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This is the website for the girls varsity soccer team at Northwood High School in Silver Spring, Md. The team's head coach is Carlos Montalvan. The assistant coaches are Melissa Gonzalez and David Edlow.
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Girls soccer honors Martinez and Ulasevich
The Northwood varsity girls soccer team singled out two members for honors for their sterling play during the 2009 fall campaign.
At Northwood's fall sports recognition program on Tuesday night (Nov. 10), the team's two post-season awards were presented to Rachelle Martinez and Mina Ulaseivch as co-MVP's. Martinez has been a stalwart defender since her sophomore year and is one of the toughest and smartest defenders in the county. Ulasevich also has started since her sophomore year, leading the attack for three years and skilled on the ball.
[Photos of award winners appear in
Susan Shaffer's Smugmug gallery.]
The soccer players not only were recognized for their athletic efforts, but for maintaining grade point averages of 3.25 and above during the season. More than 80 percent of the girls soccer team won Minds-In-Motion Awards from the school administration for maintaining at least a 3.25 GPA during the first marking period.
Coach Carlos Montalvan offered a short wrapup of the 2009 season, in which the Gladiators went 2-10-2, following the awards ceremony. He stated as follows:
"Having graduated six starters, we knew it was going to be a rebuilding year, however we took a few more bumps and bruises than anticipated. Our youth was evident at times, seemingly only playing a half, instead of a full 80 minutes. There were some bright spots as well though, as we played well against Magruder and Poolesville, losing only 1-nil to them. In addition, sophomore Mallory Kea was the leading goal scorer with 5 goals and freshman Lizzy Sulc notched four goals of her own -- a clear indication that we have future goal scorers to look forward to.
"We started three talented freshmen this year: Emma Afflerbach, Lizzy Sulc and Laura McAtee. This trio will be exciting to see develop and continue to improve as they were an integral part of the team, both in the attack and defense. Emma provided skill and poise in the midfield, and Lizzy came up with huge saves as our starting keeper, but was a clear force to be reckoned with up top too.
"Finally, Laura orchestrated the attack and provided additional support to the backline as a central midfielder -- she is a talented player and is ready to lead the team next year as a co-captain alongside rising senior Carolyn Bruch and sophomores Mallory Kea and Yamu Sarr. We also had some additional talent join the varsity team this year and I want to thank Alix McAtee, Maya Carver, Ivette Roman and Zoey Rowley for joining the team from other fall sports.
"I want to give a special thanks to our seniors for assisting in developing the girls program since its infancy, four years ago. In addition, three of our seniors, Rachelle Martinez, Mina Ulasevich and Michelle Morris, were all named to the Montgomery County Senior All-Star Team."
A parent supporter, Soffie Ceesay, added her own thoughts on the season just completed:
"A soccer lover's heart cannot but swell with joy, after watching these ladies play, with two or three subs the whole game and sometimes without; with players who'd never played soccer before; and, unlike some players who would take every opportunity to move throws and free kicks a foot or so from where it is supposed to be taken, these ladies are sometimes urged by refs to move it up a little; who the only time you see them react to the roughness of opposing teams is when they've been pushed too far and appear to be in the refs' blind spot.
"Their showing this season projects that they will be a team to contend with next season. Why? They held their own against established powerhouse teams like Blair and Blake, Seneca Valley, Poolesville, Watkins Mill. There is no QUIT." -- posted by jay p. goldman, 11/12/09
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Game 15: Blake 3, Northwood 0
With so many key personnel departures via graduation in June, Coach Carlos Montalvan knew that goals would be a precious commodity for the varsity girls soccer team at Northwood this fall.
And the lack of firepower around the opponents’ net showed up again in the Gladiators’ final outing under the Kaplan Stadium lights on Thursday night, a 3-0 setback to visiting Blake HS in the opening round of the Maryland state tournament.
Blake struck for goals in the 2nd and 33rd minutes of the opening half and salted away the contest with an insurance score just 6 minutes into the second stanza of the West Region Class 3A match.
Northwood did manage some opportunities. The one corner kick was taken by Mina Ulasevich, while she and teammates Michelle Morris, Mia Bullock, Lizzy Sulc, Yamu Sarr and Rachelle Martinez were credited with shots during the match.
