Boys soccer: Northwest all-area team
Albert Arabik LeydenThe return of this big, strong front-runner after a year away with a soccer academy proved to be the missing piece for the regional champs. “Albert coming back was a huge boost for us, and the school as well,” said Leyden coach Mark Valintis. “He is a great teammate who cared about winning first, not his stats, as witnessed by his 17 assists this season, which is an unbelievable number for a scorer such as he.” Combining pace and power, this two-time all-area, all-WSG senior is a master playing with his back to the net, while his ability to find space in the box means he is always a menace to the opposition. He was his most dangerous with his movement, and refined runs, the likes rarely seen on the prep scene. Cool under pressure when in front of the goal, his 18 goals this year give him 51 (and 28 assists) for his career. Named all-state two years ago. UIC and SIU-Edwardsville are among many taking a look.
Edgar Avila SchaumburgThe Saxons' keeper has grown into the full package, according to his coach, Hamid Mehreioskouei. Avila's leadership and control over the back line have grown over the past 12 months to help him become a top-flight all-around keeper, while his record against ranked opponents and stats set him apart as well. The two-year starter is quick off his line and in his decision-making while commanding his penalty area with terrific positional skill that always allowed him to handle crosses with ease, especially through a sea of bodies. The former field player is sharp on the ball, which allows him to distribute with ease and initiate the attack or parry away trouble with confidence. Avila finished with 12 shutouts this season and a 0.61 goals-against average. This first-time all-MSL and all-area senior also earned all-state honors in his sensational final season.
Drew Brauner Buffalo GroveWith a history of scoring big goals prior to this fall, this three-year veteran enjoyed a breakout year by establishing himself as one of the best around at his position. He was named Mid-Suburban League player of the year and later earned all-state accolades. “Drew was a dynamic forward and classic finisher, but the best thing about him was his tremendous soccer IQ, and with the way he competed on match day,” said his coach, Brad Abel. Intricate in his movement and capable of running rampant against the most stalwart of backlines, the Bison captain was a delight to watch. Directness, speed in possession, along with tantalizing footwork, sound decision making, instinctive soccer wit and composure in the area all were key in BG's march into the MSL Cup this fall. Brauner finished with 14 goals and 4 assists after bagging 9 goals in 2014.
Elias Cisneros WheelingAfter a year away following a superb sophomore year for the Wildcats, during which he bagged 5 goals for the Class 3A state runners-up and MSL champions, Cisneros returned to become one of the most dynamic players for coach Ed Uhrik's club. His tantalizing footwork and creative skill allowed him to unlock even the most stubborn of defenses. “Elias is a very talented striker. He's elusive with the ball, and his speed, with and without the ball, caused a ton of headaches for opponents and made our attack go,” Uhrik said. This classic striker owns a good first touch, impressive close control, and was adept at finding space when it seemed there was none. A first-time all-MSL and all-sectional choice, the senior scored in bunches: three games with 2 goals, plus a 3-goal haul against Rolling Meadows as part of a 14-goal, 5-assist year.
Chris Cooney ProspectThis first-time all-MSL, all-sectional striker made his intent clear from his opening match when he bagged a school record 6 goals against Maine East on his way to 14 this season (and 20 in his varsity career). “Chris is a dynamic attacker who can change the game in an instant,” said Knights first-year coach Paul Elkins. “When he's in the game, we always feel we have a fighting chance because he could create a goal for us at any moment.” Quick and intelligent in the way he finds spaces, Cooney's quick first step often helped him lose his marker and make himself available for a through ball before finishing off a move in a calm and composed fashion. He drew 4 penalty kicks, fired in 3 goals in the Knights' come-from-behind victory over Hersey and scored a program-record eight seconds into the club's regional semifinal loss to Leyden. The two-year starter, who also earned MSL all-academic honors, will attend the Illinois next fall to study engineering.
