Senior-Driven Watkins Mill Boys Soccer Playing with Big Expectations

A year after finishing 10-4-1 and reaching the MPSSAA 3A South regional final, it looks like the Watkins Mill boys soccer team will have another strong season.

The Wolverines are one of Montgomery County's best units thus far, holding a 5-1 mark and already beating tough opponents like Damascus and Wheaton. Watkins Mill's lone loss is to defending MPSSAA 3A state champion Oakdale, and the Wolverines have reeled off four straight wins since that defeat.

"Our style is to keep the ball in possession and attack in numbers," head coach Jeff Heckert said. "Our strengths are a very experienced midfield, and strikers up top."

Indeed, when you look around at the Wolverines' attacking and midfield options, it's easy to see why the team is successful.

The team has four senior midfielders who have started for the varsity during their entire high school careers- 2015 all-state selection Daniel Juresic, Andy Alvarado, Gianfranco Castillin and Jojo Cann. The team's attacking line is led by junior forward Yann Koumi, an all-met selection in 2015.

"Andy and Gianfranco run the midfield for us. Jojo, Danny and Yann are our top attackers," Heckert said. "Walter Gomez is our leading goalscorer right now with three goals. He is also a junior forward. Daniel and Andy are our captains."

Looking ahead, Watkins Mill has a tough slate of games, especially this week when the Wolverines match up with Sherwood and Blake. The team follows that with a heavily anticipated match against another team with one loss currently, Magruder.

The hope is that the team can perform better than it did last year. Heckert admits that despite the team's excellent results, he expected more in 2015. If Watkins Mill continues to perform the way it has to open the season, it looks like the team will be able to live up to its big expectations.

"Our goal is to win the division, win the region and then try and win the states," Heckert said.