This story is part of The Washington Sun’s All-DMV coverage. All-DMV is a new collaboration between The Sun, Fox 5 DC, NBC4 Washington and WTOP News, aimed at covering the D.C. area’s best high school athletes. You can find past players of the week and more information about All-DMV here.
With playoffs around the corner, local soccer programs have been scrambling to better their postseason standings. Here’s who stepped up to earn All-DMV Player of the Week:
Marvin Garcia, Senior, Midfield, Fairmont Heights
The Fairmont Heights boys closed out an undefeated regular season last week and made a bit of school history in the process. The Hornets earned a berth in this year’s Prince George’s County title game for the first time in program history.
Trending
Garcia, a well-rounded senior midfielder, has been a catalyst all season for coach Ricardo Fuentes’ team. A capable threat on both sides of the field, the Hornets have used his steady play to ascend to the top of the county standings with the playoffs getting underway next week. With Garcia leading the charge, the Hornets scored at least three goals in 10 of their 12 regular-season victories and capped last week with a comfortable 4-1 win over Largo.
“If you hear a voice on the field, it’s his,” Fuentes said. “He’s calming his teammates down, he’s calming even us on the coaching staff down when we’re a little bit too angsty … He’s just a commanding presence.”
Freja Gold, Sophomore, Midfield, Seneca Valley
All season, opposing defenses have keyed in on Gold when facing the Seneca Valley girls. The Screaming Eagles’ top offensive threat has shined regardless, proving to be a goal-scoring machine for coach Lee Benswanger’s team.
Last week epitomized Gold’s season-long dominance. In her team’s regular-season finale against Rockville, Gold scored her fourth hat trick of the season in a 3-2 win. The standout performance brought her regular-season goal tally to 19.
Hunter Parler, Senior, Forward, Walter Johnson
After a scorching start in the preseason, Parler found himself in an offensive slump early in the Wildcats’ regular season. In the hopes of lifting his senior forward out of his scoring funk, coach Samuel Sasu kept it real.
“We sat down, I kind of gave him my open criticism,” Sasu said. “‘Maybe there needs to be an adjustment on your movements, how you’re seeing the game, [or] what you’re thinking about in these moments when you’re going to strike the ball.’”
Parler took Sasu’s feedback and is now on a late-season tear for Walter Johnson. Last week, he tallied a goal and an assist against Northwest. Days later, he one-upped himself with two goals and two assists in a 4-0 win against Kennedy.
“He’s showing the best of himself right now,” Sasu said. “He’s one of the best strikers in the county and in the state of Maryland.”
Jordyn Randall, Freshman, Forward, C.H. Flowers
After winning regionals for the first time in school history last season, the Jaguar girls are looking to ascend to new heights this fall. They’ve relied on Randall, a freshman phenom, to provide the offense and get the team into position for a postseason run.
Randall closed out her regular season on a high earlier this month. Facing Bladensburg, she sealed a 2-0 win with a late goal. Last week, she scored the game-winning goal in overtime to beat Northwestern, 2-1. The golden goal was Randall’s 12th of the season.
“She doesn’t care who you’re playing against,” Flowers coach Whitney Keiller said with a chuckle. “Almost every team we’ve played against has tried to put somebody to mark her, and she’s just been totally unfazed.”
Pia Vasquez, Junior, Forward, Washington International
Vasquez has been a goal-scoring machine for the Washington International girls, who enter the Potomac Valley Athletic Conference playoffs as a bona fide contender after a dominant regular season. Vasquez scored 32 regular-season goals for the Dragons, including a combined four goals last week in wins over Washington Waldorf and D.C. International.
Vasquez scored at least three goals in eight games this season, including a season-high five against Jackson-Reed in late September.
“When I took over the girls team, I picked up Pia as an eighth grader, and she just took the team by storm,” coach Othmane Benkhallouk said. “If she commits and keeps her head down and keeps working hard, this kid can go as far as pro.”
Charlie Waller, Senior, Forward, Gonzaga
The defending WCAC Player of the Year has put together another strong season for the Eagles, who enter the playoffs as the No. 2 seed. Waller finished the regular season with a team-high 17 goals and seven assists.
Gonzaga, which took close losses to St. John’s and The Heights earlier this month, closed out its regular-season slate with three straight conference victories. In that span, Waller scored two goals and an assist, including a crucial goal in a 2-1 win over Good Counsel last week.
Author
