B-CC High School Athletics: Soccer Results-Boys

2008 Varsity Boys Soccer

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... The B-CC boys (9-2-4) weren't as fortunate. Playing without starters Chris Woodruff, Adriel Cabello and Stephen Sawicki, who were red-carded for over-celebrating a goal in the teams' previous contest, the Barons played a lethargic first half.

Tuscarora (8-6-2) took advantage to go up 1-0 in the 31st minute, when Titans junior Warren Naylor scored his first career goal. The Barons had their chances in the second half, outshooting Tuscarora, 7-2. But the Titans were content to pack it in and defend.

Senior Luis Mendoza lined up a great shot into the upper right corner in the 59th minute, but Tuscarora senior goalie Mitch Kelman denied it.

"[Tuscarora] knows how to win," B-CC coach Sean Karns said. "They scored on a misclear. Normally if we take enough shots, one goes in. That's been the case. We'll be back, though."

Warren Naylor scored his first career varsity goal as Tuscarora won the 3A West Region title, 1-0, over Bethesda-Chevy Chase, advancing to states for the first time in the program's five-year history. Tuscarora (8-6-2) neutralized B-CC standout Ethan White by marking him with Frank Carvajal and Michael Greene. . . .

Bethesda-Chevy Chase forward Willy Koue's retina-burning yellow head of hair was a reminder that it was time for his team to turn it up a notch.

"It's playoff time, baby," said the senior forward. "Baron pride. This is it; got to go out on top."

The defending Class 3A state champions took a big first step in their quest to go back-to-back, topping visiting rival Watkins Mill 2-1 in the 3A West Region quarterfinals Tuesday. The No. 1 seed entering the draw, the Barons (8-1-4 overall, 5-0-1 Montgomery 3A/2A/1A East) will host Paint Branch — which ousted Damascus, 2-0 — Friday at 5 p.m.

They got there because of a familiar face in an unfamiliar place. Senior Ethan White, who committed to the University of Maryland based predominantly on his skills as a defensive midfielder, scored both B-CC goals in one of his first appearances at striker.

The Barons utilized senior David Williams, ordinarily a target man up top, as a roaming midfielder, giving White, a 2007 All-Gazette first-teamer, the opportunity to play the role of finisher.

It was a smooth transition, to say the least. Sixteen minutes, 51 seconds into the action, White caught up to a lofted header from striker Ben Fernandez, one-touching it over streaking Wolverine goalkeeper John Escobar into the vacated net.

He was dangerous throughout the first half; 5 minutes later, he outraced three Watkins Mill defenders to draw a point-blank shot on goal, which Escobar narrowly saved.

White struck again in the 63rd minute, putting the lead seemingly out of reach. After receiving a short pass from Fernandez at midfield, he used his speed to blow by a defender and circle around the right side of the box, powering an uncontested shot upper-90.

A key cog in his team's title run a year ago, White battled several injuries this year, missing nearly half the season. Now healthy, he expects B-CC's legacy to continue.

"If we do what we did tonight, we think we should win every game," he said. "I don't think we're [overconfident]; we don't come in thinking ‘Oh, we're so much better than whoever we play.' But we do think we should always come up with a win. We've just got to keep our composure."

That could have applied to both teams Tuesday, as an ugly incident transpired in the game's waning seconds. In stoppage time, just after Watkins Mill (5-8-2, 2-3-1) midfielder Henry Fuentes blasted a 25-yarder top-shelf to cut B-CC's lead in half, several players from each side got into an altercation by the Wolverine bench.

Both benches emptied, and punches appeared to be thrown, though no one was ejected. Each side was ordered to its respective bench for 5 minutes before the action resumed. When it did, the Barons effectively possessed the ball, salting away the final minute of extra time.

Oct. 25, Gazette.net: Einstein, Watkins Mill advance in 3A boys soccer

After two overtime periods in the Class 3A West Region first round, freshman striker Obed Agyei banged home the Wolverines' seventh penalty kick, while the Hawks missed on the other end, ending the game.

Agyei also scored with just over 15 minutes remaining in regulation, tying the game at two. Freshman striker Williams Youngia, in his first game with the Wolverines, also tallied a goal and an assist.

"This kid is 6-foot-2, he's just huge," said Watkins Mill coach Jeff Heckert. "Him and Obed were just playing off each other so well."

The Wolverines face No. 1-seed Bethesda-Chevy Chase Tuesday in a rematch of last year's 3A West Region Final. The Barons won that game in penalty kicks.

The air is finally starting to chill, but boys soccer is just starting to heat up across the state. Teams are winding down their regular seasons, and the playoffs are set to begin this week.

The Class 3A West Region draw has been decided, and with first-round games just days away, a couple of teams from Montgomery County have emerged as the favorites.

Where else would you start but with top-seeded Bethesda-Chevy Chase? And deservedly so; not only are the Barons (7-1-3) the defending 3A state champs, but they've returned almost all of the key cogs from their 2007 playoff run, and tied with Northwood for the Montgomery 3A/2A/1A East Division championship.

They have all the tools to repeat: two terrific strikers in seniors David Williams and Willy Koue, one of the best midfielders in the state in University of Maryland-bound Ethan White, and defensive mid Chris Woodruff.

But they've expected to win this year, possibly to the point of overconfidence, which might be their only flaw.

While B-CC is the class of Montgomery County's 3A squads, second-seeded Wheaton (7-3) has been the surprise of the 3A West. While not having quite the firepower as the Barons, the Knights scored just one fewer goal.

