North Side's Atilano named Offensive Soccer Player of the Year

When Rodrigo Atilano got going full speed on attack, there weren't many teams that could stop him.

Many couldn't even slow him down.

That is why he ended his junior season with 44 goals and 12 assists to be named the 2017 All-West Tennessee Boys Soccer Offensive Player of the Year.

"Working hard and my skill got me to where I am now," Atilano said.

This was Atilano's first season at North Side as he played the first two years of high school at Jackson Central-Merry, which closed after the 2015-16 school year.

But meshing with the other North Side players didn't seem to be a problem.

"From the first practice, we played well together," Atilano said. "We grew up together and knew each other, so it wasn't that difficult."

Atilano added a go-to attacker that could create multiple chances in a match. His leadership in attack along with Salvador Damazo and Diego Atilano made North Side one of the top offensive teams in the area.

The Indians have been one of the top programs in West Tennessee for the past decade, but this year's team managed to stay unbeaten until the Region 8 A-AA championship.

"Our individuality was really good, and when we came together, it made a perfect team," Atilano said.

After losing that region championship, North Side bounced right back to win a sectional match to send the Indians to their third state tournament berth and giving Atilano his first experience at state.

"It meant a lot to get to go to state because it was my first time going," Atilano said. "I have been fighting to go since I got up to high school. It was a great experience."

With one more year of high school soccer to go, Atilano wants to build on the accomplishments of this season.

"We want to do this again," Atilano said. "We want to get to state and try to win. It is going to take a lot of work and a lot of guts."

At the Class A-AA state tournament this year, Atilano and his teammates took Page, the eventual state runner-up to the final minute of overtime before losing. So Atilano knows the potential for this team.

"It gives us confidence," Atilano said. "We lost in the last seconds, but it showed that we can play with the best."

Reach Michael Odom at michodom@jacksonsun.com or 731-425-9754. Follow him on Twitter @JSWriterMichael.