[Baltimore Sun] South Carroll boys soccer keeps strong start going, beats Thomas Johnson, 4-0
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The South Carroll boys soccer team continued its dominant start to the 2024 season with Tuesday’s 4-0 win over visiting Thomas Johnson. The win pushes the Cavaliers to 6-0 to start the new season.
South Carroll is off to one of its best starts in recent history. Through their first six games, they have scored 21 goals while conceding only one.
Tuesday’s win over the Patriots was a perfect encapsulation of the Cavaliers’ season thus far: aggressive offense, suffocating defense and heightened team chemistry.
“I think it’s the team chemistry; these guys love playing for each other,” coach Ed Wharton said when asked the reasons for his team’s success. “They love the game, they love each other and I think that’s what’s showing through.”
The Cavaliers have 14 seniors on the squad and it is safe to say that is one key reason why the chemistry of this team is at an all time high.
“It’s huge because they’ve been playing together for a long time,” Wharton said. “I made the comment before to the players that I think I could randomly draw 11 names out of a hat and have a good team. They’ve been playing together for a long time and it shows. The effort they put in the offseason, that’s what it’s all about.”
The South Carroll defense has been one to behold. After conceding their one and only goal in a season-opening 3-1 victory over Gerstell on Sept. 6, it’s kept the ball out of the net for five straight games. Leading this lockdown defense has been Cavalier captain and senior, Matthew Long.
Long has played varsity for the Cavaliers since being called up from JV midway through his sophomore season. At the time, he was captain of his junior varsity team. Now, he’s one of the captains for this undefeated 2024 varsity team and a dominant defending senior that has been key to the Cavalier success.
And then there’s the Cavalier offense — as balanced as it is potent.
There have been multiple contributors to the stellar South Carroll attack. The most recent figure lighting up the scoreboard is forward Alik Giguere. The senior finished with a hat trick against the Patriots, including one goal on a penalty kick. Giguere has scored in multiple games for the Cavaliers this season and leads the team, now with five goals on the young year. His relentless attack will likely only continue as the season goes on.
Other than putting the ball in the back of the net, there are other factors that make this Cavalier attack so dangerous. It is the game within the game. The plays that set up chances. The runs that make the opposing team lose their composure. One player in particular that makes all of the above happen is senior Scott Sealfon.
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The Cavalier forward entered the week as the county’s leader in points. He’s totaled three goals and five assists after a goal Monday against Boonsboro and an assist Tuesday against Thomas Johnson. Those are things that will show up on the stat sheet. It’s what’s not on the stat sheet, however, that makes the electric forward so electric.
There were many times throughout Tuesday’s game where Sealfon stole possession from a Patriot. He made solid runs and dominated the field. It would be his plays in the midfield and taking over possessions that would result in multiple goal scoring opportunities.
When asked about his impact on the game without scoring, the senior explained, “My main goal is just to find my teammates open. I don’t really care about my own stats, just team stats and the wins. That’s all I care about.”
With a little over a third of their season in the rearview mirror, this South Carroll squad looks to continue their momentum as county play looms starting next week. The combination of chemistry, passion and skill make the Cavaliers genuine contenders and they believe they can make a serious run.
One thing seems for certain — when the South Carroll Cavaliers come to town, expect the whole cavalry.
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