The defense has allowed just eight goals all year, tied with Northwood for fewest in the 3A/2A/1A East Division. However, the question remains if Wheaton can hold a dangerous offense like B-CC's off the scoreboard. ...

First Round (Oct. 23-24)
No. 9 Urbana at No. 8 Watkins Mill
No. 10 Kennedy at No. 7 Frederick
No. 11 Seneca Valley at No. 6 Einstein

Quarterfinals (Oct. 28)
Watkins Mill or Urbana at No. 1 B-CC
Frederick or Kennedy at No. 2 Wheaton
Einstein or Seneca Valley at No. 3 Tuscarora
No. 5 Damascus at No. 4 Paint Branch

The 3A Barons beat 4A Whitman for the first time in at least four years in Battle of Bethesda

Even after winning last year’s 3A state title, Bethesda-Chevy Chase boys soccer senior David Williams couldn’t help but feel like his team was still second in its own town.

That’s because Williams had never beaten Bethesda’s other soccer power, 4A Whitman, during his four years.

But that feeling is gone now as Bethesda-Chevy Chase scored a 2-1 win over Whitman on the Vikings’ field and on their senior night Wednesday.

Williams scored the game’s first goal, and Barons senior Chris Woodruff put in the game-winner with 16 minutes, 35 seconds left in the second half. The Barons are now 7-1-3 with their only loss coming against Clarksburg. Whitman falls to 4-4-2.

“This is the King of Bethesda and we got it,” Williams said. “We’ve got the bragging rights.”

The Barons came somewhat out of nowhere last season in winning the 3A state title. Despite their 12-3-2 final record, Bethesda-Chevy Chase was somewhat looked over as Montgomery County’s 4A giants, especially Magruder last year, earned a great deal of respect and attention.

And when it comes to the postseason, the Barons don’t get to challenge the county’s elite. They beat Urbana in last year’s 3A West regional final, then Southern Maryland’s Northern in the state semifinals before topping Bel Air of Harford County, 1-0, in the state finals.

“We always got looked down on because we’re a 3A team,” Williams said. “Whitman was always in front of us. We would never know until we played them. We got a chance and we gave them everything we’ve got.”

Williams scored in the game’s fourth minute when a throw-in was headed backwards by Whitman’s Max Hilbert and bounced over Whitman goalkeeper Zachary Khalifa. Williams found it on the other side and gently volleyed it into the net.

“That takes a lot of pressure off of us because we’re never a first-half team,” Williams said.

It perhaps took too much pressure off the Barons because Whitman immediately pushed the tempo and took control of the game after Bethesda-Chevy Chase took the lead. Senior midfielder Paul Torres made the Barons pay, scoring on an assist from Joaquin Cayrus less than seven minutes after Bethesda-Chevy Chase’s goal.

The two teams played fairly evenly throughout much of the game but a pure soccer enthusiast would have likely preferred Whitman’s game. The Barons centered around an attack with long through balls that allowed Williams and Woodruff to use their exceptional speed while Whitman more patiently worked the ball up the field.

But the Barons’ speed is eventually what killed as a through ball all the way from the defense sprung Woodruff, who finished the game-winning goal low to the far corner.

“When the ball was played to me I knew I had to finish it,” Woodruff said. “I just gave it my all and put it in. … We have fast players up top and players in the middle that can play that ball so we just send them through.”

Bethesda-Chevy Chase is still playing without midfielder and University of Maryland recruit Ethan White, however, as White recovers from a calf injury. Woodruff said he has felt the need to step up without White by his side, but that the Barons have enough players to fill the void until White returns for the playoffs.

What makes soccer so great is the unexpected; no matter who's the better team, all it takes is one bounce, one great play to change the complexion of a game. That very same principle is what has made the 2008 boys soccer season so fun.

At this time a year ago, there were more knowns. Class 4A Magruder was unbeaten en route to a perfect season, Clarksburg was far and away the best 2A team in the county, and Bethesda-Chevy Chase was showing signs of its division, region and state championships to come in 3A. But with this year's regional playoff seeding meeting set for Oct. 18, there are no overwhelming favorites, only a plethora of contenders.

That's because of several surprises that have brought parity to the county fields. And no one has been as surprising as Northwood, which currently tops the 3A/2A/1A East standings at 5-1-1 (4-0-1 in the division). The Gladiators are led by a pair of DeMatha transfers, sophomores Julian Saldana — who scored game-winning goals against Seneca Valley and Paint Branch — and center midfielder Dallas Aminzadeh.

The Gladiators' nemesis is still 3A/2A/1A West Division-leading Clarksburg (6-1-1, 3-0-1), which gave Northwood its only loss (3-0 on Sept. 15) and still may be the slight favorite in 2A thanks to West Virginia-bound striker Peabo Doue. But the gap has shrunk.

"That Peabo, he's got our number; that kid just ripped us up," said Gladiator coach Kurt Logsdon. "But we can hang with the best of them right now. Tying B-CC was our biggest coup, I think."

The defending 3A state-title winners might even be a stronger team than they were a year ago. The Barons' most important pieces — striker David Williams and midfielders Chris Woodruff and Ethan White (Maryland) — have buoyed a 5-1-3 start, while senior Willy Koue leads the team in goals. ...

Pleasant surprise (individual): Willy Koue, B-CC. The Barons won a 3A state championship a year ago because of a lot of players, but the senior forward wasn't one of them. Yet he has come out of nowhere to lead the team in goals through nine games.

