Boys soccer: Fox Valley all-area team
Mauricio Arellano Dundee-Crown
This senior scored 5 goals off set pieces this season, including a pair of penalty kicks. However, it was his presence as a central defender that made the difference for the 13-8-2 Chargers, a team that posted 5 shutouts. “He just made a huge difference in basically containing other teams' offensive attacks,” Dundee-Crown coach Rey Vargas said. “I just thought he was the heart of our defense.” A two-year starter and a team captain, Arellano also earned a victory as a goalkeeper. Starting in net after D-C's starting keeper was red-carded the previous match, Arellano recorded a 4-0 victory over Crystal Lake Central.
Josh Beachler Westminster Christian
This striker and repeat all-area selection finished the year with 41 goals, the most of any player in the Fox Valley. The junior turned in many highlights: a 5-goal performance in a Class 1A regional semifinal; the go-ahead goal in the Warriors' second straight regional title victory; and a goal off a free kick that staked Westminster Christian to a 1-0 lead in a sectional semifinal. “He was clearly the best player in the Elgin area this year,” an opposing Elgin-area coach said of Beachler.
Tom Breen Cary-Grove
After two years guarding the net at Crystal Lake Central, this goalkeeper transferred to Cary-Grove and helped transform the Trojans into a defensive power. Breen allowed only 11 goals the entire season for a team that won 15 straight matches and finished 15-3-1. “With him, what a difference,” Cary-Grove coach Mark Olson said. “Between his outlets and just stabilizing the defense, he did a great job all year.”
Brett Dini Bartlett
The heart of Bartlett's defense, this team captain is the glue in the backfield for the Hawks, who won their first regional title and sectional match this week. A three-year varsity letterman, Dini has been part of Bartlett teams that have won 29 games in the last two seasons, 16 by shutout. “He is one of the most dominant central defenders in the area,” Bartlett coach Ben Beary said. “Besides marking up and shutting down the strongest attacker from each opponent, Dini is a regular contributor on offense with 4 goals and 3 assists.”
Matt Ehrhardt Jacobs
This senior was an all-around force for the Golden Eagles, who went 17-6 this season and nearly pulled off an upset of the No. 1 regional seed in a shootout. A stout defender, he suffocated opposing attacks. “He is the rock in our back line,” Jacobs coach Anthony Cappello said. “He's a big part of the reason we only allowed 11 goals this season.” Ehrhardt was also his team's leading scorer with 12 goals and 6 assists, not to mention its iron man. Ehrhardt played almost every minute of every match.
Jorge Flores Elgin
Every team needs a field general, and this senior served that role for the Maroons. “Stats don't tell the story,” Elgin coach Dave Borg said. “This guy is a great defensive player. Unfortunately, he was asked to do so much.” Flores did whatever his team needed. He would shut down the opposing team's best scorer, but he was also technically sound, strong on the ball and has a “good foot,” according to his coach.
Adam Gatza Crystal Lake South
This senior defender is a big reason why the Gators have been able to post 16 shutouts, a total that shattered the previous record of 12. A repeat all-area selection, Gatza has all the skills required of a supreme defender. “He's not just a fierce tackler and defender but a terrific server of the ball from the back line,” CL South coach Brian Allen said. “ He has helped us reliever pressure when needed and launch deadly counterattacks with his pinpoint accuracy, not just off set pieces but also in the run of play.” Gatza entered sectional play this week with 1 goal and 11 assists for the season, raising his CL South career totals to 2 goals and 28 assists. He was named all-sectional last week.
Chris Gousios Burlington Central
This junior forward developed into the leading scorer for the Big Northern East and Class 2A regional champion Rockets. Gousios led Central with 19 goals and 4 assists heading into sectional play at Belvidere. He adds to the team chemistry as much as he adds to the offense. “Chris was our leading goal scorer this season, but it was his leadership that I thought was most impressive,” Central coach Mike Gecan said. “Chris does a lot of the little things that help keep a team together during a pretty long and hectic regular season. Now, as we move into the postseason, I'm hoping all the extra work he does for his teammates will pay off. It's also nice to know that we'll have him back again next year.”
Mike Kozielek South Elgin
Recently added to the Chicago Fire Academy roster, this junior striker was the most consistent force for South Elgin with 15 goals and 5 assists. A player characterized as “big time” by his coach, Kozielek stood out on a young team. “He might be one of the best players I've seen in a long time,” South Elgin coach John Uveges said. “He's offense, he's defense. He's so talented he can basically play any position on the field. In my opinion, he's one of the top five players in the state. He's that good.”
Kevin Montelongo Huntley
Huntley's 6-foot-4 goalkeeper, a repeat all-area selection, began the season with a broken hand but soon returned to lead the Red Raiders. The senior finished the season with 7 shutouts. “I've seen just about everyone in the area and I don't think I've seen anybody who plays like he does,” Huntley coach Kris Grabner. “He's a game-changer. Being 6-4 helps. He'll take balls out of the corners other keepers don't have a chance at.”
Ismael Morales Hampshire
Hampshire's leading goal scorer enjoyed his second straight season with 20-plus goals. The junior entered the Class 2A Lakes sectional this week with 25 goals and 17 assists to his credit. In three varsity seasons, Morales has 54 goals and 24 assists. “He has great breakaway speed and a deft touch,” Hampshire coach John Gosling said. “He strikes a ball with both feet, often drawing two defenders. His dangerousness prompted teams to double team him, which has allowed two other players to have 10-plus goals to their names this year.”
Mark Olenek St. Edward
Add this forward to a more veteran team than the rebuilding, young squad he played for at St. Edward this season and Olenek possibly doubles his output of 7 goals and 5 assists. As it was, this senior was called upon for much more than his scoring touch. His leadership on a team with multiple underclassmen made him “like a coach on the field,” Green Wave coach Tim Brieger said at midseason. A versatile athlete, Olenek has been busy this fall. He is also the kicker for St. Edward's playoff-bound football team.
