With a staggering 13-1-1 record, the Centennial Eagles Varsity Soccer Team has soared through one of their most successful seasons, and advanced to the 3A state semifinals after a 2-0 victory over Chesapeake High School on Halloween night.
Their next match will be against Tuscarora High School on November 7, 5:00 P.M. at a neutral site, Linganore High School.
The team’s impressive season so far is fueled by its experienced roster, with 12 returning seniors unified under Head Coach Justin Thomas.
“We definitely have a great togetherness,” Thomas explained. “We have a lot of chemistry, and we’ve brought back seven to eight starters from last year. That experience, along with the team’s bond, is what really gets us over the top.”
The Eagles’ defensive tenacity was on full display in their latest win against Chesapeake High School, a highly physical team. Thomas credited both the team’s preparation and their home-field advantage. “The clean sheet was great. We weren’t dominant, but we did enough to win,” he said. “What helped us most was being at home and having that crowd behind us. The guys were mentally ready for a dog fight. We just dug in.”
Centennial’s next test will be a familiar one: a semifinal clash against Tuscarora High School, the same team that defeated them 3-0 in the 2022 state finals. For senior captain Calvin Lee, who faced Tuscarora in their 2022 defeat, this matchup carries extra weight. “This is kind of like a grudge match,” he said. “I’m coming into this game with a chip on my shoulder. It feels only fitting that we have to go through them to reach this goal.”
Thomas emphasized that while Tuscarora remains a strong opponent, the matchup is far different from the one three years ago. “That 2022 Tuscarora team was a different kind of animal,” he explained. “They were historically dominant, scoring 60 goals in 12 games and only being scored on three times. But this year’s team is different. This Tuscarora isn’t that Tuscarora.”
But rather than dwell on the past, Thomas wants the players to focus on what they can control. “They’re not magical in any way. They put out 11 players, we put out 11 players. If we work hard and do what we’re supposed to do, we’ll be right there.”