Are they ready for another state title? Defending state champions the B-CC Barons are back and ready for another incredible season with Head Coach Sean Karns leading the way. Losing six seniors from last season does not seem to scare senior Ethan White, "With the loss of last year's seniors, we still managed to gain experienced and talented players, and that's going to make our games even more appealing." The team gained a total of eight new players, including Seniors Willy Koue, Phoenix Wright, and John Bonilla, Juniors Haakon Sand, Jamie Martin, Brendan McClafferty, and Henry Powell, and Sophomore Tim McKay.

The Barons are starting the season off on the right foot. B-CC came home undefeated after three games at the Pocomoke Tournament hosted in Ocean City, Maryland. Seniors Willy Koue, Adriel Cabello, David Williams and Luis Mendoza scored multiple goals that led the Barons to a victorious preseason. Luis Mendoza found the experience helpful describing that “the entire tournament brought the team together and has strengthened our chemistry on the field.”

The weather clearly can’t stop the defending state champs. Despite their original first game against Clarksburg being postponed, the Baron’s first victory was in their season opener against the Wootton Patriots on September 9th. Midfielder Chris Woodruff and forwards David Williams and Willy Koue led the team to a win with the help of their defense, including Adriel Cabello, Norman McKay, Che Harvey, and goalie Ethan Collins had many spectacular saves to assist the team with their defeat. At the end of the night, the Barons brought home a 3-0 victory against the Patriots.

B-CC soccer does not believe that losing is an option. During the September 11th game at Poolesville, the Barons came back from behind and brought the game to double overtime, making the final score 1-1 against the Falcons. Senior Chris Woodruff explains that, “even though the team was getting frustrated on the field, we were able to pull together and find ourselves a goal to tie the game. We are definitely learning from that game and are going to use this experience to better ourselves.”

The B-CC Boys Varsity Soccer team is all set and ready for the 2008 season to continue. The new players are prepared to join the existing team and led themselves to another state title. Junior Midfielder Haakon Sand exclaims, “I’m excited for this upcoming season because we are looking really good and I know that we can fulfill our expectations!” It seems like the Barons are excited and charged for the upcoming season and according to Senior Midfielder Adriel Cabello, “We got this.”

Bethesda-Chevy Chase boys soccer striker David Williams was one of several Barons sitting with his head hung low following their double-overtime battle at Poolesville Thursday. The sight is a familiar one to anyone who follows sports; that unmistakable look of pure dejection.

The Barons and Falcons played to a 1-1 tie in Poolesville, but it didn't feel like one on either sideline. While the hosts celebrated, the reigning Class 3A state champions looked like their season had just ended.

"This is a loss to us," said Williams, a senior who led the team in goals a year ago. "We've said it since first practice: You have good teams and you have great teams. Good teams come out like, ‘O.K., we think we can win.' Great teams, no matter what, expect to win. We feel we're the best team in the county and I don't know what happened tonight."

It may have looked melodramatic, but the angst on the B-CC faces shows just how far they've come in two years.

Last year at this time, the Barons (1-0-1) were simply out to prove they were competitive after winning just three games in 2006. But then they boarded a magic carpet ride, including two postseason overtime victories, to the 3A title. And everything changed.

Now, they're shocked when they even give up a goal. When Poolesville (0-0-2) striker Jeyson Ventura ran onto a through-ball and found the lower left corner of the net in the 47th minute, the Barons had allowed their first goal since the 3A state semifinals against Northern (Baltimore County) last November.

Senior striker Willy Koue struck the equalizer two minutes later, but B-CC couldn't quite find the second gear that hallmarked its 2007 run.

"They're so competitive; they're hating this," said B-CC head coach Sean Karns. "I'll tell you what, Poolesville's good. They have a lot of athleticism, a lot of skill, they were dangerous on corners." ...

The Barons have the weapons to win back-to-back. ... They have the stars: senior midfielder Ethan White, a first-team All-Gazette performer a year ago, has committed to University of Maryland. Williams is one of the most explosive forwards in the county. And all but one starter off last year's team are back.

Their 3-0 victory over Wootton in the opener served notice that they're going to be a force once again. But their success has upped the expectations, which is why a tie feels so hollow.

"We completely turned this program around to where we feel we can't be beat, we have to beat ourselves every time we go on the field," said back Chinelo Harvey. "It's us versus us to the state finals, us versus us in games versus Poolesville or Wootton. We're building a dynasty now, and we expect to be on top. We expect B-CC to be on top of the tables every single year from now to infinity. That's what we're upset about now."

... Over in the 3A/2A/1A East, Bethesda-Chevy Chase is coming off a really good year, a state championship-winning year, to be exact. The Barons' magic carpet ride included dramatic overtime victories over Watkins Mill and 3A North Region champion Franklin of Baltimore County, prior to a 1-0 title-winning ouster of Harford County's Bel Air.

Their two big guns from a year ago are back, leading scorer David Williams and All-Gazette first-team midfielder Ethan White, who recently committed to Maryland.

"We're looking good, man, really good," said B-CC head coach Sean Karns. "Ethan's back; I didn't even know he'd be back. And Dave, he's on fire right now. It's going to be fun."

Head coach: Sean Karns, 2nd year
Last year’s record: 12-3-2
Last state title: 2007 (5th)
Players to watch: Ethan White (Sr., M), David Williams (Sr., F)

Club soccer teams in Montgomery County often seem like a "Who's who" of the best high school teams in the area.

But take a look at the roster of the now-defunct Bethesda Roadrunners, listed appropriately under the subject-heading "Where are they now?" on the team's Web site. ...

[Paul] Torres, a first-team All-Gazette midfielder with Whitman last fall, was recently selected onto the U-18 National Team pool. He also has verbally committed to Maryland, as did D.C. United youth teammate and Bethesda-Chevy Chase senior midfielder Ethan White. ...

