The DuPage County All-Area Boys Soccer Team
Leo Acosta, Addison Trail
Possessing good size, great speed and tremendous skills, the senior midfielder helped the Blazers to a 13-5-3 season and second place in the West Suburban Gold. He'll play next year with his brother Julio at Aurora University. An all-sectional choice, he had 6 goals and 14 assists for a team that gave Morton a run while beating St. Patrick and Dundee-Crown.
Nick Augustyn, Benet
Naturally right-footed but equally talented with his left, the midfielder has enjoyed a spectacular senior season, doing whatever it takes to help the Redwings win games. "He attacks and defends with equal intensity," Redwings coach Sean Wesley said. "He's a selfless player who just wants to win games." Scored 7 goals and had 10 assists heading into the sectional final. He was named all-conference and all-sectional.
Rohan Bhargava, Naperville Central
If stats alone defined a player, you wouldn't know how great a player the senior midfielder was this fall. His impact could not be valued on stats alone. He scored 3 goals and had 6 assists while collecting all-DuPage Valley Conference and all-sectional honors. "Rohan's work rate is second to none," Redhawks coach Troy Adams said. "His ability to cover ground, combined with his technical ability, allows us to quickly transition either into attack or defending."
Gandhi Cruz, Metea Valley
The senior goalkeeper is the first all-state player in Mustangs history. "His leadership, humility and dedication to the program was essential," Mustangs coach Josh Robinson said. "He is so strong with his feet and his ability to read the game. He provides so much information to his teammates. He will be missed." Cruz recorded 7 shutouts and a 0.98 GAA this season while playing every minute.
Ode Emena, Glenbard North
One of the area's most impressive team stories this year was the Panthers' ability to go from a five-win team to a competitive 12-9-3 squad despite a tough schedule. The senior defender, who led the Panthers with 8 assists, was a key reason why. "Ode is a player that combines a great technical skill set with a top class work rate," Panthers coach Spero Mandakas said. He was an all-sectional and all-DuKane Conference selection.
Paolo Favuzzi, York
The senior shutdown defender was often responsible for man marking the opponent's top guy and he delivered. "He is a technically skilled player with speed and the ability to tackle and dispose/separate opponents from the ball," Dukes coach Lukasz Majewski said. "Seeing him develop and play over the last three years, it is hard for me to say that there are many better at his position." He scored 5 goals and had 7 assists and was named all-sectional and all-West Suburban Silver.
Logan Finnegan, Wheaton Academy
This all-state selection was key in the Warriors' offensive creativity, scoring in the run of play as well as via free kicks and penalties. Amazingly, he tallied a goal or an assist in all 21 games, a feat no Wheaton Academy player had previously accomplished. He scored 23 goals and had 14 assists for a 12-7-3 team. Finnegan will play at IUPUI.
Noah Glorioso, Waubonsie Valley
As a fourth-year player, the Warriors expected big things out of Glorioso and he delivered with a team-best 10 goals and 10 assists. "Noah is a very talented player who can lead on and off the field. He was a very coachable player who can take any team to the next level," Warriors coach Jose Garcia said. Earned all-sectional, all-DuPage Valley Conference and all-academic accolades for second straight season.
Anthony Hernandez, Addison Trail
This junior is great on and off the field. "Anthony is the type of a player who does everything right on the field, in the classroom and in his community," Blazers coach Ryan Dini said. Hernandez scored 13 goals and added 5 goals. With 24 goals in two seasons, he'll be one of the unquestioned leaders for next year's team, which will return 12 players.
Ivan Jaramillo, Fenton
Nicknamed "Roadrunner" and "Little Messi," this junior was even more productive this season than he was a year ago when he also was named to this squad. "He's a talented soccer player, fast and crafty with the ball on his feet, excellent and a hard player to defend on a 1v1. One of the best players in the Upstate Eight," said Bison coach Victor Ruiz. Jaramillo finished with 22 goals and 14 assists and was named all-sectional.
Ty Konrad, Naperville North
The senior Ohio State University commit and all-state selection broke the Huskies all-time assist record this season, a record that stood for over 30 years at a school with four state titles. "His blazing speed and incredible work rate set the tone for our defensive pressure throughout his career," Huskies coach Jim Konrad said. This year's captain had 17 goals and 13 assists through the sectional semifinals.
