No heads should’ve been hung low in the Rocket locker room on Friday night. They should be held high for winning the division title. For winning the regional championship. For rebounding after a disappointing conclusion to their season last year. For being a state finalist.
Only one team ends their season with a win. Unfortunately, this was not the Rocket’s year for that. On Nov. 15, the Blair Blazers claimed their first state title since 1975 with a 1-0 win over the Rockets at Loyola University Maryland. RM and Blair were both surprising state finalists to many, with the top two seeds, Whitman and Perry Hall, falling to Blair and RM respectively in the semifinals. While this wasn’t the result the team or the Rocket Nation that made the journey out to Baltimore hoped for, the Rockets’ season ends with numerous accomplishments.
The game started with heavy pressure on the RM back line from the Blazers. Senior goalie Solomon Snowdy was forced to make a few early saves and claims after Blair’s long crosses and soaring free kicks. Blair’s relentless pressure paid off in the 19th minute when sophomore forward Julian Reyes Rubio put one just past the outstretched arms of Snowdy after a nice cross from junior midfielder Lyon Alvarez.
RM’s first real chance came from a free kick in a dangerous position a few yards outside the box. Senior forward Matthew Kuwik stepped up to take it, but sailed the ball just over the top right crossbar. RM continued to send long balls down the wings toward Kuwik and junior forward Kamari Peoples but failed to convert on any chances.
Throughout the first half, Blair maintained possession much better than RM and forced the Rocket wingers and midfielders to chase the ball continuously. At the break, Head Coach Brian Urioste switched to a 4-3-3 formation from a 3-5-2 to contain Blair’s attack and give their wingers more time to recover.
The halftime adjustment had some success in creating more offensive opportunities, but the Blazers’ senior goalie Caleb Johnson, named to the All-Met First Team last year, stymied the Rockets all night. RM subbed in fresh attacking players in the waning minutes in hopes of a miracle, but ran out of time in both the game and season.
While the Rockets didn’t return to Rockville with the prized state championship trophy to display on Main Street, they ended their season with plenty to be proud of. On the team level, RM captured the division title this year for the first time and the regional championship for the second time in the last three years.
“I think just our hard work paid off throughout the whole season,” senior midfielder Alexi Zavala said. “It’s been a long ride, and I’m very grateful for each and everybody on the team. They all played a role. Even though we didn’t get the result we wanted, I’m so grateful for the opportunity to play in the state finals.”
After losing to Paint Branch HS in the regional championship last year with high expectations for the season, the Rockets returned this season with hunger. With the core of the team remaining the same, they turned this sour memory into a state championship birth, a first for the program in school history.
“We set our goals pretty highly early on, so it was just about meeting them effectively,” senior goalkeeper Max Sobel said. “That wasn’t where we expected to go out last year, so we wanted to prove to ourselves and others that we had more in the tank.”
On the individual level, RM fielded some of the best players in the state. Kuwik was named to the first teams of All-State, All-County and All-Division. Senior captains Jonathan Lowinger and Alexi Zavala were awarded First-Team All-Division and All-County as well.
