2019 Fox All-Area Boys Soccer Team
Liam Armstrong, Jacobs
This junior all-conference, all-sectional selection led the Golden Eagles with 18 goals for a sectional championship squad. Also had 7 assists. "Liam has an extremely high soccer IQ and knows how to put himself or the team in dangerous scoring opportunities," Jacobs coach Colin Brice said. "Liam has done a great job being one of the leaders on the team and has been one of the reasons to our success this season."
Renato Avendaño, St. Charles East
Some kids can't grit their teeth and play through injuries, this kid played through a torn labrum and led the Saints to an DuKane conference title and an 18-2-3 campaign. Scored 15 goals and had 3 assists, earning all-state, all-conference accolades while being named captain of the Daily Herald Fox All-Area boys soccer team and DuKane Conference Player of the Year.
Sam Bellantuono, Huntley
The Red Raiders shared their wealth offensively while winning a regional title, and this 5-foot-senior was their unsung leader. "Sam was our offensive spark this year," Huntley coach Matt Lewandowski said. "Whether he was finishing a team goal, assisting a teammate or hammering home a field long dribble, he was involved in almost all offensive plays." Had 5 goals and 5 assists for a team that had 13 different scorers earn their 33 goals.
Alex Canfield, Crystal Lake South
The defending Class 2A state champs only returned 2 starters, but that included this senior all-state selection that had 31 goals and 17 assists through a sectional title. Possessing all the talents you can imagine, Canfield is also a team-first guy. "A lot of the special players are great individual talents, but the best of the best make their teams and ultimately each teammate around them better daily," Gators coach Brian Allen said. "That's what Alex has done."
Hunter Darukhanavala, West Aurora
This senior defender led the Blackhawks to 14 shutouts and a regional title. The Blackhawks only allowed 20 goals in 24 games while enjoying an 18-win season before a hard-fought sectional loss to Naperville North. Showed that he can pretty much do it all as he also scored 5 goals on dead balls by moving forward while chipping in with a pair of assists.
Roland Dearborn, Dundee-Crown
The Chargers just fell short of a sectional title with a championship game loss to Jacobs, but earned a regional and enjoyed a 14-win season with this senior, fourth-year forward leading the way. Dearborn had 16 goals and 10 assists while earning all-conference, all-sectional honors. "Roland is a great player with quick movement and an eye for the goal," Chargers coach Rey Vargas said. "He sees the field well and distributes the ball with ease, creativity and vision."
Josh Eiss, Geneva
Sparked the Vikings to a 13-5-4 record and first regional title since 2010 with his play, leadership and endless energy. "His raw pace and ability to run at the opposing defense caused problems for every team we faced," Vikings coach Jason Bhatta said. "He is able to stretch teams and create space for himself and his teammates which allowed us to be dynamic going forward." Had 4 goals and 2 assists. Named all-conference.
Hernan Garcia, Bartlett
As a staple at Bartlett for four years, this senior played just about every position on the field, including shifting from attack to defense multiple times. "He has a skill set that makes him dangerous both on and off the ball, and his field awareness is excellent," Hawks coach Vince Revak said. "Hernan is a talented utility player who is a coach's dream because of his versatility and ability." Received all-conference and all-sectional accolades.
Jose Ibarra, Streamwood
The injury bug bit the Sabres (10-9-4) hard this fall, but through a season mixed with successes and struggles this center back was always on the field doing everything he could to put his team in position to win. "Jose is no doubt the best defender in the state," Streamwood coach Matt Polovin said. "Jose was the rock in the backline." The junior received all-state and all-conference accolades.
Tucker Jahns, Kaneland
Knights coach Scott Parillo basically referred to him as all-everything as he received countless recognition while scoring a school-record 35 goals for a regional champ and 17-win team. "Tucker's work rate is second to none in practice and games," Parillo said. "Tremendous speed, footwork and obviously a fantastic finisher. I hope all players aspire to be as great on the field and off the field as Tucker." Will play at Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Faizan Mohiuddin, St. Charles North
Will join Kaneland senior Tucker Jahns at Wisconsin-Whitewater after being a dynamic playmaker for the North Stars. "Certain to be on our opponent's scouting report, he is a player that draws a lot of attention when on the field," North Stars coach Eric Willson said. "Faizan is the type of player that makes others around him better as he shares the ball and works combination play with pace." An all-DuKane Conference, all-sectional selection, he had 4 goals and 4 assists.
Lucas Reutimann, South Elgin
What a turnaround by the Storm and this versatile senior was huge. The Storm (12-9-4) quadrupled their win total from 2018 and didn't lose more than three straight games after suffering through a 15-game winless streak last fall. "Lucas is one of the most athletic and talented players in the area, and is extremely coachable," Storm coach Jerzy Skowron said. Reutimann 11 goals, 3 assists; named all-conference, all-sectional.
