Tri-Cities Boys Soccer All-Area Team

Ivan Bohorquez, Kaneland

Bohorquez was that grinder-type guy that did a little of everything to help the Knights. "He's one of those hardworkers who was going all the time," Kaneland coach Scott Parillo said. "And we needed him. He was relentless. He was that mudder, that grinder that would go in there and get dirty and he was huge for us." Bohorquez was a three-year all-conference selection. He scored 6 goals and had 5 assists while helping the Knights win a regional title. "A great kid too," Parillo added. "He gave us great leadership, won a lot of 50-50s and created a lot of opportunities."

Kevin Collins, Batavia

Collins stepped up and became one of the leaders of a Batavia team that won the Upstate Eight River Conference and a regional championship. Finished with 7 goals and 8 assists to help the Bulldogs go 19-3-3 before bowing out in a sectional title game. "He was really focused and at times was our backbone," Bulldogs coach Mark Gianfrancesco said. "He could really control the ball and his ability to handle it, with long serves and winning balls in the air were instrumental in the team's success."

Joe Duffield, Marmion

This junior has quickly become of the toughest defenders in the state, helping Marmion to a 12-10-0 record. The Cadets awarded Duffield captaincy midseason and he would ultimately get named all-sectional honorable mention. He not only started all games this fall, but also has now done so since his freshman year. "He was providing such great leadership that he was named captain halfway through the season," Marmion coach Ricky del Toro said. "He was our most consistent player. I think Joe was instrumental to our competing against top teams as well."

Jose Gallegos, West Aurora

Undoubtedly the leader for a senior-laden Blackhawks squad, Gallegos had 7 goals and 5 assists. "He was someone who leads by example," West Aurora coach Joe Sustersic said. "He's a verbal leader as well who knows how to inspire people and at the same time, he knows he has to be stern when things aren't right." Sustersic asked Gallegos to transition to the less glamorous outside-mid position. While he was reluctant at first, he made the transition for the better of the team. "He's a great kid," Sustersic said. "He has all the intangibles too. A lot of those things you can't measure, he did them really well."

Oscar Gaytan, West Aurora

Joe Sustersic may be the West Aurora coach on the sideline but Gaytan was the team's coach on the field. "I really didn't even need to be at the first 30 minutes of practice with Oscar there," Sustersic said. "He has the respect of all his teammates and the skills beyond doubt." Gaytan had 4 goals and 9 assists for the 11-9-1 Blackhawks. "The only problem I had with Oscar is he was sometimes too selfless," Sustersic said. "Sometimes he was too worried about the perfect pass rather than shooting, but he wasn't that type of player. He's the consummate team player."

Nick Graham, St. Charles North

The senior captain and leader of the North Stars' back line had a lot to do with team's turnaround this fall. After winning just 3 games a season ago, the North Stars enjoyed an 11-6-4 season. "Nick was everything a coach could ask for in a center back," St. Charles North coach Eric Willson said. "He was incredibly consistent in his ability to defend 1v1, dominate balls in the air and get our attack started by finding our offensive players' feet. Most important, Nick was a stellar communicator. He was constantly organizing and motivating his team."

Nick Konopacki, Batavia

While John Faraone and Kevin Fiddelke often split time in goal this fall, they had an anchor on the back line that minimized those scoring dangers that are usually the difference between wins, losses and ties. Konopacki earned all-state honors as he led a Batavia defense that posted 13 shutouts and a 0.68 gaa. "We had some question marks in back and then Nathan Carey got hurt," Bulldogs coach Mark Gianfrancesco said. "He was huge in getting everybody organized. It often goes unnoticed because people look at the goals you're scoring, but no one was scoring on us, especially early on and Nick was there all season."

Jason Lagger, Geneva

Geneva had one of those up-and-down seasons where it would look on the brink of something special one night and then struggle the next. Still, the Vikings were competitive most times they took to the field and they recorded some good late-season results with a tie at St. Charles East and an upset regional win over Plainfield North. Lagger was undoubtedly the Vikings' best player all season. "He did everything for our team offensively and defensively," Geneva coach Ryan Estabrook said. "He was our leading scorer and he was relied upon to defend a lot in the middle of the field."

Ian Larson, Batavia

In an area were there are countless great soccer players year after year, there was no doubt who was the best in the Tri-Cities this fall as Larson was in a league of his own, leading Batavia to the Upstate Eight River Conference title, a regional title and a sectional semifinal victory. The Duquense-bound senior was a four-year varsity player, finishing his senior season with 25 goals and 16 assists. The all-stater was selected as captain of this year's team. "If you watched Ian play you could see that he was a difference-maker," Bulldogs coach Mark Gianfrancesco said. Indeed he was.

Zach Manibog, St. Charles East

Unquestionably, one of the most dangerous scorers in the area the past two seasons, and one of those players that you had to watch for all 80 minutes, Manibog helped the Saints to another impressive season with a 15-3-3 record. "He's the old-fashioned center forward who was a great decision-maker and a dual threat," Saints coach Paul Jennison said. "A very solid player with an excellent strike. He always found himself at the right place at the right time." A late season injury slowed Manibog a bit, but still finished with 10 goals and 5 assists.

Taylor Ortiz, St. Charles East

It was an incredible season for Ortiz who was an all-state selection at midfield. "He was definitely a weapon going forward," Saints coach Paul Jennison said. "He played every play as it was the last one and he came up with some big goals." Ortiz has been scoring crucial goals for three years for the Saints. He finished his senior campaign with 9 goals and 10 assists. "Taylor was a great threat on the outside, great in the air and on one and one," Jennison said. "He works incredibly hard off the ball, is very quick and was a very coachable and positive kid." Ortiz was one of 15 seniors to play for the Saints in 2014.