Boys Soccer

High school boys soccer: Spring 2021 Northwest Herald All-Area team

FIRST TEAM

Liam Armstrong, Jacobs, sr., F

Armstrong led the area with 16 goals and had 10 assists for the Fox Valley Conference regular-season champion Golden Eagles (12-1-1). The Northwest Herald Boys Soccer Player of the Year was selected as an Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association All-Stater. Armstrong is a repeat first-team selection; he actually scored one more goal in this shorter season than the 2019 fall season.

Kobe Frenette, Hampshire, sr., F

Frenette scored 12 goals and had three assists for the Whip-Purs (10-3), who won the FVC Tournament in a penalty-kick shootout over Jacobs, 1-0. Frenette was picked to the IHSSCA All-Sectional team. An All-Area second-team selection last year, Frenette was a four-year varsity player and Whips coach Richard Schuster called him, “The most dedicated player I have seen. He practices or plays games five times a week.”

Osvaldo Rodriguez, Dundee-Crown, sr., M

Rodriguez is a versatile player who can play anywhere on the field. His creativity meant the Chargers often went through him for their attack. Rodriguez scored six goals and had five assists and was selected to the IHSSCA All-Sectional team.

Tom Coughlin, Crystal Lake South, jr., M

Coughlin was one of the best playmakers in the area and often faced double-teams so he would have to pass the ball. He scored four goals and had four assists in eight games (missing several games under COVID-19 quarantine). “He single-handedly unlocked defenses on numerous occasions this season,” Gators coach Brian Allen said.

Oscar Escorza, Woodstock, sr., M

Escorza was voted the Kishwaukee River Conference Field Player of the Year after helping the Blue Streaks to another unbeaten season. Woodstock coach Matt Warmbier asked Escorza to play more of a holding midfielder role this season, which meant he did not attack as much. Still, he led the Streaks (11-0-2) with nine goals and had four assists.

Sam Rainer, Jacobs, sr., M

One of the scariest sights in the FVC this season was when Rainer lined up on set pieces. He often connected with Armstrong, his lifelong friend, on the other end to produce a goal. The left-footed kicker was masterful at putting the ball exactly where it needed to be. He scored two goals and had 11 assists and was an IHSSCA All-Sectional player.

PJ Hopkins, Jacobs, sr. D

Hopkins was generally regarded among FVC coaches as the league’s best defender. He was a huge reason the Golden Eagles had five shutouts and averaged allowing less than a goal a game. Hopkins was an All-Area second-team choice as a junior. He received IHSSCA All-Sectional honorable-mention status.

Luke Kim, Prairie Ridge, sr., D

Kim often matched up against opposing teams’ best scorer to try to slow them down. His ability was appreciated around the league. Huntley coach Matt Lewandowski said Kim was “the best player on Prairie Ridge’s squad.” Jacobs coach Colin Brice said he is “hard-working and an all-around quality player.”

Angel Romo, Harvard, sr., D

Hornets coach Victor Gonzalez thought Romo was the best player on the field in every game they played this season. Romo scored one goal and had 35 steals and 56 interceptions on defense. “He was a standout defender, among the best in our conference,” Woodstock coach Matt Warmbier said.

Luke Wolf, Prairie Ridge, sr., D

Wolf was another tough defender for the Wolves, who often marked the opposing team’s top offensive players. “A great leader for their team,” Burlington Central coach Mike Galeski said. “An athletic player, smart and can play anywhere on the field,” Jacobs coach Colin Brice said.

Tristan Samuelian, Burlington Central, sr., GK

Most FVC coaches agreed that Samuelian was the top keeper in the league this season. Samuelian had 124 saves in 10 games and was IHSSCA All-State. “He was the complete package,” Crystal Lake South coach Brian Allen said. “He kept BC in every match not just with his shot-stopping ability, but his range and taking away crosses in the box.”

SECOND TEAM

Ethan Demers, Richmond-Burton, sr., F

Cade Collins, Prairie Ridge, so., F

Christopher Ghita, Marian Central, sr., F

Austin Killen, Huntley, sr., M

Mark Schuster, Hampshire, sr., M

Tyler Getzinger, Crystal Lake South, sr. M

Domingo Conejo, Dundee-Crown, sr., M

Matt Garrelts, Marian Central, jr., D

Johann Mota, McHenry, sr., D

Luke Bauer, Huntley, sr., D

Ethan Kornas, Huntley, sr., GK

HONORABLE MENTION

Angel Anaya, McHenry, sr., D

Sam Bahnfleth, Crystal Lake South, jr., F

Oger Bernal, Harvard, jr., M

Will Blaise, Jacobs, jr., D

Hugo Campos, Richmond-Burton, sr., M

Jonathan Carreno, Woodstock, sr., M-D

Jaime Castaneda, Woodstock North, sr., D

Chris Czyz, Huntley, sr., F

Armando Garcia, Richmond-Burton, fr., M

Jonathan Gomez, Woodstock, sr., D

Karson Hollander, Crystal Lake Central, so., M

Nathan Ludwig, Hampshire, sr., D

Gerardo Marquez, Hampshire, jr., D

Jacob Motz, Cary-Grove, jr., D

Eduardo Nava, Jacobs, fr., F

Jake Pinkerton, Prairie Ridge, sr., M

Aldo Popoca, Harvard, sr., GK

Mateo Raso, Marian Central, sr., F

Thomas Rodriguez, Huntley, jr., M

Trevor Roos, Johnsburg, jr., M

Deven Tinajero, Crystal Lake South, jr., M

Stephan Turskey, Woodstock, sr., GK

Dawson Yegge, Marian Central, so., GK

Ruben Zarate, Jacobs, jr., F

Joe Stevenson

Joe Stevenson

I have worked at the Northwest Herald since January of 1989, covering everything from high school to professional sports. I mainly cover high school sports now.