Niko Davis SchaumburgIn the high-pressing, attacking style of play used by Schaumburg, this senior had the ability to play different roles during his first season with the MSL champs. “Niko was easily our most versatile player, which allowed us to make change and solve programs at the three different positions he played for us this year,” said his coach Hamid Mehreioskouei. “His ability to defend and attack became more prevalent as the season progressed, and he was a true leader, serving as a great example for his teammates and our program.” The first-time all-MSL and all-area selection could easily go up and back, but it was his physical and tactical prowess, coupled with soccer sense that made him such a tough one to beat. Highly capable in and around the area, his brilliant strike against Buffalo Grove proved to be the MSL Cup game-winner.
Colin Doyle Buffalo GroveWith his all-state teammate Drew Brauner earning a bit more of the attention, this versatile veteran registered 12 goals while drawing plenty of praise from coach Brad Abel. “Colin had a breakout year for us,” Abel said. “If it wasn't Drew scoring, it was Doyle. But perhaps the best thing about him was he was a great young man to coach, and one who embodies the team concept. And it's that, along with skills and great attitude that I will miss.” A nightmare for would-be tacklers to deal with, whether on the wing, up top, or even at midfield, Doyle's used his pace and energy to be equally effective as a defender. An all-MSL, all-sectional and all-area first-timer.
Ryan Drum Buffalo GroveA no-nonsense defender who was not afraid to get into a tangle or two with an attacker, this two-time all-area choice and four-year varsity veteran has been a constant plus for the Bison since helping BG lift the MSL East trophy back in 2012 as a sophomore. “Ryan was our general along the back,” said coach Brad Abel. “He helped us stay organized, would minimize shots on goals and was a fierce competitor who hated to lose, which showed in his level of intensity of play.” Drum has a sound reading of the game, excels in the air and as a free kick artist. This natural back line star would often perplex opponents when running at them in his forward sprints to add numbers in the Bison attack. Two-time all-MSL, and all-sectional on his resume as well.
Alexis Flores SchaumburgOne of the catalysts behind the Saxons' run to MSL and regional titles, this two-year starter brought loads of pace, along with technical quality, plus an irresistible drive to break into the area to exploit the opposition's back line. “Alexis was a dominating force, who could post up the best players, 1v1, to make him a dual threat,” said coach Haid Mehreioskouei. “He scored a lot of big goals for us, but more importantly, as our captain he did a great job of keeping our boys focused through training and on match day, while his competitive nature and determination would truly identify him as one of the top players in the area.” Capable of playing up top or even in the midfield if needed, Flores' chemistry with Edward Gomez helped make them the top strike force in the MSL this fall. Flores finished with 15 goals and 10 assists to complete a season which featured his second straight all-MSL and first all-sectional honors.
Cesar Franco LeydenThis two-time all-area center-back is the epitome of a modern defender in the world of prep soccer, boasting the ability to play different roles across the defensive spectrum. “I cannot imagine a better center-back in the state this year,” said coach Mark Valintis. “He's done everything for us. He has scored big goals mainly on set pieces, provided excellent service, and has been a key figure in the 18 shutouts the club has recorded during the past two seasons.” Franco played nearly every minute of every match during his career with a seemingly effortless approach. He showed a high work rate on both sides of the ball along with aerial superiority, winning attitude, exquisite touch, and a first-rate soccer IQ while repeating as an all-West Suburban Gold and all-sectional defender. Franco also contributed 9 goals and 9 assists in his career.
Nick Janulis WheelingThat Janulis led all of the MSL in goals scored (17) this season is remarkable in that one year ago, this two-year player was playing his trade as a spot player for coach Ed Uhrik. That was before his breakout senior campaign, during which Janulis garnered all-MSL, all-sectional and all-area honors. “Nick gave us a nice physical presence up front as our target man, who did so well checking back,” said Uhrik. “That allowed us to play to his feet or have him hold the ball, or flick it forward, and distribute — all the while taking a constant beating, yet staying composed,” said Uhrik. The senior was strong enough to turn his back to goal, and bring others into play, but was also technically gifted enough to finish his own chances, including four against Prospect.
