Boys soccer's exciting, surprising season ends

The brilliant season of the 2001-2002 boys soccer team ended at Blazer Stadium on Oct 30, as they lost to the rival Springbrook Blue Devils 0-2. In a 9-5 season filled with dizzying highs and paralyzing lows, the finish seemed, to the fans, almost unfair to Coach Adrian Baez's surprising squad. At one point, the Blazers had a six-game undefeated streak and were ranked seventh in the region by The Washington Post.

Though the Blazers played a tight, controlled and aggressive offense, and continually put pressure on the Springbrook, they were not able to score. Springbrook often did a good job of isolating Blair forwards and midfielders with many defenders, pushing them away from the goal. Coach Baez believed that more pressure on the Springbrook goalkeeper was needed. Baez also thought the ball was being taken away at midfield far too often.

Though Springbrook contained the Blair offense, junior midfielder Alieu Terry and senior forwards Donald Fon and Kodjo Gnatiko challenged the deep defense of the Blue Devils. Senior midfielder Sampson Geeplah had a fantastic game of steals and breaks; his play drew wow's from the large Blair crowd.

Blair's defense was also solid. Senior goalkeeper Eliot Stein played with the poise and ever-present cool that has been his trademark. Senior defender Zack Palmer was a true presence, as usual, and his play dwarfed the Blue Devils' offense the entire game. Palmer could not be beat one-on-one. Senior defender/midfielder William Zepeda looked sharp. Junior defender Chris Biggs' play showed the promise that will probably garner him a starting spot next year.

The game was played with great intensity on both sides. After a decent first half, the Blazers came out in the second half and challenged the Blue Devils' defense. The two goals that Springbrook scored were not preventable. The Blue Devils was adept at using their speedy forwards to draw the Blair defense out of position or into compromising situations.

Terry elaborated on the Blazer's successful run. "It was an unbelievable season. We played with a lot of heart throughout, and that's how champions play. Unfortunately, tonight, we just didn't have enough," Terry said.

The key to the Blazer's success this year was senior depth. Stein, Palmer, Zepeda and Mario Bracamontes will leave the stingy defense. Midfielders Benjie Simson and Sampson Geeplah, two great contributors, will be gone. The quick tandem of forwards, Gnatiko and Fon, will also leave. The Blazers did, however, bring a good deal of the junior players into the fold this year, giving them significant playing time and sharpening them for the 2002-2003 season.