A pair of former McDonogh stars to meet on MLS stage

Andrew Privett and Jacob Murrell only shared the field for one season during their days as Baltimore area high school soccer stars for McDonogh School. Soon they will share the same pitch once again, only this time on a much bigger stage, when Charlotte FC visits DC United for a Major League Soccer (MLS) match at Audi Stadium in Washington, DC., on Oct. 19.

Murrell is a MLS rookie, who has appeared in 27 games this season, including six starts, after being drafted by the Washington squad last December, with the 7th overall pick in the 2024 MLS Super Draft. He signed a 3-year contract, with an option for a fourth year, and has scored one goal and added three assists so far.

Murrell was the National Gatorade Player of the Year in 2022 after his senior season at McDonogh. He led the Eagles to back-to-back MIAA A Conference championships as he scored 83 goals and handed out 34 assists over his final two high school seasons. Murrell also won multiple Maryland Player of the Year awards and played in the national High School All-American game. He then played two seasons at Georgetown University where he led the Hoyas in scoring, as a freshman, with seven goals and four assists. He followed that with 11 goals and four assists as a sophomore.

Like Murrell, Privett also hails from Harford County, Maryland. The midfielder entered the MLS via the 2023 Super Draft, getting selected with the 69th overall pick by Charlotte FC. Over the last two seasons he has appeared in 41 games with 40 starts. He has taken 15 shots but has yet to score as a professional. Privett led McDonogh to three MIAA A titles (2015, 2017 and 2018). He was the All-Metro Player of the Year as a senior when he scored 15 goals and added 12 assists. He went on to a four-year college career at Penn State where he had 14 goals and 13 assists. As a junior he led the Big 10 with nine goals.

Ironically, Privett and Murrell will not be the only MIAA alums in the Oct. 19 match in Washington. Calvert Hall grad Ben Bender, who also plays for Charlotte FC will also be in this contest. Bender is a 3-year MLS veteran with seven career goals and 10 assists. He was Charlotte FC's 1st-round pick in the 2021 Super Draft, out of the University of Maryland