The U-16 D.C. United squad features several other county products on its 26-man roster, including Blair striker Mikey Funes, Sherwood defender Mauriccio Navarrette, Whitman defender Dominick Yin and B-CC midfielder Jamie Martin.

... Defending 3A state champion Bethesda-Chevy Chase, behind MF Ethan White, is also expected to be strong.

After three of its most dramatic wins put it in the Maryland 3A state championship, the Bethesda-Chevy Chase boys soccer team ended its season Saturday with slightly less suspense, but more in touch with its postseason destiny.

All it took was one feel-good moment, when junior striker David Williams, who didn’t make the varsity team last season, found the net three minutes into the second half to give the school its fifth-ever boys state soccer title in a 1-0 win over Harford County’s Bel Air High School.

Saturday’s championship game at South River High School in Edgewater may not have elicited the suspense that November’s playoff games had, but the outcome was just as sweet for a team that hasn’t claimed a state title since 2001.

‘‘I was expecting such a close call that it hasn’t even hit me yet,” said first-year B-CC head coach Sean Karns. ‘‘I think I was so emotionally drained from the Watkins Mill-Urbana-Northern games that I was numb by tonight. When David scored, I actually turned to my assistant coach and said, ‘Why am I not doing a back flip right now?’”

B-CC’s postseason run might be described by many as miraculous, so much so that holding a lead for nearly 40 minutes in the second half against Bel Air seemed all too easy for the team.

It took every bit of reserve for the Barons, who finished the season with a 12-3-2 record, to even get to the state championship game.

In the 3A West Region semifinals with Watkins Mill on Nov. 3, the Barons trailed 1-0 well into stoppage time, just seconds from playoff elimination. But Williams headed in a corner kick 30 seconds before the final whistle, and sophomore midfielder Ben Fernandez converted the team’s fifth and final shot in penalty kicks to send B-CC to the regional final.

‘‘Our whole team had been saying it since day one — state champs,” Fernandez said after the game against Watkins Mill, moments after ripping his shirt off and running maniacally around the field.

The heart-pounding postseason continued in the regional final against Frederick County’s Urbana on Nov. 6, when B-CC again found itself behind by a goal until junior Ethan White tied the score at 1-1 midway through the game.

Then early in the second half, Williams knocked in the game-winning goal to put the Barons in the semi-finals for the first time since 2004.

But even before the barons made the trek to play Calvert County’s Northern High School in Hagerstown on Nov. 10, the team was starting at a deficit. White, the team’s cornerstone at center midfielder, drew two yellow cards in the Urbana game — twice called for a ‘‘ dangerous slide tackle” — and had to miss the state semifinal match-up.

In that game, the Barons trailed 3-1 midway through the second half, which they played a man down after midfielder Gil Kirk received a red card for kicking an opponent in the leg.

But fate had the Barons in approval. Fernandez cut the lead to one, then junior Chris Woodruff’s late goal provided the equalizer. And in double overtime, Woodruff followed up a tremendous solo effort from Williams by blasting his slow cross into the net, sending B-CC to the state final.

‘‘We were down this year a lot, and we just didn’t give up — that’s what we’ve got over every other team,” Williams said. ‘‘Usually when teams get down, they start playing worse. When we were down, we just kept fighting harder. The players just want it so bad. This team ... is unbelievable.”

If a picture is indeed worth a thousand words, the image of Bethesda-Chevy Chase’s boys soccer standouts Ethan White and David Williams embracing at the end of their team’s 1-0, Class 3A state championship game victory over Harford County’s Bel Air would be worth a million.

The juniors have played together since the seventh grade, and may never play together with the Barons again. It’s possible that White will actually be playing in France next year, with the French professional team Bordeaux.

But none of that mattered on Saturday night, as the two heroes of the Barons’ title-winning team doggy-piled on the ground in celebration. They were part of a team that had finished just 4-8-1 the year before, a far cry from teams of yesteryear that had made the state playoffs four straight years from 2001 to 2004. And they certainly weren’t predicted to get anywhere near South River High School in Edgewater for the state’s season finale.

‘‘I knew we were going to do it,” said White, whose brother Nigel starred on the team’s last state champion six years ago (2001). ‘‘I knew we could do it last year. We just played together and never got down on each other ever. It’s the best feeling.”

The team’s two leading scorers on the season, White and Williams entered the state final with a combined 15 goals.

And they were both instrumental on Saturday night. After a relatively quiet first half on all fronts, the Barons (12-3-2 record) struck almost without warning as the second half began. Freshman forward Stephen Sawicki threw a long pass into the box that skipped to Williams, a first-year varsity player, who quickly turned and rifled a shot into the right corner of the net.

‘‘When we get on the bus, this will all go through my head,” said Williams. ‘‘I wanted to get moved up last year, but they didn’t give me a chance. I got my chance and I showed them what they missed.”

His performance climaxed a tremendous postseason, in which he scored a game-tying goal against Watkins Mill in the 3A West Region semifinals, a game-winner against Urbana in the regional final, and assisted on junior forward Chris Woodruff’s game-winner against Northern in the state semifinals.

White saved his heroics for the defensive end. A back by nature, he has adeptly played out of position at center midfield for the Barons all season. Yet with the game in the balance, he made an instinctive slide tackle on Bel Air forward Nick Burdick with just over five minutes to go. Burdick had the ball on his foot just short of the penalty box, and Baron goalkeeper Roger Kirk was in a precarious position, but White deflected the ball out of bounds. It was the Bobcats’ best and last chance.

