Corbin Calvert isn't picking sides this time.

The Bloomington South boys soccer coach had already done that before, hoping his decision would make the Panthers tough to handle on both ends of the field.

Joe DeGiorgio was the irresistible force on the offensive end, scoring goals, setting up many more. Brayden Doyle was the immovable object on the defensive end, shutting down some of the state's best forwards.

Between them, the juniors kept the Panthers on track to another excellent season, one that ended all too soon, and they are also the Herald-Times Co-Boys Soccer Players of the Year.

"It's nice because that balances my team," Calvert said. "How can you put a defender over an attacker, or the other way around? They are just two different roles and they both do it to perfection."

Both were a pain for opponents to deal with in their own special way.

DeGiorgio brings the fire(power)

Even if DeGiorgio wore long sleeves when he played, there'd be no hiding his emotions. He wants to win. He wore the captain's armband and always had a look on his face of, “I'm going to beat you. Then do it again. Try and stop me.”

Soccer, of course, is fickle enough to make that no easy thing. But DeGiorgio kept trying and kept seeking the perfect moment for himself and his teammates and going from role player last year, who led the team in assists, to staring role up top this time around.

"I like to say he's that Dennis Rodman type player who is not going to back down from anyone," Calvert said. "He can be a little hot-headed, but we need that. He brings that passion and that edge to the team."

He had a team-leading 16 goals while also leading the Panthers in assists, giving as much as he was taking. He was named All-District and third-team Class 3A All-State.

"He came up with the big goals for us," Calvert said. "He was just a different type of player than what we had in the past. He that bruiser mentality, what you see at the next level, those players that have that grit to them. That's what he brings that no one else brings."

He brought power and touch to the offense. It's kind of a no-win situation for the defense.

"He's got an incredible shot," Calvert said. "He can shoot it from anywhere, around the 18, outside the 18, plus, he has the skillsets of a midfielder. He prefers the ball at his feet so he can move and create and that's what makes him dangerous.

"He can pull a defender out of his spot and come at him, leaving someone else open when help comes. If you give him space, he'll punish you and score."

Doyle a wall for Panthers

He has Ely Detty's vote. And the Center Grove coach's vote. Detty, bound for Kentucky and named the Max Preps Player of the Year for Indiana, was defended like nobody else by Doyle when they met in the sectional final.

"That one game, even though we lost the coaches were raving about that," Calvert said. And still raving when the coaches got together to select the All-District Team. "The Center Grove coach said 'You'd be foolish not to vote for Brayden first team.'

Doyle, who eventually earned honorable mention All-State, was assigned everyone's ace after Calvert moved him to the back line, after the former mid-fielder in 2023 scored two goals in the season opener. Like DeGiorgio, he was fierce when he played.

"He's truly that kid who can play any spot on field except goalie," Calvert said. "He never backs down to any player. Whoever the other team's best players is, he says, leave him to me. He wants that competition.

"Then he's the type to go back and watch the film, say, 'This is where he got me', and then not let it happen again. He has a high soccer IQ."

Doyle comes from a family that has kept South's soccer programs well stocked over the past decade. He'd battled hip issues the previous two years, but once that was settled, is not one of the team's quickest on the pitch.

Doyle's done it not with the kind of size, say, a Jakob Orth brought last year. He makes the most of his speed, staying low and picking pockets the way a point guard might on the basketball court. His closing speed also forces quick decisions and forces ball handlers to take detours to the net.

"He was not only good at getting the ball, he also made runs from the defensive middle," Calvert said. "If I kept him up top, he would have been one of our leading goal scores.

"That first game, he had two goals. If I didnt need him so much in back, he would have became part of the attack. But on the counter, he was crucial to a lot of our attacks."

2023 Herald-Times All-Area Boys Soccer

Stefan Bartlett, South, Jr. D

Fit in well after transferring from North, able to carry the ball forward as a former mid-fielder and finished with five goals and three assists. All-Conference Indiana. Repeat All-Area.

Tom Henry Berry, South, So. MF

Center mid and second-year starter even as a sophomore was off to anther strong season before an injury ended it midway through. Had four goals and five assists in eight games. All-CI. Repeat All-Area.

Brayden Doyle, South, Jr. D

Had plenty of offensive chops but South needed help in the back and the Herald-Times Co-Player of the Year did just that, helping South post eight shutouts and held the state's top player in check for 80 minutes in the sectional final. Had three goals. Honorable mention all state, All-District. All-CI.

Joe DeGiorgio, South, Jr. F

Herald-Times Co-Player of the Year led the area's top team with 16 goals and nine assists. Scored goals in nine straight games. All-CI. All-District. Third team All-State. Repeat All-Area.

Nathanael Huck, Lighthouse Christian, Sr. F

Area's top scorer this season with 23 goals and finished with over 60 for his career to set the school record. Also had nine assists. Led team to the sectional final for the first time.

Joe Luther, North, So. MF

Table setter in middle of the field drew a lot of attention. Finished with five assists while also the Cougars' top finisher with 18 goals. All-CI.

Noah Nelson, North, Sr. MF

Busy player on the right wing when he wasn't kicking for the football team. Had two goals, 12 assists. Three-time All-Area.

Daniel Panfilov, South, Jr. GK

Had a great defense in front of him and posted eight shutouts and allowed just nine goals as a first-year starter for the Panthers.

Landon Ryner, South, Sr. F

Rose up to become the Panthers' second leading goal scorer (10) and assist man (eight). All-CI.

Cyrus Urheim, North, Sr. MF

Big center back/center mid was one of the Cougars top defenders and had a knack for making goal-line saves. Finished with two goals and two assists while keying North's counterattacks. All-CI.

Jaafer Zaneer, North, Sr. F

Striker played a big part in generating offense for North, finishing with nine goals and 10 assists. All-CI.

HONORABLE MENTION: Landon Clement, Edgewood, Sr. D; Mohamed Gassama, North, Sr. D; Kade Gilchrist, Edgewood, Sr. F; Griffin Hengeveld, Eastern Greene, Fr. F; Kyston Howard, South, Sr. D; Jackson Jent, North, Sr. D; Austin Manuel, Owen Valley; Ethan Moffett, Eastern Greene, Fr. MF; Dylan Stegemoller, North, Sr. GK; Caden Stewart, Lighthouse Christian, Fr. F; Roman Wagner, Edgewood Sr. GK; Zac West, Eastern Greene, Sr. D; Noah Wickstrom, Lighthouse Christian, Jr. D.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Bloomington South's Doyle, DeGiorgio lead H-T 2023 Boys Soccer Team