Konrad Kieruzal Hoffman EstatesThis two-time all-area standout constantly displayed all the qualities to be a classic box-to-box, all-around player with the ability to drive forward with the ball before using his outstanding range of passing to launch his own side's forays up field. “This year, Konrad was clearly one of the best midfielders I saw,” says coach Matt Sriver. “His ability to read the defense and create for his teammates combined with his vision and work rate were extraordinary.” A mainstay in the Hawks' lineup for three years, the two-time all-MSL, all-sectional senior was strong in the air — not just because of his imposing 6-4 frame, but also because of his technical excellence. Always ready to play at the highest level, the Hawks' captain scored 8 goals in his career to go with 22 assists. Has twice been named an National Honor Society award winner.
Jessie Lopez SchaumburgOne of the best at his position in the state, the Saxons' standout enjoyed another incredible postseason trophy haul, earning his second consecutive All-American and all-state honors. “Jessie is the ultimate center midfielder, and when it comes to being a playmaker, he is truly in a class all by himself,” said coach Hamid Mehreioskouei of his four-year veteran. “Jessie's impact in our attack is nothing like you see from the elite players in this state, but it's his defense which sets him apart from others because it is so good for a player of his offensive talent.” The two-time MSL West player of the year put 12 goals into the back of the net this fall to finish with 23 in his career. He also came up with 15 assists this season.
Miles McDonnell St. ViatorThe surge in the Lions' season began, coincidentally, after coach Mike Taylor moved this fine two-year starter from his customary spot in the midfield into the center of the defense, where his leadership and first-rate play turned a weakness into a strength and helped get the Lions back on track. “We had not won in our first five ballgames — with Miles in the back, we went 12-5-0 the rest of the way. He's come a long way since his sophomore year, and there's a lot of pride in his game, and with him playing for this program,” said Taylor. Having started his career as an attacking player, his most striking feature is in how comfortable he is playing out of the back while still defending crisply. The East Suburban Catholic Conference's co-defensive player of the year was not shy about getting forward and managed to get on the scoresheet seven times this fall after bagging 5 goals on the 2014 Class 2A state tournament team. McDonnell just missed out on all-state honors yet earned first-time all-area and all-sectional acclaim.
Liam Obernesser PalatineSince stepping into coach Willie Filian's starting lineup as a sophomore, this year's captain has grown to become one of the top players at his position, not only in the area, but also in recent program history, following in the footsteps of recent standout Kyle Clancy. “Liam is an old-fashioned lead-by-example type of player who not only held together a brand new back line but was the key to much of our offense with his long throw-ins,” said Filian. “He was an excellent example of the sort of soccer player we look to build around here, who perfectly fits our mantra of ‘work hard, be humble, team first.' ” The two-time all-MSL choice was a voracious tackler yet rarely conceded many fouls. Strong in the air and soccer-smart, the premier long thrower in this area could quickly launch counters with quality service from the back. He provided 2 goals and 12 assists while earning all-sectional honors.
Nash Pirie BarringtonElectric pace set this outside back apart among area coaches, who voted the junior all-state after the regular season. “I had several coaches tell me after games about them not seeing a left back who could change games like Nash did to them,” said Barrington coach Scott Steib. “He truly is a multifaceted left back who not only was a skillful soccer player but also an incredible athlete who was dynamic as a wing player yet a terrific individual defender as well.” Fantastic when going forward, this two-year starter has good technical ability, and his pace and power often gave him a big advantage over his opponents. Pirie loves to run with the ball and drive into his rivals territory, but what really set him apart is his sheer speed on the ball. Finished with 11 assists this fall while gaining his first all-MSL and all-area honors.
