Parkdale High School’s boys soccer team fell to Walt Whitman High School 4-0 on Nov. 8 in the state semifinal match, ending its undefeated season.
The Panthers finished the season 15-1, earning their first-ever Prince George’s County championship and first regional title since 2013.
“Unfortunately our undefeated streak has come to an end, but zeal, will and determination still move on,” head coach William Sama said. “That one can never
be defeated.”
Parkdale dominated the regular season, winning all 11 games.
The team scored 51 goals and allowed eight. In half of those matches, no goals were scored against them.
Sama said the team’s games against Laurel and Bowie high schools were the most memorable. Parkdale won both after trailing at times, forcing the Panthers to fight harder. The Panthers also beat Walt Whitman 3-0 in the preseason.
“I just like their belief and tenacity,” Sama said. “We tell them jump; they just say, ‘How high?’”
On Oct. 20, Parkdale won the county championship against Oxon Hill 5-1, and then defeated Charles Herbert Flowers 8-0 in the regional semifinals on Oct. 24. Four days later, the Panthers earned the Class 4A South Region 2 title with a 4-3 win over DuVal.
After losing the regional championship the previous two seasons, the victory over DuVal High School was especially meaningful.
On Nov. 1, Parkdale beat Dulaney High School 1-0 in the state quarterfinals, securing a spot in the semifinal against Whitman.
Sama credited the team’s success to discipline off the field. He requires players to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA and has removed talented athletes who didn’t meet the standard.
He said the players’ camaraderie is another strength. Many have played together since middle school, and they hold each other accountable.
The Panthers’ success came despite limited resources. The team shares one field with other sports and can’t practice after dark because it lacks lights. Coaches donate their stipends for equipment. A turf field is planned for 2029, but Sama hopes lights can be added sooner.
He said he reminds players to stay humble and keep an “underdog mentality” against tough opponents.
“Enjoy this moment, but do not take it for granted,” Sama said. “We’ll always find a way to keep them humble, get confident and ready to prove a case.”
Heading into the semifinal, Sama said the team’s “mental fortitude of practice, discipline, dedication all year round” had paid off.
The coaches studied film from Whitman’s previous games and drilled strategies repeatedly.
Whitman scored two minutes into the match, and then added two more goals in the first half. Despite multiple corner kicks and shots on goal, Parkdale couldn’t convert. Whitman scored once more eight minutes before the final whistle, ending Parkdale’s season.
After the game, center defender Mauricio Lozano said the team is already preparing for next year.
“Although it was a good season, I think we’ll be better next year,” center defender Luis Manzenares agreed. “This year has been great. I think no one would’ve ever expected us to go this far and go undefeated.”