The Gladiators played valiantly but were outdone by Blake, whose passes found teammates and ultimately the back of the net. Northwood began with a few give-and-goes that held promise. A few strong plays in the game’s late stages did not materialize in goals, which has been a shortcoming much of the campaign. The Glads were shut out by foes seven times in their 15 matches, including a 3-0 regular season setback to Blake.
Northwood ends its 2009 season with a 2-12-1 won-loss-tie mark. – posted by jay p. goldman with reporting by Soffie Ceesay, 10:25 p.m. 10/29/09
___________________________________________________________________________ Game 14: Sherwood 4, Northwood 0
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The visiting Warriors scored once in the opening half and three times in the latter to inflict a 4-0 loss on the Northwood girls varsity soccer team in the final regular season game on Monday night (Oct. 26).
NHS took three shots at goal -- by Michele Morris, Carolyn Bruch and Mina Ulasevich. The team also had a lone corner kick.
It was another tough loss for the Gladiators, but they played well. The team generally defended well and communicated, which helped to slow down Sherwood's constant attack. Goalie Lizzy Sulc made several good saves.
According to parent correspondent Soffie Ceesay: "Beautiful give and go flurries from Emma Afflerbach to Laura McAtee to Carolyn Bruch.
Never give-up Zoey Rowley outran the forwards, using her speed to stop Sherwood's advances. The ladies left the pitch knowing that they played their hearts out."
| Coach Carlos Montalvan's Glad girls completed the regular ledger with a 2-11-1 overall mark.
By luck of the draw, they have been assigned to host unseeded Blake HS in their post-season playoff in the West Region's Class 3A knockout tournament. That game will kick off at 7 p.m. Thursday.
The Glads can offer some payback when it counts, having suffered a 3-0 defeat to Blake in Game 6 of the regular season. -- posted by jay p. goldman 9:35 a.m. 10/27/09
 Northwood Fall Soccer 2009 Photo Gallery here.
Feedback welcome. Send your likes and dislikes about this team's web page to web editor J.P. Goldman (jgoldman@aasa.org).
_______________________________ Game 13: Seneca Valley 3, Northwood 0 In a physical encounter, visiting Seneca Valley HS spoiled a night when the Gladiators honored its corps of senior class members.
The Gladiators dropped the match, 3-0, under the Kaplan Stadium lights on Friday (Oct. 23) after celebrating the hard work of seniors Samantha Hubbard - GK; Mina Ulasevich - M/F (captain); Mia Bullock - M/F; Michelle Morris - D; and Rachelle Martinez - D/GK (captain). A couple dozen members of the Class of 2009, including several former soccer starters, returned to cheer on their former schoolmates.
Seneca Valley struck first just five minutes into the first half with the other tallies coming after intermission.
Northwood took 10 shots during the game with three free kicks taken by Laura Mcatee, including one curving shot that seemed destined for goal. Mcatee also handled three corner kicks.
In the first half, a combination that involved Mina Ulasevich, Lizzy Sulc, Maya Carver and Emma Afflerbach provided the optimum scoring opportunity. Mallory Kea, Yamu Sarr and Maya Carver effectively filled the backline with several strong returns by Carver.
Following the interval, Sarr, Sulc, Mcatee and Ulasevich found sophomore striker Carolyn Bruch on one good chance, but the visitors kicked it out of danger. Also in the second half, Samantha Hubbard made some saves, Mia Bullock took a nice shot and Bruch�s run was thwarted by a double team. Sarr placed a beautiful ball to Ulasevich, Sulc and Bruch but the latter�s touch was too hard. Michele Morris�s breakaway pressured SV, but the hosts� goalie was up to the task every time.
The setback drops Northwood�s season mark to 2-10-1 in the last game that will count toward calculating the seedings for the post-season state tournament that begins next week. The first-round matchups in West Region Class 3A are expected to be issued on Monday or Tuesday, though the Glads still have one regular-season encounter on Monday, at home versus Sherwood HS. -- posted by jay p. goldman with reporting from soffie ceesay, 4:15 p.m. 10/25/09
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Game 12: Poolesville 1, Northwood 0
The girls varsity soccer team dropped an away contest to Poolesville HS, 1-0, on Wednesday night (Oct. 21).