Alfredo Recendez LeydenCoach Mark Valintis raves about this senior, who added 15 pounds of muscle during the off-season to add more strength to become an intimidating shot-stopping force for the regional champions. “Each off-season he has worked harder than the year before in every facet of the game, and in my opinion, I have not seen a more complete goalkeeper than him,” Valintis said. “All that, plus he's a tremendous leader who plays with a lot of class and pride.” Adept at making the tough decisions for when to handle crosses and when stick deep, and his footwork allows him to be fearless in 1v1 situations. Recendez finished with 10 shutouts this season and 18 in his career as a two-time all-West Suburban Gold choice. Also earned all-sectional honors this fall after carrying a 0.60 goals-against average during his three years as a starter.
Jonathan Sanchez WheelingThis classy Cat was Ed Uhrik's top all-around player this season, despite taking on a new position during the first week of the campaign. “When our center-back went out with an ACL, (Sanchez) took over at that spot without hesitation to become a terrific ‘last man' and one who helped us earn 8 shutouts and a spot in the regional final,” said Uhrik. The natural midfielder distinguished himself from many defenders with his understanding of potential trouble and his ability to stay flexible in his positional play thanks to his solid technical skills. Aside from his obvious soccer ability, his play and actions were always composed. A two-time all-MSL choice, to go along with his first all-sectional and all-area honors this season.
Luke Schoffstall FremdHis combination of pace, flair, balance and an affinity for executing a trick or two to get past opponents made it difficult for even the best fullbacks to defend this three-year veteran. Schoffstall scored several key goals in the Vikings' run to a state trophy last season while just a sophomore. “Luke is a technically gifted soccer player who has a knack for finding his way to goal,” said Fremd coach Steve Keller. “He prefers to play an attacking mid, or withdrawn forward role, but we asked him to play higher up the field, and he carried a big load for us this season as our main threat.” With an abundance of athletism, Schoffstall was capable of scoring all kinds of goals, from the audacious, to powerful rockets to cool finishes. This first-time all-sectional and all-area selection found the back of the net 15 times this fall and had 4 assists, up from 9 and 3 in 2014.
Jason Schoo SchaumburgThe heart and soul of the Saxons throughout their championship season, this three-year starter and team captain earned plenty of praise from rival coaches for his nonstop work rate and incredible ability to win nearly every ball in the center of the park to help the MSL champs dominate that area of the play. “He is one of the hardest-working kids you'll see out there, on both sides of the ball, and without him we would not have enjoyed the success we had this year,” said coach Hamid Mehreioskouei. Schoo took a big step forward in every facet of his game, which obviously made an impression on the coaches who voted him all-state along with teammates Jessie Lopez and Edgar Avila. Fierce in the tackle, the senior's quick feet allowed him to win balls back from the opposition before distributing to others, including his midfield running mate Lopez. Schoo finished with 7 goals and 4 assists this year to round out a career which includes two all-MSL and one all-sectional selection.
Luke Sellers BarringtonThe Broncos' captain and two-year starter was not one to display the spectacular from his midfield position. Instead, Sellers took his role seriously, displaying terrific ball-winning skills, solid defensive chops and a calmness on the ball when playing in a deeper role for coach Scott Steib. Sellers was also able to rotate possession forward and support his teammates in the attack. “Luke was our one lone warrior throughout this season as the only player who brought a hard-nosed, battle-ready mentality to each game, in addition to doing a great amount of unsung work destroying the attack of our opposition,” said Steib. Sellers' much-improved technical skill allowed the senior to control the tempo of the games and dictate play, while his passing proved quite effective at the same time. Sellers earned a spot on the Barrington Classic all-tournament team this past September before going on to net all-MSL and all-sectional postseason honors after finishing with 5 goals and 2 assists.
Kevin Sindewald ConantThe junior captain began the year along the back line for coach Jason Franco but soon became a regular at midfield, quickly growing into the position and role of helping the Cougars in the heart of the park. “Kevin has been our engine all year long,” said Franco. “He was our most consistent player while in several positions for us. But we were best with him in the middle, where he could use his motor to be a ball-winner while having the quality to make plays when we went forward. The fact that he was our captain as a junior, with 16 seniors on our roster, speaks volumes of his passion and consistent play.” Finished with 3 goals, but the real value of this first-time all-MSL, all-sectional three-year starter was his sheer determination and tenacity.