Among other heroes for B-CC included Kirk, who made two diving saves late in the second half. And the Barons’ backfield of senior Bruce Spake, Chinelo Harvey, Mark Maalouf and Adriel Cabello were nearly flawless, not allowing a Bel Air (15-4-1) shot on goal for the first 60 minutes of the game.

All laid triumphantly on the field clutching the state championship trophy while first-year head coach Sean Karns simply smiled and exhaled.

‘‘To be honest, I’m really glad it’s over, and so is my wife,” said Karns. ‘‘What an exciting year, huh? Too exciting. But you know, I really wasn’t ever scared like, ‘Oh my God, they’ve got us.’ I was confident. The boys deserve it and I knew they were going to pull through.”

From the moment his teammates put it in his hands, David Williams could not look away. Distractions surrounded him, but his attention never wavered.

The Bethesda-Chevy Chase star couldn't help it. He never had held a state championship trophy.

Williams scored in the fourth minute of the second half and the Barons' defense stiffened when necessary to give B-CC a 1-0 win over Bel Air last night in the Maryland 3A boys' soccer title game at South River.

Afterward, the Barons (12-3-2) engaged in an "Olé!" chant with their fans, but Williams barely participated. He just kept staring at the trophy. When team pictures were finished and the rest of his teammates stood, Williams stayed on the ground, eyes still stuck on the tiny gold-painted soccer player.

"Halftime, he comes into the huddle and he's crying," Barons Coach Sean Karns said of Williams, a junior in his first varsity season. "He wants it more than anyone does. He's a big inspiration to this team and program."

The goal came after a throw-in toward the box was deflected to Williams, who stood roughly 15 yards from the goal. He touched it once, turned toward the middle and hit a solid shot into the right side of the net.

"It was slow motion," said Williams, who also set up the winning goal in the Barons' semifinal victory. "I couldn't believe it went in."

"I think [defender] Mark Maalouf set a record for slide tackles in that game," said Roger Kirk, B-CC's senior goalkeeper. "Mark, Chinelo [Harvey] and Norman [McKay] all stepped it up and played amazing. I didn't have to do that much."

Party of Five: Bethesda-Chevy Chase has won five state boys' soccer titles (also in 1980, 1982, 1984 and 2001).
No PKs, Please: By preventing the tying goal, Bethesda-Chevy Chase avoided overtimes and the potential of penalty kicks. Bel Air had won its previous three playoff games on penalty kicks.

The Barons boys soccer team’s playoff run came to an end Monday night as B-CC fell 1-0 at home to the Tuscarora Titans. The Barons seemed flat from the outset and struggled in the opening period against the intensity displayed by the Titans. It took 19 minutes before the Barons took their first shot on goal, which missed high. The Titans had few scoring chances, but they seized an opportunity in the 31st minute to go up 1-0 when the Barons failed to clear a free kick from distance. The ball was won inside the box by a Titans player, who then finished from close range.

The Barons’ intensity picked up in the second half as they controlled possession for a large majority of the period and were able to create a number of scoring opportunities. Unfortunately they could not find the back of the net and were left to rue their missed chances as the determined Titans did enough to hold on to the win and advance to the state semifinals.

The B-CC boys soccer team played the Watkins Mill Wolverines in a 3A West regional quarterfinal game at B-CC Baron Field on a blustery Tuesday night. The Barons played a 4-5-1 formation with forward Ethan White alone up top. He would turn out to be a constant menace to the Wolverines back line the whole night.

The Barons started the game with a great deal of energy and pressure. The pressure paid off in the 19th minute when the Wolverines failed to clear a deflection in their own penalty area. With several defenders in the area Ethan White controlled the loose ball and volleyed a shot past the Watkins Mill keeper. The score was B-CC 1, Watkins Mill 0 at intermission.

In the second half Watkins Mill came out more focused, and their midfield was able to create several scoring chances that goalie Ethan Collins and the defense were able to stop. With 16 minutes left in the second half B-CC midfielder Chris Woodruff found a streaking Ethan White on the right wing. White beat the defender and moved toward the goal, and when the Wolverine goalie moved forward to take the angle away, White shot the ball low to the short side of the goal. This goal proved to be the game-winner.

Senior defenseman Norman McKay, who normally anchors the Barons defense, was injured in the first minutes of the game and did not return the rest of the night. The Barons' goalie, Ethan Collins, and the back line of Chinelo Harvey, Adriel Cabello, Stephen Sawicki, and Patrick McNeil played a solid game defending. The group gave up just one goal late in the game.

With less than two minutes to play a shoving match occurred on the sideline near the Wolverine bench over a throw-in. This stopped the game for a few moments, and when the game resumed, a Watkins Mill coach had been ejected for unsportsmanlike behavior, and a Barons player had received a red card for unsportsmanlike conduct.

The Barons' record now stands at 8-4-1 going into Friday night’s 3A regional semifinal game against Paint Branch.

The Barons boys’ soccer team played Sherwood to a 0-0 tie (2OT) on Tuesday night at B-CC. It was a festive senior night, and the inspired Barons’ squad had the better of the match against their 4A opponent, including several quality chances in overtime. In fact the final whistle blew as the Barons’ Ethan White was on the run with the ball, clear of the Warriors’ back line with only their keeper to beat, but it was not meant to be for the Barons on this cold and blustery evening.

Prior to the game the team’s 11 senior classmen were honored: John Bonilla, Adriel Cabello, Aaron Fine, Che Harvey, Willy Koue, Norman McKay, Luis Mendoza, Ethan White, David Williams, Chris Woodruff, and Phoenix Wright.

