Coaching against familiar faces

By Brent Kennedy
Posted: October 15, 2008

Some interesting side stories have developed during the final week of the regular season for the River Hill boys soccer coaching staff.

Head coach Matt Shagogue has ties to both of the Hawks’ final two opponents, Reservoir and Howard. Shagogue is a full-time teacher at Reservoir and has taught several of the players on the Gators’ squad. He also is a graduate of Howard High School and played on the Lions’ soccer team.

His assistant coach, Derrick Jameson, also graduated from and played for Howard. Jameson was a second-team all-county goalie in 2001 for the Lions.

“I pull for those two (programs) every game except for when we play them,” Shagogue said. “It’s been especially nice to see the kids at Reservoir do so well this year, because they’re great kids and Ivan (Croft) is a great coach who really has put in a lot of time to get that program off the ground.”

River Hill did end up beating Reservoir, 4-0, on Oct. 14 to hand the Gators their fourth loss of the season, but Croft has already led his team to its best year in the school’s brief history.

That win, coupled with a Mt. Hebron loss to Atholton, enabled the Hawks to clinch a spot in the county championship game against Marriotts Ridge on Oct. 21. The teams met on Oct. 7 and the Mustangs won, 3-1.

A win over Howard on Oct. 16 would give River Hill some momentum.

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