Howard County graduated many of last season’s boys soccer first team All-County performers. However, that opens the door for new student-athletes to step up and become some of the county’s newest forces on the pitch this fall.
The county is expected to once again be an extremely tight race. Glenelg, Mt. Hebron, Marriotts Ridge and River Hill are expected to be some of the county’s top teams with several others in contention for the county title. Guilford Park also joins the fold this year as the county’s 13th team in their inaugural varsity season.
Regular-season action begins on Sept. 6 with the state championships scheduled for Nov. 14-16 at Loyola University’s Ridley Athletic Complex. The Howard County teams are split between Class 3A South and 2A West. Howard, Marriotts Ridge and Mt. Hebron are in 3A South Region I, while Atholton, Guilford Park, Long Reach, Oakland Mills, Reservoir and River Hill make up 3A South Region II. Centennial, Glenelg, Hammond and Wilde Lake are in 2A West Region II.
Howard County is also implementing two six team-divisions, where the two division winners will face off to determine a county champion. Division winners are determined by winning percentage within the division. Guilford Park will be assigned a division once the school begins competing in all varsity sports in the 2025-26 school year. The Summit Division is Glenelg, Hammond, Marriotts Ridge, Mt. Hebron, Oakland Mills and Reservoir. The Sierra Division is Atholton, Centennial, Howard, Long Reach, River Hill and Wilde Lake.
Here is a look at the Howard County teams. (Note: Not all teams responded to requests for information).
Atholton
Coach: Michael Constantine, first season
Last season: 2-10-1
Top returners: Seniors Chris Verastegui (CM), Jordan Fonseca (CB/LB), Ashwin Hazarinka (W/AM) and Fred Agyeman (W/F); sophomore Mathias Rausch (CM)
Newcomers to watch: Freshmen Miguel Carballo (W/F) and Kian Alavi (W/AM)
On the pitch: The Raiders bring back several pieces in the midfield, including Hazarinka, Rausch and Verstegui. Agyeman, Carballo and Alavi are also expected to contribute to the attack, while Fonseca will be an important player defensively.
Coach’s outlook: “We’re coming off of a bad year in terms of results and the effect of last year is still influencing the team’s confidence and therefore performance. While we may still struggle slightly in terms of athleticism against some of the bigger/quicker teams, if we can instill some belief the team should be competitive in every game.”
Centennial
Coach: Justin Thomas, eighth season
Last season: 3-4-6
Top returner: Senior Noah Kantsiper (M)
Newcomers to watch: Junior Aaron Cochran (M)
On the pitch: The Eagles will look to move back over .500 in the 2024 campaign after a state championship game appearance two years ago. Kantsiper provides valued experience in the midfield as a four-year starter, while Cochran brings more versatility to the midfield.
Coach’s outlook: “This preseason has been a lot of fun so far. It feels like we are farther ahead than we usually are at this point but you don’t really know until we play some games. It looks like we have some depth, the practices have been very competitive. I really like this group and I’m looking forward to seeing what they can do.”
Glenelg
Coach: Joey Osborne, 10th season
Last season: 8-6-1, 2A West Region II finalist
Top returners: Seniors Nick Mirecki (M) and Jack McCarthy (F); junior Tito Tokunboh-Salako (F).
Newcomers to watch: Junior Alex Ball (M).
On the pitch: McCarthy and Tokunboh-Salako will be important pieces of the offense at forward. Mirecki and Ball are important midfield players, with Mirecki an established veteran, and Ball in his first year playing high school soccer.
Coach’s outlook: “I think we have a good combination of returning varsity players and new players on the team this year. We hope to find the right chemistry during the preseason to be prepared for the competition in Howard County.”
Guilford Park
Coach: Tomas Potts, first season
Last season: 7-5 as JV team
Top returners: Juniors Hodari Hampton (CB), Jason Riveros (ST) and Van Sang (ST); sophomore Robert Guzman (CM).