Sorry, no further details were provided.
The Glad girls now hold a 2-9-1 overall mark, 0-5-1 in the Class 3A/2A East Division. Poolesville is 7-2-1 overall, 3-2-1 in the West Division.
Next up is Senior Night for the Gladiators, 7 p.m. Friday versus Seneca Valley on the Northwood pitch. A final home game is set for Monday night versus Sherwood HS before Coach Carlos Montalvan's charges enter the knockout West Region Class 3A tournament later in the week at a time and site to be determined in a few days. -- posted by jay p. goldman, 9:30 a.m., 10/22/09
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Game 11: Northwood 1, Watkins Mill 0
The girls varsity soccer squad at Northwood secured its mighty elusive second victory of the 2009 fall season, edging visiting Watkins Mill HS on Monday (Oct. 12).
The lone tally came from the foot of Michele Morris in the 20th minute of the first half. The buildup started on a run from the back by Yamu Sarr, who passed off to Laura Mcatee in the middle. Mcatee found co-captain Carolyn Bruch in the wings, and she placed the ball where Morris expected it.
The Glad girls took six shots at goal during the contest, taken by Morris, Blair Morales, Bruch, Mcatee, Alix Mcatee and Maya Carver. Free kicks taken by Laura Mcatee often found Rachelle Martinez in the box, who challenged the Watkins Mill goalie for the ball.
The Northwood squad played to win, pulling the opponents� forwards into offside positions on several occasions. During one seven-minute stretch, the Glads demonstrated their resolve, holding onto the ball in their attacking half of the field.
Northwood goaltender Lizzy Sulc picked up the shutout with some steady work.
The victory was especially sweet for Coach Carlos Montalvan. He's a graduate of Watkins Mill HS and played varsity soccer there a few years back.
Now the Gladiator girls get a 9-day break from competition to savor their win, an odd quirk in the high school soccer schedule this late into the fall season. Northwood visits Poolesville HS on Oct. 21, then comes home for its final two games of the regular campaign, including Seniors Night on Oct. 23.
The Gladiators remain 1-4-1 in the county�s Class 3A/2A East Division with a 2-8-1 overall record. -- posted by jay p. goldman with reporting by soffie ceesay 8:45 a.m., 10/13/09
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Game 10: Einstein 1, Northwood 0
Goals win games in soccer, but they don�t always reflect the caliber of play by the two sides. That was the case in the latest setback of the Northwood girls varsity soccer team, which dropped a 1-0 decision to visiting Einstein HS on Thursday (Oct. 8).
The Gladiators were clearly dominant in controlling the ball for much of this contest, putting no less than a dozen shots on goal. Einstein, on the defensive, had the benefit a 25-member varsity roster, allowing fresh reinforcements on the field throughout both halves. Coach Carlos Montalvan�s Northwood side has persevered with a tiny bench, usually numbering only three or four reserves at a time.
Northwood�s girls were on their game, except in their finishing touches, a nagging pro. Laura Mcatee was deft at ball control, spinning out of trouble to find teammates and dominating the middle of the field despite double and triple teaming. Junior co-captain Carolyn Bruch took a beauty of a shot (�We held our breath, ready to celebrate a score,� one soccer mom put it), but the ball kissed the top of the post and Bruch watched it fly out of play.
Defender Michele Morris was solid in the back for the Glads, collecting balls for sending right back to the front line. Rachelle Martinez also was a force at clearing powerfully from the Gladiators� rear. Mallory Kea was on point with her headers, while Mina Ulasevich pushed through a triple team at one point, placing the ball high into the penalty box for a teammate's header. A pair of left-footed crosses by Yamu Sarr provided additional opportunities. Mia Bullock showed her calm under fire, controlling open balls and accurately connecting with her mates. Zoey Rowley and Blair Morales provided energetic support.
While the host team could not break through for a goal, the official scorebook credited the following with shots at goal: Maya Carver, Mallory Kea; Mina Ulasevich; Laura Mcatee; Carolyn Bruch; Ivette Roman; Yamu Sarr; Michele Morris; Alex Mcatee; and Emma Afflerbach.
