Last spring, programs like Forest Park, Hayfield and Meridian put together deep playoff runs. The Mustangs even captured a Class 3 title, the 12th in program history. As those teams return to the field this month, they look to build on that momentum.
No local team at the Class 6 level went further than Lewis last season. The Lancers made it to the state championship game for the second time in three seasons. But for the second time in three seasons, they fell short.
“That creates that hunger,” Lancers Coach John Millward said. “Picking up where we left off is the goal this year. But ultimately we have to build chemistry in the early season just like everyone else.”
Millward brings back several starters from last year’s squad and his roster features 14 seniors. Returning playmakers include forward Elias Rodriguez, who totaled 18 goals last spring, and key midfielders Moad Ezzahir and Ermias Yoseph. Millward is not worried about any senior’s aspiration to get back to the state playoffs. The early season is all about cultivating that kind of desire in the rest of the roster.
“The coach and the senior captains cannot want this more than anyone else on the pitch,” Millward said. “Everybody has to step up if they want to continue the culture we have tried to set up here. We need to find that insatiable hunger to purse excellence on a daily basis.”
After two runner-up finishes in the past three seasons, the Lancers are hungrier than ever to win a state title.
The Hornets, coming off a Liberty District title and state quarterfinal appearance last season, have generated plenty of preseason buzz.
The Eagles have evolved into a Prince William County power, posting an undefeated regular season each of the past two years.
Seniors Ben Colcombe and Nana Gyamfi headline a Bruins team that made a deep postseason run in 2023.
The talented Highlanders will have their hands full in the ever-competitive Liberty District.
The Yellowjackets return their entire starting lineup, including key seniors Luis Argueta and Jorge Ortega.
Despite losing some of the depth that helped them reach the state semifinal last spring, the Hawks maintain a foundation for success.
8
Washington-Liberty (9-4-2)
Coach Jimmy Carrasquillo’s program is a consistent contender out of Arlington County.
The Mustangs, one of the most successful programs in the state, captured their 12th state title last season.
The Bobcats are expected to be a force in Prince William County after reaching the state quarterfinals last year.
On the bubble: Alexandria City, Langley, Loudoun County, Riverside, W.T. Woodson