by Sheldon Shealer
Last year, Maryland won four age group titles, and all four teams are back to defend in 1997.
Here's a look a each Maryland team heading to the regional tournament:
U20: Bethesda Wizards
Once again, the Bethesda Wizards are in the regional title chase.
As U18s, the Wizards won the state cup title, but relinquished it last year when the team lost several players to the Potomac Alliance.
This year, the Wizards beat the Alliance, 3-1, in the state cup final. Mike Burke, Jeremy Price and Darren Virture each scored goals.
U19: Columbia Darby
The Columbia Darby became state champions for the sixth straight year with a 2-1 victory over the Columbia Rangers.
Doug Watson and Brian Foote scored the goals in the state cup final.
The Darby, formerly named the Columbia City United, won its first state title as U14s in 1993. The name was changed to Darby in 1994, and they've won ever since -- and with each year getting closer to the national finals, culminating in last year's runner-up finish.
"There was no doubt we were coming back," coach Tom Graham said. "Our one goal was to win the national championship. As soon as that didn't happen, the focus was put on 1997."
U18: Columbia United
The reigning national champions have a little more riding on this year's postseason play.
"Every player on the roster has a scholarship for college, and they're working hard to get ready for the fall," said team manager Steve Stephenson. "(College is) their incentive for playing hard all summer."
The United coasted through bracket play, but were challenged in the final. Now that they have cleared the state hurdles, United is five wins away from another national championship berth. In last year's regional tournament, Columbia went 4-0-1, outscoring its opponents 22-3.
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U17: SCB Stars & GSP Top Guns
The Stars and Top Guns have become one of the state's most intriguing rivalries.
Between 1990 and 1996, they alternated winning the state cup - every meeting decided by one goal. That string was broken this year as the Stars defended their state title, But after last year's regional championship, the Stars have more lofty goals.
Fortunately, Maryland received the wild card at this age group - and based on past performances it's quite deserving.
SCB outscored its five regional foes, 22-1, last year, while the Top Guns, 1-0 losers to the Stars in the state cup final, sat at home. The Stars eventually lost to La Jolla, Calif., in the national semifinals and settled for a third-place finish.
U16: Beth. Alliance
Bethesda has finally emerged as the force in this age group.
Maryland has sent five different representatives in this group to the regional tournament, and the Alliance appears to be the state's strongest yet.
Last year, the Severna Park Sting reached the regional semifinals. This year, Bethesda sits atop the NCSL Division 1 standings and poses a serious bid to become Maryland's second straight U16 national tournament rep.
U15: CSC Santos
Goal scorers like Jacob Roames and David Choi have helped CSC Santos rise to dizzying heights in only three years.
Santos won the state cup, marking the third different winner in this group in three years. Last year's state champ, the Laurel Wildcats, reached the regional semifinals.
Santos started in NCSL Division 6 three years ago and have risen a division in every successive season, capped with Division 1 status and a state title in 1997.
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U14: Columbia Strikers
There could not have been a more appropriate name for this team.
The Strikers scored four regulation goals to win the state cup. They scored 45 goals in nine regular-season NCSL matches. They're making scoring an art.
But now can they win at the next level?
Columbia dethroned Potomac as the state champion in this group. However, this group has been three-and-done at the regional tournament the past two years.
U13: SCB Bays
The Bays are the fourth regional reigning champion from Maryland.
The team has dominated since coming into existence four years ago. The Bays have lost only four matches in their age group in four years. They made shambles of the state tournament, winning the final 8-0 and outscoring their opponents 34-0 in the five-game event.
Last year, the Bays went 5-0 in the regional tournament, outscoring its opponents 17-0. But coach Bob Mezzarda doesn't expect another push over.
"It's going to be harder, teams improve each year," he said.
The Bays have a 14-player roster, but Mezzadra said, following the regionals, it will be time to grow. The team will hold tryouts for next year's 16-man roster.
U12: BFC '85 Bullets
The Bullets, already two-time state champions, will be making their first regional trip, but they are certainly not inexperienced.
BFC won the Columbia Tournament a week before winning the state cup, and played against five other state champions that weekend.
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