Giorgi, Updike headline the Journal's 2023 boys soccer All-Stars
With the high school boys soccer season over, here are the Journal's All-Stars for the Poughkeepsie area.
With one state finalist and another state semifinalist, Spackenkill and Arlington were well-represented on this year's teams.
Offensive Player of the Year
Dylan Updike
School: Spackenkill
Grade: Senior
Position: Midfield, forward
His poise and leadership helped guide the Spartans through difficult times in the regular season and nail-biting games in the playoffs en route to the Class B state final. There also was the production, of course. Updike's skillset and ability to play each position made him a contributor in almost all facets, and he delivered in the clutch. The all-Section 9 selection had 11 assists and scored five of his 22 goals in the state tournament.
Defensive Player of the Year
Nick Giorgi
School: Arlington
Grade: Senior
Position: Goalkeeper
With good range, reach and athleticism, he was dominant in goal and thrived under pressure, helping the Admirals reach the Class AAA state semifinals. Giorgi allowed 0.45 goals per game, excelled in eight one-goal victories, and notched 13 shutouts. He received all-Section 1 and United Soccer Coaches all-region honors.
What a season: Spackenkill took a proud community on ride to state final
Making memories: Arlington surges to first state final since 2012
3-peat: Beacon edges Lourdes in PKs for third straight title
First team
Davis Barnes
School: Spackenkill
Grade: Junior
Position: Forward, midfield
An exceptional athlete with height and breakaway speed, coach Brendan Cross said he was "one of the main reasons we went to the state final." They couldn't have done it without his 12 assists and 24 goals, including four in the playoffs.
Luke Butler
School: Rhinebeck
Grade: Senior
Position: Goalkeeper
With his quickness and savvy, he was a standout in an exceptional defense. Butler recorded 11 shutouts and surrendered only seven goals, helping the Hawks reach the Section 9 Class C final.
Evan Cancro
School: Our Lady of Lourdes
Grade: Junior
Position: Midfield
He is an offensive weapon who handles the ball well, facilitates and scores. The all-Section 9 pick had 11 goals and 14 assists, helping the Warriors get to penalty kicks in the Section 9 Class A final.
Avery Davis
School: Beacon
Grade: Junior
Position: Defender
The center back brought physicality, instincts and vocal leadership to a line that helped record 13 shutouts en route to winning a third straight Section 9 Class A title. Davis is committed to SUNY Cortland.
AJ Geis
School: Our Lady of Lourdes
Grade: Senior
Position: Midfield
Described by coach Roy Kievit as "very technical and tough," the midfielder contributed to a superb defense that led Lourdes to the state final last year and to a section final this season. The playmaker also had five goals and seven assists.
Selamu Gendron
School: Spackenkill
Grade: Senior
Position: Defender
Smart, speedy and tireless, Gendron was a lockdown defender who anchored a unit that shined in the playoffs. His dramatic defensive save preserved Spackenkill's season in the Section 9 semifinals.
Clem Grossman
School: Haldane
Grade: Senior
Position: Midfielder
An attacking midfielder who excelled as an orchestrator and finisher, he had 14 goals and eight assists, helping the Blue Devils reach the Section 1 Class C semifinals. The previous season, the Vassar commit led Haldane to its first state championship.
Rian Lovell
School: Arlington
Grade: Senior
Position: Midfield
Instinctive and athletic, he was a playmaker on both ends and shined throughout the postseason. His pressure defense and ball control contributed to 15 shutouts — including the regional rounds ― and he added a goal and six assists, earning all-Section 1 honors.
Alex McAteer
School: Marlboro
Grade: Senior
Position: Goalkeeper
Known for his acrobatic saves, he led the Dukes to a section title as a sophomore and helped guide them through rebuilding seasons. McAteer recorded five shutouts and earned all-Section 9 honors.
Matt Mulkins
School: Red Hook
Grade: Senior
Position: Forward
Described by coach Rich Saulino as an "offensive force," Mulkins flourished with 14 goals and three assists, helping the Raiders reach the Section 9 Class B semifinals.
Aidan Prezzano
School: Rhinebeck
Grade: Senior
Position: Forward
A two-time Journal All-Star, Prezzano was a dual-threat on offense, leading Rhinebeck within penalty kicks of its second straight Section 9 Class C title. He had 20 goals and 12 assists, earning all-Section 9.