All-area roster
Player School Yr. Pos.
Albert Arabik Leyden Sr. F
Edgar Avila Schaumburg Sr. GK
Drew Brauner Buffalo Grove Sr. F
Elias Cisneros Wheeling Sr. F
Chris Cooney Prospect Sr. F
Niko Davis Schaumburg Sr. D
Colin Doyle Buffalo Grove Sr. F
Ryan Drum Buffalo Grove Sr. D
Alexis Flores Schaumburg Sr. F
Cesar Franco Leyden Sr. D
Nick Janulis Wheeling Sr. F
Konrad Kieruzal Hoffman Estates Sr. MF
Jessie Lopez Schaumburg Sr. MF
Miles McDonnell St. Viator Sr. D
Liam Obernesser Palatine Sr. D
Nash Pirie Barrington Jr. D
Alfredo Recendez Leyden Sr. GK
Jonathan Sanchez Wheeling Jr. MF-D
Luke Schoffstall Fremd Jr. F
*Jason Schoo Schaumburg Sr. MF
Luke Sellers Barrington Sr. MF
Kevin Sindewald Conant Jr. MF-D
* — All-area team captain
Special mentionRemzi Ahemti (Hoffman Estates, Sr., F), Alex Alfaro (Buffalo Grove, Jr., MF), Cezar Alfaro (Conant, Sr., MF), Andrew Bird (Schaumburg, Sr., D), Noe Centeno (Elk Grove, Sr., D), Hans Haller (Buffalo Grove, Sr., D), Jeus Hernandez (Leyden, Sr., MF), Christian Hyde (Conant, Sr., GK), Nicolas Jozefowski (Prospect, Sr., GK), Jacob Koutas (Rolling Meadows, Sr., F), Angel Lopez (Leyden, Jr., MF), Allan Mantilla (Wheeling, Sr., D), Matthew Mayer (Palatine, Sr., MF-F), Kevin Napoleon (St. Viator, Sr., GK), Noe Padilla (Hoffman Estates, Jr., MF), Hans Pallan (Barrington, Sr., F), Anthony Pineda (St. Viator, Sr., F-MF), Giuseppe Pulvino (Maine West, Sr., MF), Andrew Ralston (Schaumburg, Sr., D), Joseph Standridge (Palatine, Sr., D).
Honorable mentionJose Aguillar (Wheeling, Jr., D), Jake Arbour (Fremd, Sr., D), Alex Bielic (Rolling Meadows, Jr., MF), Christian Castro (Hersey, Jr., MF), Christian Damien (Buffalo Grove, Sr., D-MF), Zach Carbonara (Barrington, Jr., MF), Jessie Castro (Christian Liberty Academy, So, F), Edward Gomez (Schaumburg, Sr., Brett Harris (Hersey, Sr., GK), Patrick Hickey (St. Viator, Sr., MF-D), Isaiah Jaime (Christian Liberty Academy, So, MF), Benny Masi (Rolling Meadows, Sr., D), Tadeo Lara (Palatine, Sr., F), Rohan Menon (Fremd, Sr., MF), Edgar Montesinos (Maine West, Sr., D), Caleb Orr (Barrington, Jr., F-MF), Nathan Patterson (Christian Liberty Academy, So, MF), Jack Rasmussen (Hersey, Jr., MF), Alex Ruffalo (Barrington, Jr., GK), Salvador Salgado (Leyden, Sr., D), David Soto (Wheeling, So, D), Edgar Soto (Elk Grove, Sr., MF), Grant Sutherland (Christian Liberty Academy, Sr., MF), Josh Tolford (Christian Liberty Academy, Jr., F-MF), Juan Vallejo (Maine West, Sr., D), Nelson Diaz Velasquez (Hoffman Estates, So, D), Gorgis Yelda (Buffalo Grove, Sr., D), Pan Zervas (Rolling Meadows, Sr., GK).
Selections and capsules by Mike Garofola