DuPage County All-Area boys soccer team
Kevin Anderson
Naperville North
The senior goalkeeper shut out Batavia, Downers Grove South, Glenbard East, Glenbard North, Joliet Central, Morton, Naperville Central, Neuqua Valley, Sandburg, West Aurora, Wheaton Warrenville South, Wheaton North and York out this season. “He’s got great physical size and athleticism and he just gobbles everything up,” Huskies coach Jim Konrad said. “... He’s been impressive. We’ve had a ton of great keepers in this program and he’s right up there as one of the best.”
Dan Burns
WW South
One of the most exciting players in the area, the senior forward scored 15 goals and added 6 assists for the 14-7-4 Tigers. “Danny is one of those players that when he receives a ball in the final third, everyone, including myself, slide to the edge of the seat in anticipation of something out of the ordinary and on occasion, spectacular,” Tigers coach Guy Callipari said. “It’s not difficult to forget about your coaching responsibilities and take on the tendencies of a soccer fan when Danny is in form.”
Kyle Dal Santo
Benet
There isn’t a goalkeeper in the state who brings as much onto the field as the junior whose booming right leg was also utilized this fall by football coach Patrick New. On the soccer field Dal Santo allowed as few goals as Benet wins, 13, and has now recorded 21 shutouts in his career. “He is technically as good as I have ever seen at the high school level,” Benet coach Sean Wesley said. “He can do it all: hands are fantastic, lightning fast reflexes, dominates the box and his distribution is great.”
Esteban Fernandez
West Chicago
One of the biggest keys to West Chicago’s success was the play of the senior midfielder. “He really has been the key with our whole offensive movement up top,” Brugmann said. “He sparked everything that went on top up there with a dynamic left-footed shot.” As a team captain, he displayed strong leadership qualities, was an all-sectional selection and finished with 18 goals and 10 assists.
Pat Flynn
Naperville Central
A team can go an entire season struggling to put the ball in the back of the net, but Flynn has found a way to not only do it, but to do it at key times all year. The junior has been responsible for nearly 40 percent of the Redhawks scoring and 6 of his 13 goals through regional play have been game winners. “He has been our link player, able to bridge from the back third to the final third,” Redhawks coach Troy Adams said. “Pat’s technical ability is what makes him special. He is able to control difficult balls and quickly settle to his feet.”
Lee Grander
Naperville North
The captain of the 2011 Daily Herald DuPage County All-Area boys soccer team does so many things so well, and that includes keeping his team alive in the postseason. Grander headed in the equalizer to help Naperville North rally past East Aurora in its sectional opener, but perhaps even more impressive was his save in front of the goal when goalkeeper Kevin Anderson got caught off his line.
Hunter Hollingshead
Neuqua Valley
As a three-year varsity goalkeeper, Hollingshead finished with a goals against average of 0.76 and a 25-9-7 record. The two-time all-Upstate Eight Conference selection developed into a top-flight keeper and helped a Wildcats team that had to fill a lot of roster spots this fall. “He is a serious student of the game,” Wildcats coach Tony Kees said. “He’s a self-starter who was trusted to organize separate training for the keepers, often on his own.”
Oliver Huerta
Lake Park
Lake Park coach Norm Hillner has seen a lot great players in his 30-year coaching career and the junior midfielder is one of the latest. “Oliver is one of the most creative and talented players in the 40-year history of Lake Park boys soccer,” Hillner said. “His excellent first touch and field vision make him a constant threat to the opposition.” As an attacking midfielder, Huerta has had a lot to do with the Lancers winning a regional title and finishing 17-7-2.
Will Huesing
WW South
If there’s such a thing as a security blanket in soccer, Huesing was exactly that for Wheaton Warrenville South. Unfortunately, the senior defender’s season was cut a few games short when he tore his ACL against St. Charles East in a 4-0 victory. “Will was the consummate leader on the field, asking nothing less than what was expected of himself,” Tigers coach Guy Callipari said. “His ability to control most environments allowed us to risk moving forward in numbers, often leaving him with even numbers to defend.”
Benjamin Kucera
Benet
There was a point this fall where Benet was dominating teams like no other. The Redwings ran off 10 straight victories from Sept. 12 to Oct. 12 and outscored opponents during the streak 30-2. Having a Creighton recruit like Kucera on the field put the Redwings in advantageous situations and helped the team to a 13-5-2 record. “He’s got a great attitude, he’s very coachable and an unbelievable talent that proved he could play every position on the field and have success,” Benet coach Sean Wesley said.
Kyle Lindberg
Naperville North
Four-year starters are special talents, especially when you can pull it off for a storied soccer program like Naperville North. The senior is putting the finishing touches on a stellar high school career where he enjoyed four DuPage Valley Conference championships and helped the Huskies to a 27-1 record against DVC foes. “We moved him up top to forward last year and it changed our season,” Naperville North coach Jim Konrad said. “We’ve left him up top ever since, even though he’ll be a defensive mid, center back in college,” Lindberg has a team-best 18 goals.
Diego Munoz
West Chicago
The spark for West Chicago all season long was this junior midfielder. “He was the heart of the team, and the whole team worked through him,” Wildcats coach Steve Brugmann said. “He’s really great with through balls and knew when it was the right time to speed the game up or to slow it down. He was a true leader on the field.” Munoz contributed 13 assists and scored 4 goals. Possessing marvelous foot skills, creative abilities, along with quickness and vision, Munoz generated plenty of match up difficulties for opponents and helped the Wildcats enjoy a very successful season.
