news343

Tess Colwell/The Gazette Real Maryland's Ryan Gracia (right) takes a shot in front of Fredericksburg defender Daryl Ferguson during Sunday?s match at Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville. Garcia, a Wootton High School graduate, scored three goals

Wootton High graduate Ryan Gracia has been busy all summer. He is taking 13 course credits at George Mason University, interns for the Washington Redskins working on their official blog, and set a record for his Premier Development League soccer team Sunday in Rockville.

After becoming the first Real Maryland player to score three goals in a game, Gracia rode the bench for the final 15 minutes of his side?s 5-2 victory over Fredericksburg. He earned the rest.

?They came right to me,? Gracia said of the goals. ?We actually capitalized today ... Well, put it like this; we capitalized better than we have been.?

The Monarchs? (6-5-2) best offensive output of the season should have been much better; the host put 22 shots on goal, compared to the Hotspur?s (1-9-3) three.

Its team comprised mostly of collegiate players was aided 34-year old Val Teixeira, a Portuguese-born, recent acquisition who set up goals two and three of Gracia?s hat trick. His first came just seven minutes in, a 15-yard shot finalizing a pretty cross from Rockville resident Ndaw Aboubacarim.

Seven minutes later, Gracia followed Teixeira?s shot off a corner kick with a booming rebound. Finally, the 2007 All-Gazette first-teamer converted Teixeira?s one-touch pass in the 25th minute.

?They were served up on a plate,? joked 2010 Clarksburg High alumnus Julio Arjona, one of three Montgomery products along with Draymond Washington (Magruder, ?08) who will play for George Mason this season.

Real had previously won just one of its past seven games. With later goals by forwards Sean Coleman and Aboubacarim, the Monarchs equaled scoring output from their previous six games combined.

At fourth place in the league?s South Atlantic Division, Real likely must win its final three games to make the playoffs. Only the top two teams qualify, and second-place Carolina is 8-4-1 through the weekend.

?If we didn?t lose yesterday [against West Virginia], we would have had a better chance,? Arjona said afterward. ?It?s all luck from here.?

Arjona was one of four starters Sunday with Montgomery County roots. Washington was joined on the back line by Maryland rising senior Alex Lee.

Both were strikers during Magruder High?s undefeated 2007 season, when they set the school?s record with 21 goals each.

?I was playing a little for the D.C. United {Academy) team but it was kind of a joke, so I came here about a month ago,? Lee said. ?It?s fun, just getting ready for the [college] season.?

Wootton Graduate Treated like Royalty in Monarchs Rout

Garcia registers hat trick in Monarch's win over Fredericksburg