(Enlarge) Dulaney’s Max Millhausen, left, and Parkville’s Ricardo Matamoros go up for the ball in the Lions’ 5-0 victory last week. The loss ended the Knights’ three-game winning streak, which included triumphs over county power Towson, Mount Carmel and Overlea. (Staff photo by nicole martyn)

After Parkville lost in either a quarterfinal or semifinal in each of the past five years, coach Brad Hartin has made advancing to the Class 4A North Region championship game a primary goal.

To that end, the Knights are fielding a team loaded with potential.

"It's probably been the best team we have had in the last four years," Hartin said. "We have a deeper bench this year and overall a little better technical talent than we have had in the past."

Those are sound reasons why Hartin's goal appears to be within reach and why the team's early-season play has been terrific at times.

The Knights routed Overlea, 5-1, Mount Carmel, 7-2, and county power Towson, 5-0, during one span.

The victory over Towson is the one that resonated most with the Knight players.

"It was more than six years ago the last time we beat Towson," Hartin said. "It was a very nice win."

After that, though, Parkville came back down to earth when Dulaney blanked the host Knights, 5-0, four days later. Naturally, Hartin is anxious to see how this team responds.

"We have to go back and look at what we are doing and how we are going to attack teams," he said.

Hartin liked the way the Knights (3-2) attacked Towson.

Senior striker Jimmy Nugent (11 goals in five games) scored four goals and senior Nikolay Stoev chipped in with one.

Nugent is making his presence felt in every game.

"Nugent is by far one of the best players in the county," Hartin said. "He's been like that for the last four years. He is relentless and he has the teeth for the goal."

Nugent scored three goals against Overlea, and was even more productive in the Mount Carmel rout, totaling three goals and three assists.

Stoev contributed three goals.

"His touch is very good and his vision is excellent," the coach said.

Hartin also has praised the play of senior Jon Evans. He forms the midfield along with senior Ricardo Matamoros and juniors Rob Agudelo and KC Miller.

"He is a returning second-team All-County player," Hartin said about Evans, "He is very coachable and does all the right things."

Hartin and assistant coach Gino Zarro hope they can put together another winning streak with Perry Hall, Kenwood and Western Tech next up on the schedule.

There's no doubt the Knights have the potential to do just that.

"We have a lot more talent on the team this year than we have had in the past," Parkville assistant coach Zarro said. "We have a solid all-around team this year."

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