Charlie Oliver Crystal Lake South
When Crystal Lake South needs a goal, this repeat all-area selection usually comes through. For instance, the Gators trailed Jacobs 1-0 in the regional title match last Friday until the talented striker scored with three minutes left to send the game to overtime. His Gators eventually won. Despite constant double and triple teaming, the junior has 27 goals and 11 assists this season, bringing his career total to 53 goals and 22 assists. “He's a lightning quick slasher, technically and tactically gifted,” CL South coach Brian Allen said of the team captain. “He has a wonderful soccer IQ that allows him to work out of the double/triple teams or, better yet, get him the assist by finding his teammates who are open due to the attention he draws.”
Taylor Pignataro Jacobs
A repeat all-area selection, this midfielder was a big reason the Golden Eagles finished second in the Fox Valley Conference, won 17 matches and played for a regional title. A senior, Pignataro scored 6 goals and added 7 assists, but his ability to dictate the flow of a game can't be measured. “Taylor is the motor for our team,” Jacobs coach Anthony Cappello said. “He is an unselfish player, which is why his numbers aren't greater. He holds the center of the field better than any player I have seen out there this year. He seldom loses a 50/50 ball.”
Kyle Reopelle Burlington Central
This senior's ability to control the tempo of a match from the midfield makes him unique, Rockets coach Mike Gecan said. “Over the past four years I have had the honor of watching Kyle mature into one of the best soccer players that I have ever coached,” Gecan said. “Once again, he was the backbone of our midfield, which makes it very hard to substitute him out.” A repeat all-area selection, Reopelle has 6 assists and 8 goals this season. His biggest goal was struck Monday, when he scored from 35 yards out on a free kick to lift the Rockets to a 1-0 win over Marmion and the school's first regional championship.
Erik Rodriguez Larkin
Larkin's sophomore scoring machine has the ability to get hot, demonstrated by his 3 hat tricks in a two-week span at midseason. He scores big goals in big matches, as evidenced this week when he found the net in a regional semifinal victory over Elgin and added 2 more goals in a 4-2 victory against South Elgin in the regional final. Those 2 goals raised Rodriguez's season total to 25, tying him for the Larkin single-season school record. He also has 14 assists. “He's having a great year,” Larkin coach Ken Hall said. “He's just a natural goal scorer. Offensively, he does everything well.”
Alex Sanchez Larkin
Whether he was marking the opponent's best attacker or making a tackle against a driving forward or midfielder, Sanchez remained a key cog in Larkin's defense at sweeper. “He is so solid in back for us,” Larkin coach Ken Hall said of this senior. “He stabilizes our defense and he's really improved in the four years he's been in the program. He's a very smart player and does everything well. He could play just about any position.” A three-year varsity player, Sanchez has been a primary contributor on consecutive regional title teams for Larkin, which entered sectional play this week with a record of 16-7-1.
Dave Walsh Crystal Lake South
Walsh's school record for shutouts may stand for many years to come. Crystal Lake South's goalkeeper ran 16 clean sheets this season, eclipsing the previous school record of 12. He has 25 shutouts in two seasons after he made the switch from football to soccer as a junior. Walsh's stop of a penalty kick lifted the Gators to a 2-1 victory over Jacobs in the regional title match. He enters sectional play this week with a .52 goals-against average for the 21-1-2 Gators. “He has tremendous hands and is a physically intimidating presence on crosses,” CL South coach Brian Allen said. “Probably one of the strongest foots in the area as he collected 2 assists off punts in beginning counterattacks for us.”
Honorable mention
Bartlett Alex Busch (Sr., GK), Andrew Triantos (Sr. M)
Burlington Central Alexis Camarena (Sr., F), Alejandro Nava (Sr., F/M)
Cary-Grove Evan Baker (Sr., F), Jon Guay (Sr., F), Erik Gustafson (Jr., D),
Crystal Lake South Matt Biederwolf (Sr., D), Trevor Bittenbender (Sr., M), Jacob Stock (Jr., D), Alex Tapia (Sr., F)
Dundee-Crown Kyle Hagan (Jr., F/M)
Elgin Angel Dominguez (Sr., D)
Elgin Academy Tom Tunca (Jr., GK)
Huntley Leo Mueller (Sr., D)
Jacobs A.J. Pfatsbacher (Sr., GK)
Larkin Tony Hernandez (So., M)
St. Edward Hector Alvarez (Sr., M/D)
South Elgin Ryan Piszczek (Sr., D)
Streamwood Victor Aguilar (Sr., D)
Westminster Christian Ian Dutcher (Sr., GK), Steven Hoeflich (Sr., M)
Captains Honor Roll
1995 Peter Takacs (Larkin)
1996 Nick Dudziak (Elgin)
1997 Sean Rafferty (Elgin)
1998 Ryan McKenna (Larkin)
1999 Ryan McKenna (Larkin) and Blair McLaughlin (Cary-Grove)
2000 John Dahlquist (Bartlett)
2001 Matt Grimmer (Bartlett) and Mark Sommerville (Jacobs)
2002 Jeff Diehl (Jacobs)
2003 Dan Breen (Cary-Grove)
2004 Mike Stumpf (Crystal Lake South)
2005 Joe Keating (St. Edward)
2006 Christian Meza (Dundee-Crown) and Tyler Beachler (Westminster Christian)
2007 David Rodriguez (Larkin)
2008 Alex Perez (Streamwood) and Raul Sandoval (Larkin)
2009 Ryan Beachler (Westminster Christian)
2010 Charlie Oliver (Crystal Lake South)