Alex Sturans
School: Arlington
Grade: Senior
Position: Defender
In addition to anchoring a great back line, Sturans helped ease the transition to a new coach and led a rebuilt core that steadily improved. The Misericordia commit had five assists and was all-section honorable mention.
Brody Timm
School: Beacon
Grade: Junior
Position: Midfield
Timm set the tone defensively and dictated the tempo on offense, leading a team believed to be rebuilding to the Class A regional final. He had eight goals and three assists, earning all-Section 9 honors.
Derek Viebrock
School: John Jay-East Fishkill
Grade: Senior
Position: Forward
The all-Section 1 standout was lauded by coach Rob Seipp for his leadership, energy and dribbling skills. Viebrock scored nine goals and led the Patriots to the Section 1 Class AAA quarterfinals.
Ryan Zindler
School: Roy C. Ketcham
Grade: Senior
Position: Forward
He was superb at finding or creating space, setting up teammates and finishing, despite drawing the attention of defenses. The two-time Journal All-Star had 17 goals and seven assists, leading Ketcham to the Section 1 Class AAA semifinals.
Second team
Dominic Abbatiello, Ketcham, M, Jr.
Jake Brown, Marlboro, M, Jr.
Giacomo Buitoni, Red Hook, M, Jr.
Jaidyn Caccomo, Beacon, F, Jr.
Cole Cimorelli, Lourdes, D, Sr.
Alex Crysler, Lourdes, D, Sr.
Dylan Manriquez, Arlington, F, So.
Aiden McLaughlin, Ketcham, D, Sr.
Liam Murphy, Beacon, D, Sr.
Garrett Peterson, John Jay, D, Sr.
Dominick Pineda, Lourdes, F, Sr.
Brandt Robbins, Haldane, D/M, Jr.
Parker Ruger, Rhinebeck, M, Jr.
Samer Sahawneh, Spackenkill, G, Jr.
Matt Sandison, Beacon, Goalie, Sr.
Vincenzo Scala, Spackenkill, M/D, Sr.
Julian Senterfit-Sanjuan, Red Hook, M, Jr.
Robert Sherman, Arlington, F, Sr.
Honorable mention
Arlington: Anthony Cocca, F, So.; Martin Mylnarski, D, Sr.
Beacon: Enis Dika, D, Sr.; Brevin Timm, M/D, Fr.
Dover: Justin Cardwell, Dover, D, Sr.
Franklin D. Roosevelt: Luan Boyd, M, Sr.; Brandon Isabell, G, Sr.
Haldane: Ronan Kiter, Haldane, G, Sr; Ty Villella, Haldane, Defender, So.
Highland: Daniel Westover, G, Jr.
John Jay: Ryan DeSimone, F, Sr.; Ian Murray, D, Sr.
Marlboro: Chris Hagar, D, Sr.; Carson Macur, M, Sr.
New Paltz: Clive Cunniff, F, Sr.
Our Lady of Lourdes: Noah Balicki, M, Sr.; Zach Cervone, M, Jr; Dylan Conte, Lourdes, G, Sr.; DJ DeVito, M, Jr.; Jack Yough, D, Jr.
Red Hook: Carter Donohue, D, Sr.; Devin Lee, D, Sr.
Rhinebeck: Brady Fischer, D, Jr.; Nash Roberts, M, Sr.; Malcolm Stewart, F, Sr.; Lindon Stout, M, Sr.; Nate Strassberger, M, Sr.; Hunter Szabo, D, So.
Roy C. Ketcham: Travis Delaney, D, Sr.; Noah Schmalz, Ketcham, F, Sr.; Dylan Spagna, Ketcham, G, Sr.
Spackenkill: Chase Bosko, D, Jr.; John Bosko, D, Jr.; Daniel Campbell, M, Jr.; Matthew Canzone, G, Sr.; Daniel Kurdi, D, Sr.; Lucas Rankel, D, Jr; Jacob Rivera, F/M/D, Sr.; Nathaniel Stout, M, Jr.; Andy Zhu, D, Sr.
Webutuck: Jeffrey Ellis, G, Sr.
Coach of the Year
Brendan Cross
School: Spackenkill
Cross helped the Spartans rebound from a slow start to the regular season and led them to their first section title since 2015 and first state final since 2007. Spackenkill eked out two narrow playoff victories and came within a late goal of winning the state championship.
Stephen Haynes: shaynes@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4826; Twitter: @StephenHaynes4
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Poughkeepsie boys soccer: Updike, Giorgi headline Journal All-Stars