Lizzy Sulc was solid in goal for Northwood, even as she was wrestled to the ground by an Einstein player who was challenging her for possession.
The game served as the opener of a boys-girls soccer doubleheader on the Northwood pitch. The Glad girls fell to 1-8-1 overall, 1-4-1 in the county's 3A/2A East Division. Einstein improved its overall mark to 2-4.
Northwood returns to the field on Monday night at Watkins Mill HS in Gaithersburg. -- posted by jay p. goldman with reporting by soffie ceesay, 9:40 a.m. 10/9/09
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Game 9: Rockville 4, Northwood 1
The girls varsity soccer team at Northwood, still in pursuit of victory No. 2 this fall, dropped a 4-1 decision to host Rockville HS in the opening game of a girls-boys soccer doubleheader on Monday (Oct. 5).
The Glads got their one goal inb the opening half by sophomore striker Carolyn Bruch. The Rams held a 2-1 lead at the interval.
When the Rams penetrated deep into the Northwood end in the second half, Yamu Sarr often caught their progress short.
On the other end, a beautiful header by Laura Mcatee went wide. On another threat, Yamu connected with Mia Bullock, who then distributed to Mina Ulasevich. The latter turned around to find Emma Afflerbach running from the right wing. Her blast toward the Ram goal went wide.
Mcatee delivered several beautiful corner kicks but her mates could not convert any ot them.
In the nets, Lizzy Sulc played a strong game, despite the 4-1 final.
The Glads are 1-7-1 overall. They will return home on Thursday, hosting Einstein HS at 5 p.m. -- posted by jay p. goldman, 10:10 p.m., 10/6/09
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Game 8: Northwood 1, Wheaton 1
The girls soccer team plastered the Wheaton goal with shot after shot, but only one managed to cross the goalline, leaving the Northwood side with an unsatisfying 1-1 draw against visiting Wheaton HS on Wednesday night (Sept. 30).
Sophomore Mallory Kea scored the lone marker for Northwood (now 1-6-1 overall), assisted by a flurry of touches among mates Lizzy Sulc, Laura McAtee and Mina Ulasevich, all freshmen.
This was an exciting and fast-paced game under the home field lights. The Northwood offense was relentless, and player communication was excellent. Mia Bullock from the back was able to push up for a chance to score or to create opportunities for others. The Gladiators pounded the Wheaton goal, forcing the Knights� keeper to fend off many of 40 shots that were on target. Northwood also had a half dozen corner kicks as part of its attack.
The Glads had a wonderful chance to break the deadlock in the second half, but a penalty kick by one of the many underclassmen who comprise much of the lineup missed the mark with her boot.
When regulation ended 1-1, the game went into extra time and Northwood kept pushing to the edge of the penalty box, but the Wheaton defense stiffened each time.
The Gladiator chemistry was in a full mix, and team members seemed to want this one badly in the win column. With patience and practice, the ball will find the back of the net more often.
Coach Carlos Montalvan's Gladiators return to the playing field in pursuit of their second victory at 5 p.m. next Monday at Rockville HS, part of a boys-girls soccer doubleheader versus the Rams. -- posted by jay p. goldman with reporting by soffie cessay, 4:50 p.m., 10/1/09
Feedback? What do you like or think could be better about this team's website? Send comments to editor Jay P. Goldman (jgoldman@aasa.org)_______________________________________
Game 7: Kennedy 4, Northwood 0
Northwood and Kennedy found themselves in a hotly contested girls soccer match on Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately for the visiting Gladiators, the game had to be played over two halves as the Gladiators departed with a decisive four-goal defeat.
The two sides went into intermission with a 0-0 draw. The second half opened with promise for Coach Carlos Montalvan's Glad girls with Northwood's players moving up and challenging the Cavalier defense.
But it was all Kennedy in the scoring column � four shots in all reaching the back of the net. The Cavs� first goal in the second half resulted when the Gladiator back line suffered formation confusion. The team never regained its composure and confidence as the Cavs fired away at will, advancing their won-loss mark to 4-2 while dropping Northwood to 1-6..