This was the final game of the regular season, and the Barons finished with a 7-1-4 record. The team earned the top seed in the 3A West region and a bye for the first-round playoff games. The Barons will begin defense of their state title next Tuesday at B-CC.

A very sharp B-CC boys soccer team won its annual Bethesda neighborhood rivalry game at Whitman Wednesday night, 2-1. During the pre-game warm-ups it was clear the Barons were focused, and they wasted little time after the opening whistle to gain an advantage. In the 3rd minute, Stephen Sawicki launched a long throw-in from just inside the offensive half towards David Williams. Following a high bounce on the firm playing surface, David popped the ball with his head over the outstretched arms of the Whitman keeper. He continued his run onto the ball and easily finished the shot to put the Barons up 1-0.

Whitman is a poised team and was not rattled finding itself in an early hole. The Vikings demonstrated skilled ball movement, leading up to a well executed strike inside the box to level the game at 1-1 in the 10th minute.

The Barons’ direct style of play placed constant pressure on the Whitman defense. The midfield of Luis Mendoza, Nick Van Hollen, Patrick Mehlert, Ben Fernandez, and Jamie Martin looked assured in possession and played a solid game against the talented Whitman midfield, which was clearly the strength of its team.

While a number of the Barons’ attacking runs were a split second early and fell victim to the Vikings’ offside trap, a brilliant combination in the 70th minute proved decisive when Ben Fernandez slotted a long, angled ball into Chris Woodruff’s path. Chris controlled the ball in stride and with only the keeper to beat drove a low hard shot into the bottom corner of the net to put the Barons up 2-1.

Whitman showed urgency during the game’s final 10 minutes, but the Barons’ disciplined back line of Che Harvey, Adriel Cabello, Stephen Sawicki, and Norman McKay, along with keeper Ethan Collins, held the Vikings from scoring an equalizer.

The Barons are showing signs of consistency late in the season that should serve them well in the upcoming playoffs.

The B-CC boys’ soccer team notched an important victory Tuesday night at Seneca Valley, topping the Screaming Eagles 3-1. The victory puts the Barons at 4-0-1 in divisional play and gives them a share of first place with the Northwood Gladiators.

There was little doubt as to the outcome, as the Barons controlled the game from the outset. Injuries caused Coach Karns to make adjustments to the starting lineup, but he has a deep, talented roster to work with, and the team looked as good in the first half as it has all year. Luis Mendoza was shifted from left wing to central midfield, where he managed the flow of the game beautifully and distributed the ball timely and on target to attacking teammates.

Following a steady buildup of play leading into the 5th minute, Aaron Fine sent a cross from the left side that found Ben Fernandez in front of the Seneca Valley goal that he easily finished, giving B-CC a 1-0 advantage. That lead grew to 2-0 just two minutes later, when Stephen Sawicki sent a long throw-in from the left side that found Luis in the box. The Screaming Eagles’ goalkeeper was able to block Luis’ shot, but David Williams was poised for the rebound and drilled it into the net for the score.

The Barons face Whitman Wednesday night, so Coach Karns went to his bench early, and the entire roster saw extensive playing time in the first half. Seneca Valley cut the lead to 2-1 in the 64th minute, taking advantage of an opportunity when the Barons failed to clear the ball in their defensive third.

The confident Barons extended their lead to 3-1 in the 71st minute, when another attacking throw-in from Stephen found the head of a soaring David that he nodded in for his second goal of the night. The remainder of the game was played with little drama as the Barons improved to 6-1-3 overall.

The B-CC boys soccer team came away with an important 2-1 division win at Einstein Monday night. The Barons were at a disadvantage, playing without injured starters Ethan White and Nick Van Hollen, as well as David Williams, who was sitting out for a red card suspension. The Barons were also up against a scrappy opponent on a very bumpy playing surface.

Einstein struck first in the 16th minute, taking advantage of a lapse in play by the Barons to go ahead 1-0. The Barons responded in the 20th minute when Willy Koue got behind the Titans’ defense near the middle of the field, made a long run with the ball and finally slipped it past the diving Titans’ goalkeeper to even the score at 1-1.

Einstein pursued aggressively, and with the bumpy playing surface the Barons were not able to control possession the way they typically would. The Barons did show poise in picking their spots to attack. After several near-misses by the Barons at the beginning of the second half, Jamie Martin sent a perfectly weighted ball over the Titans’ back line to Ben Fernandez, who took control of it near the top of the box on the right side and finished strongly to put B-CC up 2-1.

Einstein’s chances were limited as the Barons showed strong resolve on defense in the second half.

The B-CC boys soccer team played to a tough 1-1 draw Friday night at home against the Northwood Gladiators. Northwood entered the game with a 4-1-1 record and was clearly up for taking on the Barons. The game was played evenly until the Barons gained a break through goal in the 21st minute. David Williams found himself isolated one-on-one with a defender on the right side of the offensive third. David started to the outside, then made a nifty cut back to the left, and stroked a left-footed shot to the near post to beat the keeper and give the Barons a 1-0 lead.

The Barons began to assert control of the game behind the solid midfield play of Nick Van Hollen, Chris Woodruff, Jamie Martin, Patrick Mehlert, Ben Fernandez, and Luis Mendoza and a stubborn back line of Stephen Sawicki, Che Harvey, Adriel Cabello, Patrick McNeill, and Norman McKay. Strikers Willy Koue and David Williams were a constant menace in the Northwood defense. Keeper Ethan Collins was tested on a couple occasions and was able to keep the Gladiators in check.

