FREDERICK — After reaching the boys soccer state semifinals for the third consecutive season, the Allegany Campers will try to enter new territory: a berth in the state title game.
Allegany hits the road this afternoon to take on Perryville in the Class 1A state semifinals. Kickoff at Tuscarora High School is at noon.
“Practice has been really good this week,” said second-year Allegany head coach Blake Geatz. “We’re getting better every day. It’s hard to put in to words but it feels a lot different this year at this point than at this point last year. I just keep telling the boys to get better every day and so far we’ve done that.”
Prior to this three-year run of state semifinal appearances — the Campers fell to Fallston at this stage last year and eventual state champions Brunswick in 2021 — Allegany had only reached the state semifinals once, which was Geatz’s senior year that ended with a loss to Crisfield.
“Reaching this stage is always fun, but I’m tired of getting there and only being able to get there,” Geatz said. “We want to take this opportunity to win one of these things. It’s always great to be considered one of the top four teams in 1A. Playing in the state semifinals is definitely an accomplishment, but it’s not the pinnacle of what we want to do.”
Allegany (17-0) is led in part by a strong group of seniors, many of whom played on varsity each of the past two years and have experienced the state semifinals.
“They have their heads on straight,” Geatz said. “Maybe that’s part of what I see different this year than in other teams we’ve had in the past. I feel like we have a really solid group of seniors that have bought in to what we’re doing. They remember how much it sucked coming out here and being on the losing end of this the past two years. I think they’re going to go out there after some revenge of sorts because they’re sick and tired of just being state semifinalists.
“That’s one of the big differences, I think, is the experience this group has. I think it’s given us not a form of cockiness, but a very good form of confidence that they’ll take into (today’s) game.”
The Campers, the top overall seed in Class 1A, reached this stage after winning the West Region I crown with regional wins over Southern, 5-0, and Mountain Ridge, 3-1, before trouncing Crisfield, 8-0, last Saturday at Greenway Avenue Stadium.
Perryville, the top seed in East Region I and No. 5 in Class 1A, reached the state semifinals with a 3-1 win over No. 4 International High School at Largo in the state quarters. The Panthers won East Region I with a 10-1 win over Kent County before taking down St. Michaels, 2-0, in the region final.
“Perryville looks like a quality team, as is any team you’ll play at this stage,” Geatz said. “But everyone’s there for a reason, we’re all on winning streaks. Perryville has talent all over the field. They have some very talented kids up front, some club-level players.
“At the same time, there’s some weaknesses I’ve caught on film in the wide areas that can play to our benefit. I know the kids feel good, but we can’t show up and not give 110% because Perryville will send us packing. We’ve been watching film on them all week. We feel all the more prepared having that knowledge with a few more days to prepare. I’d like to say we know them inside and out at this point.”
The winner of today’s game moves on to face the winner of No. 6 Harford Tech and No. 7 Liberty next week at Loyola for the state title. Harford Tech-Liberty also kicks off at noon today at Bel Air High School.
“I truly do believe we can get past this hump that we’ve been wanting to get past,” Geatz said. “It’s long overdue. I couldn’t be more proud of this team for the tenacity they bring every single game and every single practice. It’s one thing to say we’ll get better every day, but it’s another thing to actually do it. I’ve been very fortunate to have this group of kids. We feel very confident going in that as long as we play some Western Maryland, Alco footy, we’re going to be just fine.”