High school boys soccer: The Times All-Area Team for spring 2021

Here is The Times Spring 2021 All-Area Boys Soccer Team, as selected by The Times Sports staff:

First Team

Carson Collet, Newark-Seneca, sr., M

Collet was the leader in the midfield for the Norsemen while scoring a team-leading eight goals and recording four assists. A four-year varsity starter and co-captain, he was a unanimous selection for the second straight season to both the Little Ten All-Conference squad and The Ottawa Times first team, as well as an all-sectional selection by the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association.

Tanner Ditchfield, Ottawa, sr., D

Ditchfield, one of the Pirates’ team captains, was a solid all-around defender who also was asked to join the offensive push when an opening arose to do so. He recorded a goal and two assists during the year and was Ottawa’s designated thrower. This is his first appearance on The Times All-Area first team.

Jeremy Gomez, Earlville, sr., M

Gomez helped control the midfield for the Red Raiders while netting five goals and passing for six assists. According to Earlville coach Larry Heiden, Gomez was an important player in helping the squad move the ball quickly from defense to offense. He was a unanimous selection to the Little Ten All-Conference Team and makes his first appearance on The Times All-Area first team.

Sawyer Good, Streator, sr., M

Good was solid all season in the midfield for the Bulldogs while scoring four times and registering seven assists. He was named to the SHS Invite All-Tournament team, awarded the team’s co-offensive player of the year award and was an Illinois Central Eight All-Conference honoree. He was a second-team pick to The Times All-Area squad as a junior.

Lance Grandgeorge, Somonauk, fr., M

Grandgeorge produced a solid rookie season for the much-improved Bobcats and was the team’s leading point scorer (29) with 10 goals and nine assists from his center midfield spot. He was a unanimous selection to the Little Ten All-Conference Team, as well as the lone freshman named to that 18-player squad and The Times first team.

Conner Holdiman, Serena, sr., F/M

Holdiman, who was second on the team in scoring and led the squad in assists, was the best overall player and controlled the midfield for the Huskers this season, according to coach Dean DeRango. He was a repeat unanimous selection to the Little Ten All-Conference Team and was a Times second-team pick as a junior. He helped Serena capture the third-place match in the LTC Tournament.

Devyn Kennedy, Earlville, sr., F/M

Kennedy, The Times Spring 2021 Boys Soccer Player of the Year, scored 20 goals and passed off for nine assists for the Red Raiders. A player who made everyone on the team better, according to coach Larry Heiden, Kennedy scored a hat trick for the second straight year in the Little Ten Conference Tournament championship game, helping Earlville to a fourth consecutive title. He was named unanimously to the All-LTC team and The Times first team for the third year in a row.

Parker Phillis, Streator, so., D

Phillis was the main cog in the Bulldogs backline this season while also scoring a goal and recording four assists. He was named to the SHS Invite All-Tournament team, the club’s most valuable player, Illinois Central Eight All-Conference squad and was selected as a member of the all-sectional team by the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association. This is his initial appearance to The Times All-Area first team.

Gio Resendez, Ottawa, jr., F/M

Resendez, one of the Pirates’ captains this season, was again an offensive threat that opponents had to game plan for. He found the back of the net 17 times and registered seven assists, both leading the team. He will more than likely earn a third-straight spot on the All-Interstate Eight Conference team with voting this year still to take place and has now appeared on The Times first team a trio of times.

Jack Starkey, Streator, jr., F

Starkey missed the first three matches of the season before being cleared to play after a broken wrist suffered during basketball, but when he returned he was superb – scoring three goals and adding eight assists. He was named to the SHS Invite All-Tournament team for the second straight season, the Bulldogs’ co-offensive player of the year, the All-Illinois Central Eight Conference club and an honorable mention sectional pick by the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association. He was a Times second-team member as a sophomore and an honorable mention pick as a freshman.

Diego Vasquez, Earlville, so., F/M

Vazquez was second behind Kennedy for the Red Raiders in goals (15) and assists (eight) in only nine matches and was a player who stepped up and filled the secondary scoring spot perfectly, according to coach Larry Heiden. He was a key player in Earlville winning the Little Ten Conference Tournament and was a unanimous selection to the All-Little Ten Conference Team. This is his first appearance on The Times first team.

Second Team

Maqualin Beals, Streator, jr., D

Max Baker, Streator, sr., GK

Brian Chavez, Streator, sr., D

Garett Cook, Earlville, so., GK

Tanner Faivre, Serena, fr., F

Cam Figgins, Serena, so., F/M

Kenny Harsted, Ottawa, jr., D

Bryar Keller, Earlville, jr., M

Stevie Martin, Newark-Seneca, sr., F

Adrian Mendoza, Sandwich, sr., M

Julio Salgado, Somonauk, sr., M