Meet Rutherford County area's top boys soccer players
Cecil Joyce
Defense was a big key for area soccer teams in 2017.
They thrived on it, as more than half allowed a goal or less per contest this season.
DNJ All-Area Player of the Year Jakob Hurst was a specialist at stopping opponents’ goals.
The Oakland senior goalkeeper, who was named 7-AAA MVP at his position, had 12 clean sheets during the season (including seven in a row to begin the season) while leading the Patriots to the Class AAA sectional.
It wasn’t all about defense, however. All-Area Player of the Year finalist Luis Sanchez led Central Magnet to another Class A-AA state tournament berth, scoring 18 goals while dishing out 16 assists for the Tigers.
Smyrna senior Alexis Martinez was good on both sides of the field, controlling the midfield. The All-Area Player of the Year finalist was named 7-AAA Midfield MVP.
The all-area soccer team includes:
FIRST TEAM
Matthew Jobe
- Blackman, senior
- Position: Forward
- Why chosen: Scored 14 goals with nine assists as the Blaze reached the Class AAA sectional. Was named 7-AAA offensive MVP.
Juan Cernas
- Smyrna, junior
- Position: Forward
- Why chosen: Led the Bulldogs with eight goals and an assist.
Asfaw Putty
- MTCS, senior
- Position: Forward
- Why chosen: Was 9-A South Offensive MVP for the second year in a row, scoring 17 goals with six assists.
Luis Sanchez
- Central Magnet, senior
- Position: Forward
- Why chosen: Scored 18 goals and had 16 assists in leading the Tigers to the Class A-AA state tournament. Was a finalist for All-Area Player of the Year.
Jorge Hernandez
- Oakland, senior
- Position: Midfielder
- Why chosen: The all-state selection scored five goals with eight assists for the Patriots, who reached the Class AAA sectional.
Alexis Martinez
- Smyrna, senior
- Position: Midfielder
- Why chosen: The 7-AAA Midfielder of the Year and All-Area Player of the Year finalist had three goals, five assists. He was an all-state selection.
Nemo Lazo
- Blackman, sophomore
- Position: Midfielder
- Why chosen: The all-state selection scored six goals with six assists as Blackman reached the AAA sectional.
Brandon Hillis
- La Vergne, senior
- Position: Defender
- Why chosen: Was named District 7-AAA Defensive MVP as the Wolverines allowed an average of one goal per contest.
- Central Magnet, junior
- Position: Defender
- Why chosen: The Tigers' captain led a team that started the season with seven straight clean sheets, 11 total.
Clay Sewell
- Blackman, senior
- Position: Defender
- Why chosen: Led a Blaze defense that allowed just one goal per contest and reached the Class AAA sectional.
Jakob Hurst
- Oakland, senior
- Position: Goalkeeper
- Why chosen: The All-Area Player of the Year and 7-AAA Goalkeeper of the Year had seven straight clean sheets to start season, 12 total. The Patriots went 12-5-3 and reached AAA sectional.
SECOND TEAM
Forward: David Perez, Smyrna, junior
Forward: Kobe Srisourath, Blackman, junior
Forward: Carter Nadeau, Riverdale, senior
Forward: Andrew Udulutch, Stewarts Creek, junior
Midfielder: Nico Cruz, Oakland, senior
Midfielder: Cole Yoders, Central Magnet, senior
Midfielder: Ben Massaro, Oakland, junior
Midfielder: Jacob Apigian, Central Magnet, senior
Defender: Brandon Rozenbaum, Blackman, junior
Defender: Clive Sarpong, La Vergne, junior
Defender: Collin Webber, Central Magnet, junior
Goalkeeper: Ahren Green, Riverdale, junior
Honorable mention: Michael Bivins, Siegel; Tyler Bowman, Blackman; Luke Buckley, Blackman; Taylor Bueno, Stewarts Creek, J.C. Conn, Blackman; Chris Conrado, Smyrna; Dashiell Dunkley, MTCS; Stephen Falter, Central Magnet; Williams Gallegos, Oakland; Fabian Hernandez, La Vergne; Orlando Jerez, Smyrna; Brady Kucker, Smyrna; Zack Lanius, La Vergne; David Lucasick, Providence Christian; Peyton Markos, Stewarts Creek; Nicholas Newby, Siegel; Akaash Patel, Riverdale; Ethan Penny, Central Magnet; Sisay Putty, MTCS; Yadiel Ruiz, La Vergne; Cesar Salinas, Stewarts Creek; Juan Soto, Siegel; Colby Stephens, Blackman; John Trent, Smyrna; Josh Walkup, Cannon Co.