Newcomers to watch: Juniors Mario Aguirre-Rosales (CB) and Arlin Meza Hernandez (LW/LB); freshmen Christian Rodriguez-Sorto (CB) and Lorenzo Cerritos-Lemus (ST/CM).
On the pitch: The Panthers are making their debut as a varsity team, looking to build on a winning JV season. Hampton headlines the defensive unit, while Guzman, Riveros and Sang provide speed and versatility offensively. Howard County’s youngest team, Guilford Park welcomes in several newcomers throughout the pitch that are expected to contribute.
Coach’s outlook: “Despite being a young team without seniors, we refuse to let that be an excuse. Our first year in varsity will be defined by our relentless work ethic and commitment to growth. Every practice, every game, we will push ourselves to compete, improve, and become the best version of our team, one day at a time.”
Hammond
Coach: Elliot Quinteros, fourth season
Last season: 6-6-2
Top returners: Senior Carlos Perez (M); juniors Drew O’Neil (M/D) and Grant Pisone (M/D).
Newcomers to watch: N/A
On the pitch: The Golden Bears lost some key contributors from last year including midfielder Eliot O’Neil who had a team-high 15 goals. Fellow senior DJ Morafa was also an All-County performer. However, Drew O’Neil is back after being named second team All-County and provides stability at midfield and defense. Perez and Pisone bring more speed to the midfield and defense.
Coach’s outlook: “I think we will be decent. We have a large senior class this year and we lost some very important players last year so it will be a bit of a rebuild season.”
Howard
Coach: Nils Schroder, 16th season
Last season: 13-2, 3A state semifinalists
Top returners: Seniors Ashton Bui (M) and Remy Valiente (ST); junior Eben Koffi (M)
Newcomers to watch: N/A
On the pitch: After losing several starters, including 2023 Player of the Year Logan Ehart, the Lions will look for many newcomers to step up. Bui, Valiente and Koffi are three experienced players that will provide speed and athleticism in the attack. All three played last season but will be thrust into increased roles this year.
Coach’s outlook: “We graduated a lot of players from last year’s team. We hope this team can gel quickly, but realistically we are hoping to be playing our best soccer at season’s end.”
Marriotts Ridge
Coach: Quinn Khouri, ninth season
Last season: 9-2-1
Top returners: Seniors Mahmoud Babkir (F), Justin Wu (D) and Nick Wagner (M); sophomore Jake Hammond (M/D).
Newcomers to watch: Senior Gabe Montenegro (M).
On the pitch: Babkir will be a key piece in replacing some of the attacking production from his striker position. Wagner, Hammond and Montenegro will supplement that from the midfield. Wu returns as a leader of the defense after being named first team All-County as a junior.
Coach’s outlook: “We are looking to replace a significant number of goals from our three attacking players who totaled 21 goals last season as seniors. There is a good number of players who played significant minutes last year who are returning.”
Mt. Hebron
Coach: Mike Linsenmeyer, 25th season
Last season: 7-2-2
Top returners: Jonathan Sanchez, Will Kettering, Tyler Hagyard, Chris Belcher, Logan McWright, Luukas Nguyen and Parker Smith.
Newcomers to watch: Lucas Aguilar and Koti Mehta.
On the pitch: Kettering was a first team All-County selection in 2023 and will once again be an integral part of Mt. Hebron’s defense. Sanchez is entering his second season in goal after transitioning from midfield. He was first team All-County last year and anchored a defense that finished with eight clean sheets as Sanchez allowed just four goals. Hagyard, a second team All-County selection in 2023 will further bolster the defense.
Coach’s outlook: “I think the county will be very tight and there is a ton of parity. I think we need to prepare to play our best every game.”
Oakland Mills
Coach: Trevor Shea, third season
Last season: 3-10-1
Top returners: Seniors Victor Ipanaque (M) and Ronaldo Reid (F); juniors John Avery III (D) and Isiah Roach (D).
