Gaithersburg Sports: GHS Soccer, QO Tennis, WM Football Make Headlines

Athletes and coaches from Gaithersburg, Quince Orchard, Watkins Mill high schools are making news this week for their success.

Gaithersburg athletes and coaches are making headlines this week for their success on the field and tennis court. Gaithersburg High School Soccer Gaithersburg High School's girls' soccer team was expected to show improvement in its second year under coach Greg Kenel, but not to the tune of a 7-0 start, The Washington Post reported. Kenel's squad is one of four remaining area public schools with a perfect record and the lone team in Montgomery County. “I knew we could get [to seven wins]", Kenel told The Washington Post. “It just happened a whole lot faster than I thought.” The Trojans have never appeared in the state playoffs, but as of Wednesday they are tied atop the division standings with four-time defending state champ Bethesda-Chevy …

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VIDEO: 'The Story Has to End the Right Way'

Boys' soccer triumph is Watkins Mill's first team championship in more than a decade.

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And the Mill Marches On

3-1 win over Urbana sends the Wolverines back to Linganore on Tuesday night for the 3A West region finals.

In the ecstatic aftermath of Watkins Mill’s 3-1 playoff win over Urbana on Thursday night, Coach Jeff Heckert gathered his players and reminded them of the singular focus they've shared since the season started. “This is meant to be,” he said. “We’re not done. We have three left.” Three more wins would give Watkins Mill its first-ever state title. The Wolverines took Step Two of Five on their home field’s cramped confines, willing their way to victory with their trademark brand of soccer, swarming to the ball and barely giving the Hawks breathing room, and pushing relentlessly into the offensive third until Urbana’s defense cracked under the sheer abundance of scoring chances. Early on, the outcome wasn’t so obvious. It was Urbana putting …

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Rines' Title Hunt Claims its First Prey

After thrashing Damascus 6-0, Watkins Mill hosts Urbana on Thursday night in the Maryland 3A West semifinal.

Watkins Mill boys’ soccer launched its chase for a first-ever championship in overwhelming fashion against Damascus, pouring in six goals while giving up hardly a shot. The Wolverines forced the issue in Tuesday night's regional quarterfinal with a relentless pressure and a barrage of shots that goalkeeper Alex Werhle and the Damascus defense could fend the Wolverines off for only so long. Under the unflagging attack, the Damascus back line started to falter, missing chances to clear the ball and leaving Wolverines unmarked in dangerous positions. Watkins Mill pounced on those breakdowns for their first two goals. Oscar Carcamo corralled a loose ball near the penalty spot in the 25th minute, pulled back to his right foot and put a lunging …

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Two Years After Accident, Lee Eyes Pro Career

Former Magruder soccer standout Alex Lee is a senior for the top-ranked Maryland men's soccer team.

Alex Lee, a lifelong Rockville resident, can’t remember all of the events of Oct. 10, 2009. And that is probably a good thing. At the time a sophomore at the University of Maryland, College Park, Lee and some friends went out to eat that night in upper Northwest Washington, D.C. After supper, Lee and his Terps soccer teammates were looking to cross Connecticut Avenue near Calvert Street. “We were headed back to campus about 9 or 9:30. I really can’t recall the moment,” said Lee, a former standout at Col. Zadok S. Magruder High School. “My teammates said I walked across the street and did not see the car. I jumped at the last moment and hit the windshield.” Lee was rushed to George Washington University Hospital for skull surgery on the …

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VIDEO: Wolverines Fend Off State Champs Magruder

Colonels score first, then Watkins Mill comes back for 3-2 win to stay unbeaten on the season.

Video by Matt Cruz; photos by Kim Grimes and Sebastian Montes; article by Sebastian Montes In a contentious match full of penalties and physical play, Watkins Mill boys’ soccer took down the Magruder Colonels on Monday night. Magruder, the defending Maryland 4A champs, jumped out to a 1-0 lead on Marcio Pereira’s goal shortly after kickoff. Watkins Mill answered right back when Sergio Mosquera—a midfielder-turned-fullback—put away a deflected corner kick minutes later. Forward William Yougnia gave the Wolverines the lead heading into halftime, then put the Watkins Mill up 3-1 with 12 minutes left when he chased down a long, bouncing pass and lifted his shot over goalie Frank Valladares from 30 yards out. The Colonels pressed in the waning …

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'Sky's the Limit' For Wolverines Soccer

Watkins Mill boys kick off rain-delayed season with 2-0 win in playoff rematch with Quince Orchard.

Article by Sebastian Montes; photos by Andrew Jones. Three rainouts in their first three games: Champing at the bit to pick up from their playoff run last year, Watkins Mill boys' soccer finally got their 2011 campaign underway Monday night with a dominating 2-0 win at Quince Orchard. The anxiety of their long wait showed in the first half in a string of near misses in front of the Cougars' goal. Senior striker William Yougnia whizzed a shot just wide of the left post, hit the same post a few minutes later, and had another try in close turned back by a quick reaction from Cougar keeper Christian Ross. But Yougnia—one of the Montgomery County’s elite sprinters—netted the Wolverines' first goal of the season when he collected the ball with …

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Colonels Have One Game to Go to Reach No. 1

Magruder boys soccer faces Urbana in the state final on Thursday at UMBC

After each playoff game, the Magruder High School boys soccer team held up fingers representing how many more games they needed to win to capture a state championship. After Saturday's win over Severna Park, players held up just one finger. The Colonels (15-1-2) will play Urbana High for the Maryland 4A state championship at 5 p.m. on Thursday at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Magruder last won the title in 2007, with a 5-1 victory over Perry Hall. The seniors on this year's team remember that game. Senior goalkeeper Torsten Meuschke drew comparisons between the leadership on this year's team and that of the '07 Colonels. "This year we have a lot of senior leadership," Meuschke said. "Everything has been clicking now. We …

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