Jack Settle, St. Charles East
This 6-foot-4 senior was a huge presence in goal for the Saints, posting a 0.66 GAA and recording 10 shutouts while earning all-sectional, all-conference accolades. "Jack's athleticism is something that was vital to our team's ability to keep opponents off of the score sheet," Saints coach Vince DiNuzzo said. "Jack has great shot stopping ability and improved his ability to play out of the back."
Zachary Thompson, West Aurora
The Blackhawks won another regional and darned near knocked Naperville North out of the playoffs during a sectional semifinal, and this nifty junior was a key reason why they were so successful at 18-5-1. Led the team with 12 goals and 17 assists for all-conference, all-sectional respect. Also was fouled 8 times resulting in PKs. "His skill and speed make him a threat every time he touches the ball," West Aurora coach Joe Sustersic said.
Shun Yonehara, Geneva
This senior was new to the Vikings squad and a difference-maker from the get-go. "His ability to dictate play on offense and defense in a deep lying playmaker role helped to provide a spark going forward and stability in the back," Vikings coach Jason Bhatta said. Had 8 assists and 4 goals as he provided consistent scoring threats on set plays and was the team's designated PK taker. Named all-conference, all-sectional.
Honorable mention
Alejandro Barrios, sr., West Aurora; Eduardo Berrun, sr., Elgin; Chase Brieger, sr., St. Edward; Gavin Cano, sr., Kaneland; Evan Carlson, sr., Crystal Lake South; Sebastian Carranza, so., St. Charles East; Monoj Chuwan, sr., West Aurora; Christian Diaz, so., Geneva; Zach Gamster, sr., St. Charles East; Kobe Frenette, jr., Hampshire; Matt Fuller, sr., Geneva; Ryan Heileman, sr., Hampshire; Carson Hill, sr., Crystal Lake South; Joshua Johansen, sr., St. Edward; Tyler Laurich, sr., Marmion; Alex Nicastro, sr., Jacobs; Eloi Nivibizi, sr., West Aurora; Matt Northrop, sr., Aurora Central Catholic; Johnny O'Connor, sr., Jacobs; Jean Padilla-Lopez, jr., Elgin; Luke Persenico, sr., St. Charles North; Austin Saenz, sr., Batavia; Julian Saldana, jr., Dundee-Crown; Tristan Samuelian, jr., Burlington Central; Nathan Siers, fr., Westminster Christian; Ian Swindle, sr., Marmion; Eric Szydlo, sr., Cary-Grove; Sam Wade, jr., St. Charles East; Alex Wano, jr., South Elgin; Thomas Weber, sr., St. Charles North.
Past captains
1995 - Peter Takács (Larkin)
1996 - Nick Dudziak (Elgin)
1997 - Sean Rafferty (Elgin)
1998 - Ryan McKenna (Larkin) and Chris Pipis (Geneva)
1999 - Ryan McKenna (Larkin), Blair McLaughlin (Cary-Grove) and Ryan Halcrow (St. Charles East)
2000 - John Dahlquist (Bartlett) and Mike Czerwinski (Batavia)
2001 - Matt Grimmer (Bartlett), Mark Sommerville (Jacobs) and Jimmy Klatter (Geneva)
2002 - Jeff Diehl (Jacobs) and Gerardo Alvarez (Marmion)
2003 - Dan Breen (Cary-Grove) and Joel Del Toro (Marmion)
2004 - Mike Stumpf (Crystal Lake South) and Jon Liechty (St. Charles East)
2005 - Joe Keating (St. Edward) and Steve Sloan (Geneva)
2006 - Christian Meza (Dundee-Crown), Tyler Beachler (Westminster Christian) and Andy Filipiak (Geneva)
2007 - David Rodriguez (Larkin) and Brian Holbrook (Geneva)
2008 - Alex Perez (Streamwood), Raul Sandoval (Larkin) and Shawn Sloan (Geneva)
2009 - Ryan Beachler (Westminster Christian) and Hennry Perez (West Aurora)
2010 - Charlie Oliver (Crystal Lake South) and Brady Wahl (Geneva)
2011 - Drew Conner (Cary-Grove), Erik Rodriguez (Larkin) and Anthony Torres (Batavia)
2012 - Erik Rodriguez (Larkin) and Michael Macek (St. Charles East)
2013 - Nestor Ascencio (Streamwood) and Kevin Heinrich (St. Charles East)
2014 - Alan Camarena (Streamwood) and Ian Larson (Batavia)
2015 - Alex Amro (St. Charles North) and Noah Melick (Jacobs)
2016 - Noah Melick (Jacobs)
2017 - A.J. Franklin (St. Edward)
2018 - Alex Canfield (Crystal Lake South)
2019 - Renato Avendaño (St. Charles East)