After a junior season in which he finished with only two goals, Manchester Valley’s Grant Miller looked in the mirror and had some conversations with himself, and coach John Woodley about what he needed to do to improve.
“I just wanted him to be more of a complete player,” Woodley said. “He knew how good he could be; I knew how good he could be. It was only a matter of time before he put it all together.”
After making a few adjustments, playing a new position and taking advantage of Woodley scheming up more ways for him to score, Grant Miller 2.0 was unleashed on Carroll County in 2023.
Miller scored a school-record 15 goals. He also added three assists to total 33 points in what was one of the program’s most productive soccer careers. He went from two goals, to one of the county’s most dangerous and feared strikers, often double and triple teamed by opponents.
For his efforts, Manchester Valley’s Grant Miller has been named the 2023 Carroll County Times boys soccer Player of the Year.
“I really didn’t expect to have the year I ended up having,” Miller said. “I owe it to all the work I put in during the summer.”
Coming in knowing there were several graduating seniors to replace, Miller got right to work, taking it upon himself to make sure the Mavericks didn’t miss a beat.
“We lost a lot with 11 guys graduating,” he said. “I just wanted to make up for what we thought people were missing.”
With Miller at the forefront, the Mavericks didn’t miss much, scoring some tough victories in and out of the county. Woodley was impressed with everything Miller brought to his team.
“He really improved on his finishing and he used that to come up for us in big moments,” Woodley said. “Grant scored some goals that were the best I’ve ever seen.”
Manchester Valley’s Grant Miller celebrates a first half goal during a game against Westminster. (Doug Kapustin/For Carroll County Times)
It didn’t matter if it was one of his hat tricks against Winters Mill or Middletown, or when he scored the team’s lone goal against a tough Frederick team. Miller made his presence felt and now will have a place in history.
Miller finishes his soccer career as one of the Mavericks’ best, his 15 goals and 33 points are new single-season school records. He finishes at No.3 on the all-time goals list and tied for fourth on the all-time points list.
“He’s one of the school’s best, one of the county’s best,” Woodley said. “It’s a testament to him and the work he’s put in.”
Coach of the Year
Stephen Hurst, Century
Hurst’s first season at the helm of the Knights was the definition of up-and-down, but that was to be expected after taking over a state quarterfinalist team. Despite the ups and downs, Hurst had his guys playing their best when it mattered the most en route to one of the county’s regional championships. He has been named boys soccer Coach of the Year.
After dropping the first game of the season, Century won the next four games. Under Hurst, it was in the playoffs where the Knights were at their best. On their road to the Class 2A state final, the Knights allowed less than two goals per game in victories against Walkersville, Williamsport, Winters Mill and Hereford to clinch another regional title.
Ultimately the Knights were taken down, falling 3-1 to Montgomery County’s Damascus but with the top three goal scorers and Hurst returning, Century will surely be a favorite in county and state play for the next couple years to come.
Century’s Nick McGhin, left, was a big reason why the Knights closed the season as Class 2A state runners-up. (John Gillis/For Carroll County Times)
All-County first team
Nicholas McGhin, Century, junior, forward
McGhin finished the season with 26 goals and four assists, including a hat trick in the state semifinals, leading the Knights’ playoff run.
Reed Postlethwait, Winters Mill, senior, forward
The reigning boys lacrosse Player of the Year showed out on the soccer field this fall, finishing with 25 goals and seven assists.
Jackson Barioto, Century, junior, midfielder
Barioto finished the season with five goals and three assists for the 2A runner-up Knights.
Westminster’s Gunnar Christensen, left, fights for a header against Hereford’s Mikey Briggs. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Gunnar Christensen, Westminster, senior, midfielder
Christensen scored four goals and added three assists for the Owls.
Dayton Siegler, Manchester Valley, senior, midfielder
Finished the season with four goals and nine assists for the Mavericks.
Maddox Shuman, Winters Mill, junior, midfielder
Shuman scored eight goals and added seven assists for the Falcons.
Ben Solomon, South Carroll, senior, midfielder
Solomon scored nine goals for the Cavaliers this season, also added 10 assists.
Liberty’s Austen Veach and Winters Mill’s Maddox Shuman, shown during a 2022 game, are both 2023 All-County first team selections. (Thomas Walker/For Carroll County Times)
Austen Veach, Liberty, junior, midfielder
Veach scored eight goals and added three assists for the Lions this season.
Cannon Hunter, South Carroll, junior, defender
Scored three goals and four assists this season. Also was a key defender for a South Carroll team that posted four shutouts on the season.
Ethan Hurst, Francis Scott Key, senior, defender
Hurst was a key defender for the Eagles all season, often matching up with the county’s best strikers.
Westminster’s Owen Streett reacts after scoring a second half goal against Manchester Valley. (Doug Kapustin/For Carroll County Times)
Owen Streett, Westminster, senior, defender
Street stepped up in conference play for the Owls, scoring all three of his goals against CCAL competition and defending the county’s best strikers.
Joseph Peloquin, Manchester Valley, senior, goalkeeper
Peloquin was extremely difficult to get a ball past. He recorded 115 saves on the season, finishing with an 87.8 save percentage.
Manchester Valley’s Joe Peloquin anchored a stingy Mavericks defense this season. (Doug Kapustin/For Carroll County Times)
All-County second team
Lucas Britos, Liberty, junior, forward
Grant Bernstein, Liberty, senior, midfielder
Matt Davis, South Carroll, senior, midfielder
Luke Schoberg, Westminster, sophomore, midfielder
Evan Myers, Francis Scott Key, junior, midfielder
Ryan Bauer, Century, junior, midfielder
Quinn Favorite, Manchester Valley, senior, defender
Reid Bartles, Manchester Valley, senior, defender
Ryan Sien, Century, senior, defender
Camden Deming, Winters Mill, senior, defender
Anthony McPeak, Westminster, sophomore, goalkeeper