Enough coaches name enough schools and it’s hard to think anything but there’s an open race in the Upper Chesapeake Bay Athletic Conference.
Fallston, C. Milton Wright, Bel Air, North Harford and Harford Tech all got nods, but the Cobras seem the clear front-runner in the area coming off a Class 1A state championship. It was a special run for a group that made school history. They were a six-seed and downed an undefeated Allegheny team.
“They’ll always be the first group of guys to put a trophy into the school,” coach Michael Dempsey said in November. Now begins the quest to repeat.
Here’s a look around the area. (Editor’s note: not all teams responded to requests for information):
Aberdeen
Coach: Kevin Williams, sixth season
Last year: 6-2-5
Top returners: Seniors Kaleb Holmes (CM) and Jack Morrill (GK); juniors Kian O’Hara (M) and Trevor Zakowski (D).
Newcomers to watch: Sophomores Aymaan Anwar (CM), Tobi Dossou (S) and Will McNicholas (D).
Coach’s outlook: “We are a young team this year with only three seniors. And Frederick Hinder was moved up a grade and is actually a junior. A total of five returning players. I’m very excited for this year’s team. We had a large tryout this year and had cuts for the first time in memory, 26 new players. Considering we only had 28 players come out for the whole program two years ago that’s quite an improvement. Both in numbers and skill. I’ve been saying for years that there are more players at Aberdeen that are not coming out to play. Maybe the guys are starting to see that the coaching staff really does care about them. Finishing with a 500 record would be right about where we should be.”
Bel Air
Coach: Dominic Rose, 31 years
Last year: 10 – 6
Top returners: Seniors Galen Klisiewecz (F), Isaiah Traynahm (F), Cooper Rey (GK) and Blake Stallard (F).
Newcomers to watch: N/A
Coach’s outlook: “We should be competitive and challenge for the UCBAC championship.”
C. Milton Wright
Coach: Eric Riedlbauer, third season
Last year: 12-3-1
Top returners: Senior Axel Lorentzen (F), Connor Scurti (D), Dylan Sander (GK), Brandon Flynn (M) and Brody Walton (M); sophomores Lucas Barker (M) and Ben Mroz (F).
Newcomers to watch: Junior Charlie Kitz (M); sophomores Owen Davis (M/D), Liam Bender (M) and Evan Goss (D).
Coach’s outlook: N/A
Edgewood
Coach: Tim Baldwin, third season
Last year: 2-9-1
Top returners: Senior Dontai Collins Jr. (CDM); juniors Luke Sheffy (CDM) and Sebastian Ayala (AM); sophomores Marlon Davis (S) and Kayden Kuessner (GK).
Newcomers to watch: Juniors Nayo Matthews (WB) and Eric Landi (WB); freshman Victor Finely (RB).
Coach’s outlook: “With our first two years of rebuilding a boys soccer program behind us, this year’s juniors Markin Mensah, Viraj Singh, Chase Easson, Jesus Hernandez, Luke Sheffy and Sebastian Ayala are proving to be a force to reckon with on the field. Seeing their growth as players, teammates and young men has been incredible. They possess solid ball control and strategic handling of the field. Coupled with the size and strength of seniors Dontai Collins and Franck Fopa and Sophomore Marlon Davis, this year’s starting lineup will be a force to reckon with.”
Fallston
Coach: Christopher Hoover, 20th season
Last year: 6-9
Top returners: Seniors Jack Friskey (B) and Dominic Witherspoon (F); juniors Ariya Khairghdam (M), Brendan Rey (M) and Lucas Clark (GK).
Newcomers to watch: Juniors Connor Detamore (GK), Heath Rhudy (M) and Kieran Devine (M); sophomore Caiden Curry (B).
Coach’s outlook: “This year’s team has quickly established a chemistry that is productive, positive, and enthusiastic. We are looking forward to each match as we are playing to our standard. This year, as in the past, the UCBAC is the conference in which the results matter on the state level. We hope to return to our tradition of excellence, as Fallston will look to lead the UCBAC into the playoffs showing – this is the way.”
Havre de Grace
Coach: Jeff Berthney, ninth season
Last year: 4-7
Top returners: Seniors Will Martin (D), Kamil Waclawski (M) and Cameron Grant (GK); junior Aidan McRoberts; sophomores Gabe Bravo (M) and Aidan McRoberts (M).
Newcomers to watch: Sophomores Caleb Scarbourgh (M), Nate Burton (F) and Landon Bell (M); freshman Larsen Stevens (D).
Coach’s outlook: “We lost nine starters from last year’s team. We will need a complete team effort from all to be competitive this year. We are looking forward to the season. Good luck and safe play to all teams.”
John Carroll
Coach: Jimmy Fendryk, 15th season
Last year: 12-2-4, MIAA A Conference finalist
Top returners: Seniors Samko Duracka (M) and Luca D’Allesandro (F); juniors Jacob Gensel (M) and Connor Clarke (D); sophomores Tommy Wysong (M) and Aiden Thiebaud (D).
Newcomers to watch: N/A
Coach’s outlook: “Coming off of two successive MIAA A conference championship appearances, we are looking to continue the success we have had over the last five years. We have a blended group of talented upper and lower classmen who are eager to repeat the successes of the past groups.”
North Harford
Coach: Erik Lane, third season
Last year: 9-7, state semifinalist
Top returners: Seniors Cole Schultz (M) and Cooper O’Dell (D).
Coach’s outlook: “We’ve got some structural discipline to clean up in game but feel another good season is possible.”
Patterson Mill
Coach: Wes Rich, 17th season
Last year: 11-4, regional finalist
Top returners: Seniors Mason Teter (GK), Finn Pantazelos (M) Phil Tolliver (M) and Reza Mousavi (CB); juniors Kai Gibson (F), Jackson Burke (M), David Kim (M), Caleb Zerbe (M) and Grayson McLaughlin (F); sophomore James Chute (CB).
Newcomers to watch: Juniors Colin Luddy (OB), Coale Washington (OB), Blake Bonsol (M/D) and Aven Wilson (M).
Coach’s outlook: “We have had an excellent start to the season as we figure out our identity as a team and develop a rotation that fits everyone’s strengths and skill set. Our team chemistry is wonderful and the players seem to really enjoy training, working and playing with one another. We will rely on our five seniors to lead 16 juniors and sophomores in what should be a challenging schedule. The UCBAC should be very strong and deep this season and we hope to compete in every game, challenge for a state title and play with passion for our school and community.”
Perryville
Coach: Larry Sickels, first season
Last year: 7-3-1, state semifinalist
Top returners: Seniors Dylan Sayer (M), Paytn Hulbert (D), Logan Shaw (S/M) and Brady Martin (D); junior James Abrams (M).
Newcomers to watch: Juniors Jayden Myers (D) and Trey Givens (M).
Coach’s outlook: “The team has had a lot of success over the last couple of years, and we expect that to continue this year.”
