McDonogh boys soccer standout Marquez Fernandez, The Baltimore Sun's Metro Player of the Year in the fall, was named the 2008-09 Gatorade Maryland Boys Soccer Player of the Year. Fernandez, a junior defender, totaled 10 goals and six assists in leading the No. 1 Eagles to their second straight Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference championship.

Fernandez, who is the fourth McDonogh boys soccer player to receive the award, is now a finalist for the National Soccer Player of the Year award to be announced in May. Last year, McDonogh's Chris Agorsor won the award.

Fernandez, who maintains a 3.35 grade-point average, has verbally committed to play at the University of Maryland.