C. Milton Wright senior midfielder Santiago Mejia made a bold prediction after his team walked off the field after tying Fallston after 100 minutes of scoreless soccer.
“If we keep this intensity, we?re going to states,” he said. “We?re winning.”
But first, the Mustangs need to focus on capturing the Chesapeake Division of the Upper Chesapeake Bay Athletic Conference, where the Mustangs (8-2-1 overall, 2-1-1 league) are battling Fallston (7-2-1, 2-0-1), Bel Air (7-3-1, 3-1) and Rising Sun (6-1, 2-1 league) for supremacy.
C. Milton Wright, which lost to Bel Air earlier last week, received a much-needed confidence boost by tying Fallston, one of the Mustangs? biggest rivals.
“Fallston is a little more intense rivalry than Bel Air is,” senior goalkeeper Jeff Powell said. “It didn?t get as violent as it usually does against Fallston.”
The tie came on senior night, when 12 Mustangs were honored in a ceremony before the game.
“We have, overall, one of the best groups I?ve been a part of,” Coach Brian Gunter said. “They?re just great kids who love soccer and are willing to work hard. It makes it so much easier for us. They?re skilled. We do a lot more yelling than they do on the field.”
The Mustangs, who lost in the 4A North Region final to eventual-state champion Thomas Johnson last year, are seeking to advance to the state tournament for the first time since 2000. However, Gunter said playing in the UCBAC should prepare his team for winning the 12-team region tournament, when the Mustangs compete against team from Baltimore County, Baltimore City, Carroll and Frederick Counties.
“I think there is a lot of parity this year,” Gunter said. “Nobody is dominant. It?s any given – I don?t know, not Sunday – but gameday.”
The key for the Mustangs is Mejia, who despite having yet to score a goal, has contributed two assists. However, Gunter said Mejia?s ability to orchestrate the offense and control the midfield has been integral to the Mustangs? attack, which features senior midfielder Dan Lorenzet (6 goals, 2 assists) and senior forward Chris Burgess (3 goals, 2 assists).
“I want to see him play at the next level,” Gunter said. “He?s really become more dynamic. Freshman year he came up to varsity toward the end of the year, and sophomore and junior year he improved, and improved, but this year, it was against John Carroll [Sept. 29, a 3-0 win.] It was the best I?ve seen him play in the four years I?ve had him here. Dynamic is the best way to put it, and that?s nice to see because we knew he had that in him.”
As one of three captains, Mejia knows the team?s success is at his feet.
Mejia almost scored midway through the first half against Fallston. From about 20 yards away, he struck a line drive with his right foot that had Fallston keeper Franky Alyward beat. But with a hollow thud, the ball struck the far post and caromed away from the goal mouth.
“Dominate the midfield,” he said of the key to the Mustangs? success. “If we lose the midfield, we?re nothing. If we control the midfield we?re going all the way. We?re going all the way.”
