Sports
High School Sports: Boys Soccer Heads Into Action
Liberty looks to return to the state championship game.
Liberty is looking to return to the boys soccer state champion game this year as the season kicks off Saturday.
The Lions came up short in the Class 2A title match with Marriottsville Ridge last season.
Find out what's happening in Eldersburgwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The Knights are led by coach Scott Smith for the 10th year. They were 10-5-2 overall and 5-1-1 in the county last year.
Leading Century will be Pat Eger on defense, Chris Tan in the midfield and Julian Woods at forward. Woods brings speed to the Knights as he won two titles in the state track meet in the spring. He scored four goals last year.
Find out what's happening in Eldersburgwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The Knights kicks off the season Saturday against county foe Francis Scott Key at 9:30 p.m. in the Century tournament.
Todd Muschik is starting his third year coaching the Lions. Last year he led them to the county, conference and regional titles along with the appearance in the state Class 2A championship game. Liberty was 13-4-1 overall and 6-1 in the county last year.
Liberty returns six starters including goalie Ethan DeBandi, forward Sam Lipsky and forwards Brian Bartholomew and Nolan McCoy. Lipsky is a junior while the others are seniors.
Lipsky had four goals and four assists while McCoy added three goals last year.
Liberty opens the season Saturday at 9 a.m. in their own tournament which includes Glenelg, Hammond and Patterson Mill.
Coach Tim Novotny starts his fourth year leading the Cavaliers. They were 11-5-1 overall and 5-2 in the county last year.
They lost to Liberty in the state playoffs on penalty kicks. Novotny views the Lions as the team to beat in the county this fall.
Top returning cavaliers are seniors Ethan McBryde and Branden Mattingly along with juniors Phil Breno and Bobby Spear. McBryde is a forward, Mattingly patrols the defense and Breno and Spear are midfielders.
Top newcomers for South Carroll are junior Kyle Moore and sophomores Brett Basham and Austin Campbell.
Novotny says the outlook for the Cavaliers is to be a top Carroll team and the goal is to "play hard every game."
South Carroll opened the season on the road Friday at 5 p.m. in the Chesapeake tourney.