Northwood hopes its home pitch will encourage a better result in the next match on Wednesday versus Wheaton HS. � posted by jay p. goldman with reporting by Soffie Cessay, 8:55 p.m., 9/26/09
Photos by GameDay/Maryland
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Game 6: Blake 3, Northwood 0
The Lady Gladiators played solid soccer throughout their evening match on Monday (Sept. 21) against a physical Blake HS team, but bowed to the visitors, 3-0.
When the middle ground opened up, Northwood's Mina Ulasevich, Laura McAtee and others sent some beautiful crosses into the front third of the field. Strikers Carolyn Bruch and Maya Carver were on their game with several shots at goal.
Meanwhile, the defense played their hearts out with the foursome of Rachelle Martinez, Mallory Kea, Mia Bullock and Michelle Morris pulling most of the backfield duties. Midfielder Ivette Roman impressed spectators with her patience, guarding ability and strong clears up to the forwards. "It was refreshing to witness the effective calm she brought to her game," one parent commented.
Northwood goalie Lizzy Sulc was outstanding as she stopped a Blake penalty kick and denied multiple shots from reaching the back of the net.
The Gladiators (1-5 overall) return to the playing field at noon on Saturday at Kennedy HS. -- posted by jay p. goldman with reporting by soffie cessay, 5:30 p.m., 9/22/09
Feedback? What do you like or think could be better about this team's website? Send comments to editor Jay P. Goldman (jgoldman@aasa.org)
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Game 5: Clarksburg 4, Northwood 1
Pre-game preparation that included a pasta meal for the entire team didn't provide quite enough firepower and fuel for the girls varsity soccer team, which dropped a 4-1 decision to host Clarksburg HS on Tuesday evening (Sept. 15).
The Gladiators dominated the action in the opening 40-minute stanza, and the Coyotes were rather fortunate to just be in a 1-1 tie at the interval. With only a couple of substitutes on the bench because of lingering injuries from Saturday's doubleheader, Northwood faded in the second half, allowing three goals.
The contest was played under the lights on the victors' home field with rain and mist filling the air.
Both the girls and boys soccer teams had dined on pasta following Monday's practice sessions at the Sligo Creek practice fields, provided by co-captain Carolyn Bruch and her family, in hopes of building up enough energy to overtake the Coyotes following the lengthy road trip to the northern part of the county.
Coach Carlos Montalvan's forces (1-4) will host Blake HS under the lights next Monday at Northwood, part of a boys-girls soccer doubleheader. -- updated by jay p. goldman, 10:40 p.m., 9/16/09
Game 3: Kennedy 1, Northwood 1
(Kennedy wins shootout, 4-2)
Game 4: Northwood 5, Wheaton 1
Northwood's girls varsity soccer team played two games in one day during a four-team tournament hosted by Springbrook HS on Saturday (Sept. 13).
In its first game, the Gladiators lost a hard-fought contest to Kennedy HS on penalty kicks, 4-2, after the regulation finished in a 1-1 draw.
This match was a heartbreaker as Kennedy struck first in the second half, but Northwood quickly responded with a beautiful through ball played by Zoey Rowley, which found freshmen Lizzy Sulc, who calmy picked out the left side netting.
When two overtime sessions did not yield a victor, the game had to go to penalty kicks with Kennedy putting four of its five chances and Northwood only two. The game was certainly a tough loss, but the Gladiators showed a great deal of character, coming from behind and knocking on Kennedy's door throughout the game.
The Gladiators look forward to their regular season rematch against host Kennedy HS at noon on Saturday, Sept. 26.
For the second game, the Gladiators only had 45 minutes of rest after their double overtime game versus Kennedy and the team came out playing tired, lethargic and altogether uninspired. This became evident after Wheaton scored first, but team co-captains Mina Ulasevich, Rachelle Martinez and Carolyn Bruch quickly composed the team and by the end of the first half, the score was Northwood 3, Wheaton 1.
Sophomore standouts Yamu Sarr and Mallory Kea, both defenders, started the scoring, followed by Bruch who took on two defenders and struck the ball outside of the 18-yard line, finding the far post's side netting -- a sizzler of a goal. Sulc and Kea added to the second-half scoring -- with Bruch sending in a beautiful corner kick that was headed into the goal by Kea, a fellow sophomore.
