 loss to the Blazers on Oct. 7. Quince Orchard is the 4A West’s other No. 1 seed and will most likely face Wootton or Northwest, which both beat the Cougars during the regular season, in the other 4A West section final.

This season, 4A East No. 1 seed Meade set a multitude of school records including most wins while nabbing its first victory over 2013 state champions Severna Park. Senior goalkeeper Danny Castillo has posted five straight shutouts to lead the Mustangs into the playoffs. The region’s other No. 1 seed, South River, enters the playoffs on the back of seven straight wins.

In Prince George’s County, Bowie won state titles in 2008 and 2011, but the Bulldogs were second fiddle this season to 4A South No. 1 seeds Eleanor Roosevelt and Northwestern, who tied 2-2 back in September.

Maryland 3A vital stats

• 49 teams (Bracket)

• State semifinals: Nov. 14 12/2:30/5/7:30 p.m. at Linganore H.S.

• State final: Nov. 19/20/21 at Loyola University of Maryland

• Defending champion: River Hill

No. 1 sectional seeds: Mount Hebron, J.M. Bennett, Urbana, Frederick, Huntingtown, Blake, Lansdown, North Harford

Local favorites: Mt. Hebron (12-2), River Hill (12-2), Damascus (9-3), Blake (12-2), Huntingtown (14-0)

Potential games to watch:

Watkins Mill at Magruder – 3A south quarterfinal – Nov. 3

River Hill/Centennial at Mt. Hebron, 3A East section I final, Nov. 6

Blake vs. Huntingtown – 3A South Final – Nov. 10

Breakdown: Despite an early-season loss to River Hill, Mt. Hebron was Howard County’s regular season champion for the first time since 2006. Michael Heitzmann (Maryland) and the defending champion Hawks will have to avenge a loss to Centennial if they are to meet Mt. Hebron in the 3A East section I final.

Huntingtown, the 2014 runner-up, enters the playoffs undefeated and relatively unchallenged with only one one-goal game so far this season, but the Hurricanes could run into a stout defense from Blake in the 3A South final. Magruder, which won the 4A state final in 2007 and 2010, and Watkins Mill will look to upset things in the 3A South bracket.

Maryland 2A vital stats

• 48 teams (Bracket)

• State semifinals: Nov. 13 5/7:30 p.m. Nov. 14 TBA at Wilde Lake H.S.

• State final: Nov. 19/20/21 at Loyola University of Maryland

• Defending Champion: Oakdale

No. 1 sectional seeds: Fallston, Kent Island, Middletown, South Carroll, Patterson, Loch Raven, La Plata, Friendly

Local Favorites: Friendly, La Plata, Oakland Mills, Largo

Breakdown: A local team hs not won the 2A state final since Marriotts Ridge ended a run of four-straight titles in 2012. On Nov. 10, Southern Maryland and Prince George’s will clash for a spot in the state semifinals from the 2A South region where La Plata and Friendly are the No. 1 seeds.

Maryland 1A vital stats

• 35 teams (Bracket)

• State semifinals: Nov. 14 12/2:30/5/7 p.m.at Northeast H.S.

• State final: Nov. 19/20/21 at Loyola University of Maryland

• Defending Champion: Brunswick

No. 1 sectional seeds: Richardson, Crisfield, Allegany, Brunswick, Joppatowne, Forestville, Benjamin Franklin, North Carroll

L ocal favorites: Northern, McDonough

Breakdown: McDonough enters the playoffs as a No. 3 seed after falling 3-0 in last year’s final. Northern tied Severna Park and beat Leonardtown to prove it will be a tough out as a No. 3 seed. Class 1A’s 35 team means that most team need four wins to bring home the title.