General manager Fred Matthes and coach Colin Herriot hit a home run when amassing the Annapolis Blues’ roster for its inaugural season.
There was plenty of top tier talent, superb chemistry and outstanding leadership.
Everything came together nicely as the Blues enjoyed a tremendous debut campaign in the National Premier Soccer League, compiling a 10-2-1 record and capturing the Mid-Atlantic Conference championship. The Blues were beaten by West Chester United in the East Region semifinals.
The Blues’ braintrust had to repeat the process prior to the franchise’s second season and early signs are positive. The Blues are 3-0, winning each of its opening contests on the road. Their home opener is Saturday at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium against DMV Elite (2-0-1).
This year’s roster features a dozen returning players and a handpicked group of newcomers. Annapolis sustained some losses, none more significant than standout striker Jacob Murrell.
Murrell, an elite finisher who was the team’s leading scorer last season, is now playing Major League Soccer for D.C. United. The McDonogh graduate was the seventh overall selection in the MLS SuperDraft following his sophom*ore season at Georgetown University.
Having Murrell vault to the top tier of United States soccer after spending last summer playing in the fifth division was good news for the Blues. It helps Matthes and Herriot in their recruiting efforts as Murrell is proof that showcasing your skills for the Blues can lead to opportunities at a higher level.
“We’re all really proud that Jacob made the jump from NPSL to MLS,” said Michael Hitchco*ck, majority owner of the Annapolis Blues. “I can assure you there are going to be many, many more Major League Soccer players coming out of this team.”
Matthes credits Herriot for identifying and recruiting the majority of players on the roster. Herriot has been director of coaching for the Maryland United club program since 2013. He has also coached in the Maryland Olympic Development program and served as a talent evaluator for US Soccer.
“Colin is very familiar with all the local talent and does a terrific job of recruiting for the Blues. He has known a lot of the players on our roster since they were 8 or 9 years old, so he knows exactly what they will bring to the team,” Matthes said. “We will always build the team around local players who have come up through the ranks and there is no one better than Colin to determine who can compete successfully at this level.”
Added Herriot: “Being involved with the youth sector for 15 years now, I know there is a lot of talent in this area. I think when you have local players representing their communities you have immediate buy-in and an automatic connection. These players take great pride in representing the local club.”
Herriot employs a 4-3-3 system as a base for the Blues, but said the shape constantly changes based on rotation and movement. His overarching priority when putting together the roster is finding players that fit the system and style of play.
“An important secondary piece is the team culture. We want good players, but we want good people as well,” Herriot said. “Last year, all the guys were great representatives of the club on and off the field. We believe we have a group of high character guys again this year.”
Among the notable returning players are defender Elton de Oliveira Santos, center halfbacks Matias de Jesus and Francis Meyer, outside midfielder Toshi Davis, wing forward Evan Rabush, center back Nathan Macek and goalie Owen Allegro.
Three players with local ties are also among the returnees — midfielder Jackson Ruckman (Edgewater resident, High Point), left back Miles Lam (Linthicum resident, American) and Naval Academy striker Andrew Schug.
“I think it’s important that we keep the spine of the team together for a couple reasons,” Herriot said. “A big part of it is the continuity and chemistry pieces. We have a core of players that understand our system and playing style.”
Herriot believes Blues fans will be excited about such newcomers as strikers Alek Wroblewski and Alex Abril, midfielder Rich Monath along with defenders Miles Avery, Matt Helfrich and Taku Takahashi.
Wroblewski, a two-time All-America East performer for UMBC, leads the Blues in scoring through three games. He will miss the home opener as he returned home to Poland for a wedding.
Abril, a Brandywine native, is a two-time All-Big South honoree at High Point. Monath, a Calvert Hall product, was named Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Year as a freshman at Delaware. Helfrich and Avery both play at Georgetown.
“Every player that we’ve brought in can contribute and add something positive,” Herriot said.
On a team consisting almost entirely of current collegiate players, de Oliveira Santos is an outlier. The 38-year-old Brazilian has been a professional for more than two decades and played for teams in South America and Europe. Herriot described the veteran defender as a coach on the field capable of directing teammates.
“Elton has seen and done it all. His composure and leadership are off the charts — just a real calming influence,” Herriot said.
Joining de Oliveira Santos as a team captain is de Jesus, whose work rate is unmatched. Herriot praised the technical ability of the Towson native and University of Maryland standout.
“Matias is a great example to his teammates with the way he trains and the way he plays the game. He is constantly fighting for possession of the ball,” Herriot said.
Allegro, a Cheverly resident and Bishop McNamara product, was the Landmark Conference Rookie of the Year as the freshman starter for Catholic University. He served as the backup to Griffin Hemmindinger last season for the Blues.
“It’s been a real smooth transition to Owen, who has played very well so far,” Herriot said.
In addition to Wrobleski and Abril, the Blues have gotten scoring from Westminster resident Brady Geho.
Herriot noted that Murrell was the primary goal-scorer last season and benefitted teammates with the defensive attention he drew. The Blues look to be much more balanced offensively this season.
“We’ve got four dangerous scoring threats that all have different attributes. It makes us a lot more dynamic offensively,” he said.
HOME OPENER
DMV Elite at Annapolis Blues
At Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
Saturday, 7 p.m.