Jahir Martinez, West Chicago
The Wildcats' motor in the middle received all-Upstate Eight Conference and all-sectional recognition while scoring 12 goals and having 15 assists through the team's first sectional title in 22 years. His great vision and technical ability made him a dangerous threat. "As a holding mid he is quick to defend and get back behind the ball on transitions and will slow down any attacking player that is in front of him," Wildcats coach Jose Villa said.
Joe Meade, York
His field vision, passion and ability to take on defenders made him a force this fall, finishing the season with 19 goals and 15 assists. "Joe is one of the best players in the state and is looking forward to playing in college (undecided)," Dukes coach Lukasz Majewski said. A three-year starter and relentless worker who put opponents under pressure, he was all-sectional and all-West Suburban Silver.
Jesus Meza, Glenbard West
One of the best ever to don a Hilltoppers uniform, Meza had tremendous output with 29 goals and 8 assists during an 11-7-2 season. "Exceptional leader, amazing teammate, excellent student," Glenbard West coach Maciej Kusmierz said. "To describe Jesus as coachable would be an understatement. Natural ability as well as knowledge to play the game of soccer." He had 2 goals against York and scored the winner against Hinsdale Central. Both teams later won regionals.
Nick Renfro, Benet
Redwings coach Sean Wesley called the four-year starter "one of the best leaders Benet has ever had," which is saying something for such a powerhouse program. As a three-year captain, Renfro is the engine of the team in the midfield and truly makes everyone better. He had 9 goals and 6 assists heading into the Class 2A sectional final. Renfro was named all-state, all-East Suburban Catholic Conference and was the ESCC Conference Player of the Year.
Erik Rozanski, Wheaton North
The junior midfielder was "a workhorse with the finesse and touch that drives defenders crazy" and "can change the direction and energy of any game," according to Falcons coach Rob Stassen. Aside from one game he missed while injured, Rozanski never left the field. He scored 5 goals and had 8 assists. Rozanski earned all-DuKane Conference and all-sectional accolades in leading the Falcons to a 13-7-1 season.
Zach Smith, Naperville North
Smith became just the ninth player at Naperville North, a school with 28 regional titles since 1985, to score 20 goals in a season this fall. Smith was an all-DuPage Valley Conference selection and all-sectional choice for two consecutive years. He scored 20 goals and added 4 assists through the sectional semifinals. Working side-by-side with up-top running mate Ty Konrad the past two years has been vital to the Huskies' continued success.
Jonathan Stremler, Timothy Christian
The senior forward was all-Metro Suburban Conference and all-sectional, leading the Trojans to 18 wins with 20 goals and 7 assists. "Jon proved to be a handful to opposing defenders with his combination of strength, size and skill," Trojans coach Joel Zielke said. "His ability to impact the game battling in the air or taking defenders on in open play was a big piece to our 18-3-2 season. But what separates Jon the most from others is his relentless work rate."
Ben Suddeth, West Chicago
The Wildcats aren't used to playing in November, but the hard-nosed senior defender is a key reason why. Named all-state, he helped the Wildcats earn their first sectional title since 1997 as the Wildcats only allowed 16 goals through 26 games and posted 14 shutouts. "Ben organizes his back line constantly and is communicating all 80 minutes," Wildcats coach Jose Villa said. He has stellar technical ability and a tremendous soccer IQ.
Gavin Wooldridge, Glenbard East
Creative and dangerous like arguably no other Rams player before him, this junior set a school record with 24 goals this season. He also had 6 assists as he created opportunities for himself and his teammates. Wooldridge was named Team MVP for a 10-6-2 squad while also receiving all-Upstate Eight Conference and all-sectional honors.
Honorable Mention
Jarrett Baumgartner, jr., Wheaton North; Oscar Berrun, sr., Glenbard West; Patrick Campuzano, sr., Glenbard East; Josh Cohen, sr., Glenbard South; Matthew Dovalovsky, sr., Metea Valley; Nathaniel Enriquez, jr., Glenbard North; Parker Gawne, sr., York; Erick Gonzalez, sr., Downers Grove South; Trygve Hansen, jr., Downers Grove North; Jessie Hernandez, sr., West Chicago; Carson Hooker, sr., Timothy Christian; Owen Jarrell, sr., Naperville Central; Mac Lehman, sr., Neuqua Valley; Frank Marisco, sr., St. Francis; Olek Melnyk, sr., Lake Park; Thomas Miskin, sr. Benet; Moises Morfin, sr., West Chicago; Julio Ortiz, jr., Lisle; Cesar Recendez, sr., Naperville North; Aaron Sanchez, jr., Addison Trail; Sam Schlegel, sr., Wheaton Warrenville South.