Newcomers to watch: Freshmen Dustin Stoutenborough (M) and Jack LeNoach (F).
On the pitch: The Scorpions are a battle tested group with experience in contested games. Ipanaque and Reid will be key leaders at forward and midfield, while Avery III and Roach are important pieces defensively. Stoutenborough and LeNoach headline the Scorpions young corps joining the varsity team.
Coach’s outlook: “Last season we had seven games decided by less than a one goal difference. We are hoping to continue growing and being competitive this year. We have a small core of players that have varsity experience and have played together the last two seasons. We hope to build upon our returning players with a solid group of incoming freshmen adding into the mix.”
Reservoir
Coach: Nick Valenti, fourth season
Last season: 11-6-1, 3A South Region II finalist
Top returners: Seniors Adam Hunt (RW), Noah Martin (CB) and Alan Gutierrez (CDM)
Newcomers to watch: Junior Harrison Newkirk (ST)
On the pitch: Hunt, a second team All-County selection last year is a dynamic offensive threat. He finished with six goals and 10 assists last year, while Martin, a team captain will anchor the defense after being named second team All-County as a junior. Gutierrez gives the Gators experience in the midfield group, while Newkirk will be a key piece in trying to replace some of the offensive production the Gators lost.
River Hill
Coach: Matt Shagogue, 19th season
Last season: 14-3, 3A state quarterfinalist
Top returners: Seniors Allan Ying (F), Zach Glass (GK) and Charlie Gerber (M/F); junior Logan Aranda (M/F)
Newcomers to watch: N/A
On the pitch: The Hawks have a lot of experience throughout the pitch without any underclassmen on varsity. Glass is a four-year starter in net, while Gerber and Aranda are key pieces of the midfield. Ying scored twice and added nine assists last season and will be important in replacing the offensive production of 2023 Howard County goal scoring leader Dylan Martinez.
Coach’s outlook: “We have nine starters back from last year, so almost everyone on the field has varsity experience. I’m hoping we can compete in every game, improve on our team defending, and have more balance offensively.”
Wilde Lake
Coach: Jonathan Robbins, second season
Last season: 3-8-2
Top returners: Seniors Drew Hollida (D/M), Evan Figueroa (M) and Aryeh Murphy (D/M); junior Bricen Manderson (F).
Newcomer to watch: Junior Jayden Rivera (ST)
On the pitch: Hollida, Figueroa and Murphy are each four-year starters that give the Wildecats a wealth of experience. Hollida and Figueroa were both second team All-County last year and tied for the team led in points. Manderson was tied for the team lead in goals while Rivera will play an increased role after being up from junior varsity late last season.
Coach’s outlook: “I believe we have a hungry team with a lot of potential.”
![South Carroll wrestling, Francis Scott Key softball, Manchester Valley girls lacrosse and last but not least: Manchester Valley field hockey. Few teams have been as dominant against county competition the past couple of years and Denean Koontz’s program is no exception. Entering her 31st season, Koontz once again enjoys an embarrassment of riches as she glances at her roster. Now a sophomore, Taylor Fique is back along with fellow Player of the Year candidates Sophie Baer and Amanda Herrold to lead one of the county’s deepest lineups. The Mavericks are back and ready defend their undefeated county championship. After a […]](https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/migration/2023/11/08/QT6FPF3NJZD65EEDR2CNSU4VMI.jpg?w=535 "South Carroll wrestling, Francis Scott Key softball, Manchester Valley girls lacrosse and last but not least: Manchester Valley field hockey. Few teams have been as dominant against county competition the past couple of years and Denean Koontz’s program is no exception. Entering her 31st season, Koontz once again enjoys an embarrassment of riches as she glances at her roster. Now a sophomore, Taylor Fique is back along with fellow Player of the Year candidates Sophie Baer and Amanda Herrold to lead one of the county’s deepest lineups. The Mavericks are back and ready defend their undefeated county championship. After a […]")