Joe Passarelli
Lake Park
Lake Park’s Joe Passarelli has been the team’s go-to guy this season, and he delivered time and time again. While helping the Lancers reel off 15 wins in the regular season and enjoy a campaign that saw them lose back-to-back games just once, it was Passarelli who stunned Streamwood in the Lancers regional opener with a game-winning goal with 19.6 seconds left in quadruple overtime. “Joe has had a tremendous year for the Lancers,” Lake Park coach Norm Hillner said. “His strength, speed and abilities in the air have made the left-footed Passarelli one of the area’s most dangerous players and top scorers.”
Mike Plant
Naperville Central
As the vocal leader in the back who ensured his team was organized and always focused as a unit, the senior led the Redhawks into sectional play with a 15-4 record. Perhaps most impressive for Plant and his teammates, 12 of the 15 victories have come via shutout. “His leadership is a big reason for any success we had,” Redhawks coach Troy Adams said. “He is excellent in the air, being able to clear serves out of our defensive area, as well as winning punts and dead balls.” In the past two seasons as the Redhawks’ starting center back, Naperville Central has earned 19 shutouts and given up only 0.69 goals per contest.
Nick Smith
Neuqua Valley
Neuqua Valley lost a lot of experience and talent to graduation at the end of the 2010 season. The senior was just one of two returning starters, and he unselfishly moved to center back and instantly made the Wildcats a better team as they finished 10-5-3 and had wins over Bartlett and Lake Park, two teams that won regional titles. “Our captain and best all-around player,” Neuqua Valley coach Tony Kees said. “He was Mr. Reliable at holding midfield, balancing our defensive shape with attacking ideas.” Smith’s steady and effective play earned him UEC all-conference and all-sectional recognition.
Ryan Solomon
Metea Valley
As a new school, Metea Valley recognized its first group of seniors this fall and the one who stood out most was forward Ryan Solomon. The Mustangs record was just a modest 9-7-5, but a closer look shows perhaps the most difficult schedule in the state. “Ryan has stepped up to be an amazing team leader this year,” Metea Valley coach Josh Robinson said. “Besides his success finding the goal, he has a work rate that is contagious and has brought it out from the rest of the boys.” He had 17 goals and 9 assists.
Evan Trychta
Naperville North
Trychta missed the first four matches of the season as he recovered from a broken foot, but once he returned it took no time at all for before he was back as one of the game’s most dominating and fun-to-watch players. “The thing that’s so special is he’s such a great ball striker. He can get you with either foot, anytime, so you have to respect him at all times. He always finds a way to finish and has the presence of mind to find guys,” coach Jim Konrad said. Trychta, who will play at UIC next year, has been so consistent, tallying 17 goals as a sophomore, 19 in helping the team to a fourth-place finish in the state as a junior and 15 this season as the Huskies head toward a sectional title match.
Josh Urban
Wheaton Academy
Wheaton Academy once again finished another strong campaign, despite getting upended in a regional title game. The Warriors finished 14-7-3 while also winning the Suburban Christian Conference with a 7-1 mark with the help of this senior midfielder. “Josh was an exceptional player for us this year,” Warriors coach Jeff Brooke said. “His technical ability and knowledge of the game allowed us to use him in a variety of ways. His strength, speed and athleticism make him a dangerous player.” Urban finished the year with 9 goals and 3 assists.
Tyler Yanisch
Waubonsie Valley
Waubonsie Valley fought its way through a difficult schedule and a roster filled with young talent this fall to finish 9-8-3. The senior was the glue for the Warriors, providing a great deal of experience and leadership to the team. “He’s been our top scorer the last two years,” Waubonsie Valley coach Angelo DiBernardo said. “He was our quiet captain this year and led by example.” Yanisch helped the Warriors pull off several big victories over Batavia, Larkin, Geneva, Plainfield Central and twice over Benet. “He is a hard worker who always wants to do better,” DiBernardo said. “We will miss his attacking and defending abilities.”
Zack Venzon
Glenbard West
Zack Venzon proved to be Mr. Clutch for Glenbard West. His ability to deliver when the Hilltoppers needed him most helped the team to win the West Suburban Silver for the first time since 1999. “Due to the amount of effort, skill, passion and talent he brings into each and every game, I’d describe him as a player and a half,” Hilltoppers coach Maciej Kusmierz said. “Zack is a very offensive-minded, technically sound player that has a good understanding and sense of the game. Besides his technical abilities he possesses frightening quickness and excellent stamina to support his skill.”
Honorable mention
Tim Adelman, Sr., Lake Park; Max Auden, Sr., Naperville North; Zachary Bavol, Sr., Metea Valley; Sam Bell, Jr., Waubonsie Valley; Jesse Carmody, Sr., Wheaton Academy; Jon Colucci, Sr., Glenbard North; Cullen Cummings, Jr., Downers Grove North; Nate Donovan, So., Metea Valley; Jesus Duran, Jr., West Chicago; Tyler Ford, Sr., Glenbard East; Thomas Gkotse, Jr., Glenbard South; David Kaminky, Sr., St. Francis; T.J. Kubiesa, Sr., Hinsdale South; Drew Mascari, Sr., St. Francis; Hunter Miller, Sr., Benet; Eric Osika, Jr., Lisle; Richie Paret, Jr., West Chicago; Jack Patrick, Jr., Naperville Central; Mitch Reavis, Jr., Hinsdale Central; Damien Sampson, Sr., Glenbard South; Kevin Skrip, Sr., Neuqua Valley; Joe Sullivan, Jr., Naperville North.