Meet the 2023 Times-Gazette boys soccer all-area team
Here are the Times-Gazette selections for all-area boys soccer teams:
Player of the Year
Ayden Behrendsen, Ashland
The senior forward led the Arrows in scoring this season with 18 goals and five assists. He was named First Team All-Ohio Cardinal Conference and Division I First Team All-District. "Ayden is extremely fast up top," said Ashland coach Dustin Hosler. "He creates many one-on-one opportunities with the opposing keeper."
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Coach of the Year
Dustin Hosler, Ashland
Hosler led the Arrows to a 9-7-3 overall record, including a 5-0 Division I sectional tournament 13th-seeded Ashland win over Wapakoneta, before they bowed out of tournament play with a loss to top-seeded Perrysburg. Ashland went 3-3-1 in the Ohio Cardinal Conference.
First Team
Kaden Howman, Ashland
A sophomore midfielder, Howman was second on the Arrows with nine goals and five assists. He was named First Team All-OCC and Division I First Team All-District. "He was the heartbeat of the team and the most consistent player all season long," Hosler said. "He's willing to put his body on the line to get in front of a shot or get a body on the ball."
Luke Driscoll, Ashland
A senior midfielder, Driscoll scored six goals with a pair of assists. He was a Second Team All-OCC selection and Division I Second Team All-District pick. "He leads by example, is extremely consistent," Hosler said. "He came on strong at the end of the season and got the game-winning goal in our sectional semi-final game."
Trenton Weaver, Crestview
The junior defender was a Division III First Team All-District and First Team All-Mid-Buckeye Conference selection for the Cougars.
Tyler Holloway, Crestview
A senior defender, Holloway was a Division III First Team All-District pick and Second Team All-Mid-Buckeye Conference selection for the Cougars.
Brandon Hess, Loudonville
A three-year captain, the center midfielder scored 10 goals and added seven assists for the Redbirds. Hess was the T-G Player of the Year in 2022 and a First Team All-Mid-Buckeye Conference pick in 2023. "Our midfield maestro, the best combination of hard work and technical ability I have ever coached," said Loudonville coach Steve Seaman. "An excellent leader and dominating player."
Aidan Neibert, Loudonville
The senior two-year captain and forward scored 12 goals, added five assists for the Redbirds, and was the team's leading scorer for the third year. He was a First Team All-Mid-Buckeye Conference pick. "Good pace, he was much improved in holding the ball, and had great runs off the ball," Seaman said. "Dangerous in the air, a much-improved passer who works very hard in practice and games, and a great leader for our team."
Mateo Dague, Northwestern
The junior tied for the team lead in goals with 10 for a 0.7 goal per game mark, adding seven assists and scoring 27 points.
Grant Bond, Northwestern
The senior tied for the team's lead in goals with 10 for a 0.7 goals per game average, adding a pair of assists and scoring 22 points for the Huskies.
Reece Chanay, Northwestern
The senior goalkeeper tallied 129 saves on the season for an average of 8.6 per game. 2.5 goals against average, and registered five shutouts for the Huskies.
Second Team
Justin Pancake, Ashland, Brayden Martin, Ashland; Ty Callahan, Everett Smith, Crestview; Keltin Baker, Zeke Hershberger, Loudonville; Wahied Fasihi, John Widdows, Northwestern.
Honorable Mention
Sebe Roberts, Gary George, Ashland; Brayden Parrigan, Kaden Dickerson, Crestview; Christian Gutierrez, Brayden McQuillen, Loudonville; Ayden Hendricks, Northwestern.
This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: 2023 All-Area Times-Gazette Boys Soccer