While the Barons dominated possession, they fell victim to one opportunistic moment from the Gladiators. The Barons opened the second half with two good chances to score in the first 10 minutes, but came away empty. In the 51st minute, the Gladiators played a long ball in transition to their lone striker, who skillfully gained position on the Barons’ defender, controlled the ball, and fired it into the net to tie the game 1-1.

The Gladiators did threaten again, but it was the Barons who had the decided advantage of possession and shots on goal. The game went into overtime and B-CC continued to dictate play, even after losing a man to a red card. The final whistle blew just after the Barons missed one last heartbreaking chance from close range, and the frustrated home side settled for its third tie of the season.

The B-CC boys' soccer team put on a solid display Wednesday at Wheaton, topping the Knights 2-1. Despite playing on poor field conditions, the Barons dominated possession throughout the evening and limited Wheaton to only a handful of shots on goal. Of course in soccer it's whether you're able to take advantage of your opportunities, and Wheaton did just that by seizing on a miscommunication by the Barons in the 19th minute to go ahead 1-0.

The Barons are no strangers to playing from behind this season, and their patience and composure allowed them to even the score 8 minutes later. Jamie Martin touched a free kick to Patrick Mehlert about 30 yards out on the left side. Patrick took one touch, then sent a long cross towards the far post to Ben Fernandez, who volleyed the ball back across the goal to Nick Van Hollen, who drilled it into the back of the net to tie the score 1-1.

The go-ahead goal for the Barons came in the 48th minute, when Patrick drew a couple of defenders deep on the right side and played the ball back to Norman McKay, who immediately sent a long diagonal ball to the mouth of the goal, where it found a charging Nick, who headed the ball in for his second goal and a 2-1 advantage.

The Barons played a 4-5-1, and David Williams and Phoenix Wright, taking turns playing alone up top, were a constant menace to the Knights' back line with their constant runs and pressure on the ball. The Barons' midfield of Jamie, Patrick, Ben, Nick, Luis Mendoza, Brendan McClafferty, Aaron Fine, John Bonilla, and Haakon Sand did a great job of controlling possession and keeping the Knights locked in their defensive half. The Barons' back line of Norman, Stephen Sawicki, Adriel Cabello, Che Harvey, Patrick McNeill, Tim McKay, and Henry Powell were involved in the attack and solid in defense. Keeper Ethan Collins was not called on often, but was steady in the goal.

The Barons improved their division record to 2-0 and are 4-1-2 overall.

The Barons boys soccer team showed improved form in a game not contested as close as the final score would indicate. Playing at home on Wednesday night against Paint Branch, the Barons moved the ball well and controlled possession throughout.

B-CC jumped on top 1-0 in the 7th minute when David Williams nodded in a Stephen Sawicki throw-in. Stephen's throws in the offensive third of the field come into the box much like corner kicks and are a great offensive weapon. David's goal was the first time this season that the Barons were able to convert one for a score. The score remained 1-0 at the half.

The Barons started the second half with great energy and pressure on the ball. In the 42nd minute Stephen made another throw-in that the Panthers failed to clear. Norman McKay gathered in the ball on the right side of the box and hit a shot that was headed just wide of the far post, but David Williams was in a perfect spot to intercept the ball and drill it into the back netting to put the home side up 2-0. The Barons lost a man to a red card in the 50th minute, but still managed to control the flow of the game with continued quality play from David, Ethan White, Ben Fernandez, Nick Van Hollen, Patrick Mehlert, Luis Mendoza, Jamie Martin, Adriel Cabello, Stephen, and Norman.

Paint Branch cut the lead to 2-1 in the 70th minute when, after intense pressure defending their goal, they finally mounted a counterattack and created a five-on-three break. Keeper Ethan Collins, who had enjoyed a pretty quiet evening till then, made a great block on the Panthers' first shot. Unfortunately, there was another Panther positioned to follow up the block and convert it for a score.

The Barons responded 5 minutes later when Tim McKay took a shot from deep on the left side that sent the Panthers' keeper diving towards the far post to deflect the shot. The Barons' Phoenix Wright had smartly followed the play and was perfectly positioned to take advantage of the deflection and drove home his first goal of the season for a 3-1 Barons advantage.

Paint Branch came up with another goal in the game's final minute to cut the lead to 3-2, but the Barons, behind hard work from John Bonilla, were able to control the ball at the end and run out the clock.

Also contributing to the win were Che Harvey (injured early), Chris Woodruff, Willy Koue, Aaron Fine, Patrick McNeill, Brendan McClafferty, Henry Powell, and Haakon Sand.

This was the first division game for the Barons, and their overall record improved to 3-1-2.

The Barons boys soccer team has struggled to find consistency in the early part of the season, and Saturday was no different, as they tied Kennedy 2-2 at home. There were a number of shifts in momentum during the game, with the Barons looking very crisp at times and controlling the flow of the game, but at other times a skilled Kennedy midfield seemed in control. And while the Barons failed to convert their early chances, Kennedy was more opportunistic. The Cavaliers' first goal came in the 7th minute following a Barons foul in their defensive third of the field. Kennedy quickly put the ball in play and, with attackers outnumbering defenders, skillfully drove home a goal for a 1-0 advantage.

As with other games where they have given up the first goal, the Barons responded with poise and created several scoring chances of their own. The Barons tied the game 1-1 in the 27th minute as Ben Fernandez sent a cross into a crowded box that Adriel Cabello was able to control and convert for the score.

Kennedy moved ahead in the 55th minute as their center midfielder sent a perfectly weighted ball behind the Barons' back line that their striker fired home for a 2-1 advantage.

