(See the All-County Boys Soccer Team.)

Severna Park High School senior Mike Rose has stood out on the soccer field for what seem like ages and his journey on the pitch is just beginning. Rose, the Capital-Gazette Newspapers' boys soccer Player of the Year, has just completed a four-year varsity stint and broken several records at the most storied public school program in the county.

As the Falcons fought their way to the team's first county championship since 1998 and first region championship since 2004, Rose continued to set the bar for both individual performance and teamwork.

"Mike is hands down the most gifted and talented player in the county. He has the knack to find the goal while displaying absolutely amazing field vision," Severna Park coach Bob Thomas said. "He is a complete player and the ideal team player."

Rose tallied 16 goals and a team-high 12 assists as Severna Park finished 15-4. The Falcons recorded 52 wins as a team in his four seasons.

"The first moment that I thought we would be good was when we beat DeMatha, an area powerhouse, 2-0 in a 40-minute scrimmage in August. Our seniors really stepped up and filled a lot of gaps this season and our underclassmen stepped up," Rose said.

After a junior year spent roving up front with forward Sean Bunoski (18 goals, eight assists on the season), Rose was shifted back to the center-midfield spot, a position he manned so well as a sophomore.

"I moved him back to center midfield because we had a gifted team and I felt that this was the best way for us to accomplish our team goals," Thomas said. "We needed him in the middle for control and he is one of the best distributors I have seen. He accepted his role because he is not selfish and he believed in what I asked him to do."

Rose thrived in the middle because he is so unpredictable, according to Thomas. He is able to quietly dictate the pace of a game with his precision passing, explosive moves to open space and ability to fake both on and off the ball. He also does not need the ball long to cause havoc, often needing just two or three touches to create opportunities for he and his teammates. After setting the school season record with 13 assists as a junior, Rose assumed the top career mark with 35. His 97 career points (including 31 goals) are second all-time at Severna Park behind Brian Peterson (1992).

During a season in which the Falcons set a school record with 67 goals, it was Rose and Bunoski that set the tone offensively for a squad that saw 11 players score goals. The two first-teamers combined for 56 goals and 35 assists the past two seasons.

"They just hit it off. Sean always wants to learn more and he has no problem asking questions, and the two of them would talk endlessly about soccer," Thomas said. "They would work together at team camps and I believe a good amount of their assists went to each other this year."

Rose led the Falcons to their first county championship since 1998 in his third appearance. The win, a gritty 3-2 affair with two-time defending 4A East region champ Broadneck epitomized what Rose believes was a complete team.

"We had to hold off Broadneck in the pouring rain. I still have this picture on my desktop on my computer where the team is covered in mud and holding the trophy and that just summed up our season," Rose said. "It was the best combination of physical and finesse play that I have seen here."

After defeating Leonardtown to claim the 4A East region championship, a 4-0 loss to Perry Hall in the 4A state semifinals could not put a damper on a tremendous season and an amazing scholastic career for Rose. He will continue his soccer education at the University of Notre Dame, where he will play for former Scottish national team standout Bobby Clark. A veteran of three World Cups, Clark has led the Irish to the NCAA tournament each of his seven seasons at the helm following successful turns at both Stanford and Dartmouth.

"Mike epitomizes what Severna Park is known for in terms of academics and athletics, and now he is going to a school that is outstanding in both fields as well," Thomas said. "He was originally looking at schools in the Ivy League, as well as Stanford, but it is hard to pass up Notre Dame. He will have a very positive transition because he will be able to handle the rigors and will excel at the university both on and off the field."

Rose visited the university last summer for a camp and fell in love with the campus and the coach, whom he considers the most respected in all of college.

"It was one of those opportunities that you just could not turn down," Rose said. "I mean, playing Big East soccer means constantly going against guys that will challenge you. I went there for the USC football game and it was amazing to see all the alumni come back and support the team. They are always behind them."

For Thomas, whose four years at the helm of Severna Park have coincided with Rose's tenure, losing a player of Rose's caliber will hurt, but he has gained an alumni that future Falcons will try to live up to.

"I never wanted to make Mike the focal point of the team because it would not set us up as a program, and he always put the team first," Thomas said. "Who puts up double digit assist totals in three years? He will become a positive alumni because he bled Blue and Gold and he did everything the right way."