Other notable performances were turned in by senior defender Michelle Morris, who gave both the Kennedy Cavaliers and Wheaton Knights headaches for 180 minutes of soccer. Also, freshmen starter Laura McAtee orchestrated the attack for Northwood masterfully during the Kennedy game, sending many through balls to her forwards.
Coach Carlos Montalvan said in post-game comments: "Although the result of the first game was disappointing, I was very pleased with the team's effort and character -- we showed twice that we could come from behind and to tie and win games. It was also nice to start our goal tally. We look forward toward our rematch in two weeks time."
The girls soccer team (1-3) returns to action on Tuesday evening with a road contest at Clarksburg HS. -- updated by jay p. goldman, 3:55 p.m., 9/14/09
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Game 2: Blair 4, Northwood 0
With two co-captains (both key starters) sidelined for health reasons, the Northwood girls soccer team knew it would be running uphill in its annual showdown against neighboring rival Montgomery Blair HS under the lights Wednesday night (Sept. 9).
Still, the Gladiators put up a valient 80-minute effort against a Blair side that had rolled up lopsided victories in the Battle of the Boulevard during the three previous years that Northwood has fielded a varsity team since reopening as a high school. This year, the final was a shutout win for the visiting Blazers.
Northwood senior Samantha Hubbard, filling in as goalkeeper for one of the sidelined starters, was busy all evening, but she kept Blair off the scoreboard until midway through the opening stanza. She also expressed her thanks at intermission to her right goalpost for stopping two additional shots destined for the nets that instead bounded away.
One soccer mom summarized the match this way: "The awesome foursome in the back, Mia, Yamu, Mallory, Michelle, held a formidable Blair team goal-less for much of the first half of the game. Unlike last year, Northwood's girls soccer has matured, evidenced by the confidence shown in the middle as Mina finds her teammates with every pivot of the ball and Maya always ready to charge the post. The goalkeeper was simply fantastic as she came out aggressively to meet and collect her balls."
The mom picked out two game highlights: (1) when the defense refused all of the Blair breakaways, forcing a corner kick or a throw-in; and (2) that side-turn cross by Mina that took the ball to the mouth of the goal for an opportunity for Northwood to score.
Following the match, Northwood Coach Carlos Montalvan told his team: "I just wanted to commend everyone for their efforts tonight. I thought we played a hard-fought game and we should keep our heads held high as Blair was a very strong team. Let's keep up our work ethic and the tide will change in our favor."
With only three healthy substitutes on the bench for the Blair contest, Montalvan's forces (0-2) hope to be back at full strength on Saturday when the Gladiators visit Springbrook HS for a one-day tournament and next Tuesday when the team heads north to Clarksburg. The next home contest is set for Monday, Sept. 21, versus Blake. -- updated by jay p. goldman at 12:40 p.m. 9/10/09
Game 1: Magruder 1, Northwood 0
It was a heartbreaking start of the 2009 season for the Northwood girls soccer team. Matched against a school that competes in the division for the county's biggest schools, the Gladiators dropped a 1-0 contest on their home field Saturday, Sept. 5.
The match represented Northwood's first in Class 3A, a move up in competition stemming from the school's enrollment growth. Northwood, now with more than 1,400 students, had competed against mostly smaller schools in Class 2A since regaining varsity status three years ago. Their season-opening foe competes in Class 4A.
With several key departures via graduation, Northwood is relying on some young personnel this fall. One of them, freshman Lizzie Sulc, made a sparkling debut as the Gladiators' new netminder. She saved seven on-target shots by the Colonels, including a free kick from just outside the box.
Following the loss to the Colonels, Coach Carlos Montalvan said he was proud of the team's showing. "It was a great job by everyone at the opening game. ... This game will help us as we prepare for the other division games," he said.
The Gladiators will be fighting for neighborhood bragging rights in their next outing -- another home match at 7 p.m. on Wed., Sept. 9 against Montgomery Blair HS. -- story updated by jay p. goldman at 10:05 p.m., 9/8/09.
Fall Soccer 2009 Photo Gallery here.
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