Soccer Team Travels to Lima, Peru, for Youth Tournament

The team—the only one from the U.S. to compete in the tournament—finished fourth.

Members of the Alianza Lima de Maryland Soccer Team recently traveled to Lima, Peru, to compete in the prestigious South American youth soccer tournament, the Copa de la Amistad, a Montgomery County spokeswoman said. The team, which was recognized with certificates presented by County Executive Isiah Leggett on Tuesday, was the only one from the U.S. to take part in the tournament, where it finished fourth, said Sue Tucker, a county spokeswoman.

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Women’s Pro Soccer Team Will Call Germantown Home

The Washington Spirit will play, train at the Maryland SoccerPlex.

A professional women’s soccer team is coming to Germantown, team administrators announced Wednesday. The Washington Spirit, to be managed by the U.S. Soccer Federation, will train and compete at the Maryland SoccerPlex—the former home of women’s pro team the Washington Freedom, according to the team's general manager Chris Hummer. Mike Jorden, coach of the amateur team that played as the DC United Women at the 'Plex, would lead the Washington Spirit. "Mike is an excellent coach on the training field, a strong game tactician, and he's a great communicator with the players," Hummer said in a statement. "He is also one of the hardest-working coaches off the field. He already bleeds for the club, and I'm confident no one will outwork him off …

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Churchill Sneaks Out of Watkins Mill with a Win

Crispin Muessle scores with 2:42 left to play to give Bulldogs a 1-0 victory.

Friday’s matchup between two of the county’s premiere teams came down to this contrast: Watkins Mill controlled most of the possession, but Churchill mounted more dangerous scoring chances—and with the game tied in its waning moments, the Bulldogs netted a clutch goal to come away with a 1-0 win. The win over a well-regarded Wolverines side adds to the Bulldogs’ impressive start, which has moved them to the top of the Washington Post’s and The Gazette’s rankings, positioning them as a bona fide contender for the 4A title. Meanwhile, the loss capped off a disappointing week for the Wolverines, who started the season with quality wins over Quince Orchard, Clarksburg and defending 4A champ Magruder. That run came to an abrupt halt on Sept. 26…

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Former Churchill Soccer Standout a JHU Rising Star

2010 Winston Churchill High School grad Pam Vranis is in the midst of her sophomore season on the Johns Hopkins University women's soccer team.

Like he had consistently handled incoming freshman for most of his 19 years as Johns Hopkins University’s women’s soccer coach, Leo Weil planned to sit Pam Vranis early in her career and progressively ease her into a substantial role on the team. As Weil acknowledged, most freshman, regardless of how talented, usually struggle initially with the transition from the high school to the college level. Not Vranis, though. The 2011 Winston Churchill grad not only had little trouble with the transition, but quickly earned a starting job as a center midfielder for the Blue Jays and wasted no time establishing herself as one of the team’s primary offensive catalysts. She now enters her sophomore season expected to make an even bigger impact. “She …

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Churchill Soccer Teams Prepare for Start of Season

Both teams are hoping to compete for a Class 4A West regional championship.

GIRLS Entering his 10th season as Winston Churchill’s girl’s soccer coach, Haroot Hakopian is hoping this is finally the year the Bulldogs can get over the hump and claim the first regional championship in school history. Churchill has reached three regional finals under Hakopian, including each of the last two seasons, but is still in search of that elusive first regional title. The Bulldogs fell to eventual state champion Bethesda-Chevy Chase, 1-0, in last year’s Class 4A West championship game. “That’s what we’re going after,” Hakopian said. “We’re going after that regional championship.” Churchill returns five starters from last season’s team that finished 12-2-1, including top scorer Jenna Cantor. Cantor, a senior, has ranked either …

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Churchill Grad Adjusts to Life as College Student-Athlete

2011 Winston Churchill High School graduate Alexis Shay is set to begin her freshman year at High Point University in High Point, NC.

Like it does for most incoming college freshman, move-in day brought about a wide range of emotions for 2011 Winston Churchill graduate Alexis Shay. As much as she was excited to begin her freshman year at High Point University (NC), she was also stressed by the sudden realization of being away from home for the first time, the rapidly approaching start of college classes and the even more rapidly approaching start of her freshman season of college soccer. “I was really excited,” Shay said. “This is a new chapter in my life. But, at the same time, all the regular nerves that come along with that day definitely set in.” As much as that was the case, though, Shay says now, “Everything’s been great so far.” She arrived on campus Aug. 2 and …

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What's Up This Weekend?

This Weekend: Performances, Fashion and Police Open House

What's up for the weekend of Nov. 5 through Nov. 7.

This weekend will be a chance for Potomac residents to get out of the house and enjoy local theater, events and sports. On Friday, Churchill High School's girls' soccer team is competing against Walter Johnson for the semifinals. The game, which will take place at Churchill, will begin at 3:30 p.m. and go until 5 p.m.  Churchill's fall musical, Anything Goes, will  have performances on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 general admission and $12 reserved seating. If you've ever wanted to know more about your local police force, stop by the Montgomery County 1st District Police Department's open house event on Saturday. The event -- which lasts from 12 p.m. until 3 p.m. at the 1st District station -- will include activities …

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Regional Finals or Bust: A Q&A With Churchill Boys Soccer Coach Arnold Tarzy

Churchill's Arnold Tarzy believes his team has the talent to do great things this season.

The Churchill High School boys soccer team finished their pre-season with a 5-1 victory over Sidwell Friends on Tuesday. Coach Arnold Tarzy spoke with Patch following the match about the upcoming season and his team's chances of making a push for the regional championship. Potomac Patch: What is your background in coaching soccer? Arnold Tarzy: I've been coaching for about 15 years. I've been coaching club for the entire time, and I've been coaching at Churchill for three years. I've taken four different teams to Nationals. Three guys that I coached were MLS first-round draft picks. They're all playing right now — one in Europe, two in MLS. They were Freddy Adu, Rodney Wallace of DC United and Kevin Alston of New England Revolution. Patch…

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