Relentless pressure from the Barons' front line of Willy Koue and David Williams, midfield of Nick Van Hollen, Luis Mendoza, Patrick Mehlert, Ben Fernandez, and Ethan White, and back line of Che Harvey, Stephen Sawicki, Adriel Cabello, and Norman McKay yielded a result late in regulation to tie the game 2-2. In the 75th minute, Norman sent a long clearance down the right side to Ethan, who made a beautiful run past Kennedy defenders and then sent a perfect cross to Willy, who headed home the equalizer.

B-CC showed itself as the better team in the two overtime periods, dominating possession, but were unlucky on scoring chances and unable to come up with a winning goal. The Barons' record is now 2-1-2.

The Barons lost their first game of the season at home on Wednesday night, falling 1-0 to the Clarksburg Coyotes. An evenly played first half was scoreless, but it took the Coyotes little time after the restart to find a crack in the Barons' back line to score a well-crafted goal that keeper Ethan Collins had no chance to save. The Barons responded with more urgency in their attack and created chance after chance, but could not come away with a score. Clarksburg dropped all eleven players into defense for much of the remainder of the game and provided a stubborn resistance against the Barons' pressure.

Monday night's home opener against Watkins Mill was a rematch of last year's regional semifinal, and again the Barons were victorious, although this game was not nearly as dramatic, and the Barons had little trouble dismissing the Wolverines, 2-0. The Barons enjoyed the bulk of possession in the early going and mounted several scoring chances. The Barons' first score came in the 20th minute by a hustling Willie Koue, who scored his third goal in as many games. Chris Woodruff started the sequence by slotting a nice pass down the right side to David Williams, who struck a solid shot that appeared to be bending just wide of the far post. Willie had wisely continued his run down the center of the field following the play and was in perfect position to finish off the shot and give the Barons a 1-0 lead.

The Barons opened the second half with energy and purpose and again controlled the bulk of possession. Their second goal came in the 51st minute, and it started with a long clearance by Norman McKay down the right side to David Williams. David gathered the ball in and centered a cross to Willie Koue, who flicked it to the left side to an oncoming Chris Woodruff, who buried it in the net to double the Barons lead.

Watkins Mill rarely threatened, and the Barons' midfield and defense played solidly throughout. Coach Karns substituted liberally, and everyone saw playing time. The Barons improved their record to 2-0-1.

A very happy Poolesville crowd walked away from its stadium Thursday night after a hard-fought eighty minutes of regulation play and two ten-minute overtime periods with a 1-1 draw. The Barons controlled the midfield and enjoyed the better of the attack in the early going. The Falcons dropped nine players into the defense at times and were fortunate that the good looks created by the Barons resulted in shots that were either just wide or over the goal. The first half ended at 0-0.

The Barons were flat at the start of the second half, and a pressing, opportunistic Poolesville team created a nice 1-2 combination just inside the box that resulted in a breakthrough goal to put them ahead 1-0. The goal seemed to give a wake-up call to the Barons, who responded just two minutes later to tie the game at 1-1. Ben Fernandez worked his way around the right side of the Falcons' defense and delivered a nice pass to Willie Koue, who drove it home from close range. The remainder of regulation play was very physical, with a frustrated Barons side not able to put away a decisive goal.

With a dangerous free kick floating to the mouth of the goal and two Falcons players running at it, goalie Ethan Collins stepped in to make a nice save.

Another Poolesville chance missed just wide. The Barons were much more the aggressor in the second overtime period, controlling the ball and generating several chances. Unfortunately none found the goal, and the Barons had to settle for the draw.

Last year's state champion showed it hasn't lost much as it started off the season on Tuesday night with a convincing away win over the Wootton Patriots. The first half was played with David Williams, Willie Koue, and Chris Woodruff providing constant pressure on the attack. Solid midfield play from Ben Fernandez, Jamie Martin, Nick Van Hollen, and Luis Mendoza helped control the flow of the game and provided the Barons with the majority of possession in the half. The back line of Adriel Cabello, Che Harvey, and Norman McKay were solid in defense. Keeper Ethan Collins played very steady and made a diving save in the 25th minute to thwart one of several quality chances the Patriots were able to create. Despite the Barons' composed play, the half ended 0-0.

The second half proved to be all Barons. In the 8th minute, Chris Woodruff took a shot from distance that was deflected off a Wootton player. Che Harvey's head was first to the ensuing corner kick directing the ball up and towards the goal. Then in an amazing athletic move that only he could make, David Williams soared above the outstretched arms of the keeper and nodded the ball across the goal line, giving the Barons a 1-0 lead.

Wootton responded by pressing on the attack, and Ethan made two vital saves over the next 10 minutes. The Barons, though, remained poised and continued their own attacking play. In the 25th minute, Patrick Mehlert hit a short corner to Jamie Martin, who crossed the ball into the box to Willie Koue, who confidently struck it into the net, giving the Barons a 2-0 lead.

Five minutes later the Barons were on the attack again, with David Williams blasting a shot that the Wootton keeper did well to block. Unfortunately for Wootton, the denied shot found its way to Chris Woodruff, who took one touch and drilled a shot into the back netting, upping the Barons advantage to 3-0.

Coach Sean Karns made liberal substitutions during the game, with Stephen Sawicki, Patrick McNeill, Patrick Mehlert, Aaron Fine, John Bonilla, Tim McKay, Haakon Sand, Brendan McClafferty, Henry Powell, and Phoenix Wright all seeing quality playing time.

Varsity Boys Soccer Results