Meet the players who made the All-Observer boys soccer team

Shelby coach David Steeves is the Charlotte Observer boys’ soccer coach of the year after leading the Golden Lions to a 23-1-2 record and a 2A state championship.

Shelby won its third state soccer title in school history and ira first since 2010.

Steeves’ team had a memorable playoff run. It included a 2-1 overtime win over North Forsyth in the third round of the 2A state playoffs, a 1-0 win over Lincolnton in the 2A state semifinal and a 5-3 win on penalty kicks to beat Greene Central, after a 0-0 tie in regulation and overtime play.

Providence junior midfielder Ewan Gath is the Charlotte Observer boys’ soccer player of the year.

Gath, a defensive center midfielder who had five goals and seven assists this season, was the Southwestern 4A player of the year and Region 9 player of the year while leading his Providence team (18-2-2) to the 4A state quarterfinals. He was also recently named to the U.S. Soccer Coaches’ Mid-Atlantic All-Region team.

Providence soccer coach, Nicolas Sosa, who played professional soccer himself, said Gath “maybe the best high school soccer player I’ve seen (since he started coaching high school soccer),” comparing him to “a mini” Sergio Busquets of Barcelona and the Spanish National team.

First Team

FORWARDS

Julian Arias, Carmel Christian, Sr.: All-state forward led Cougars’ offense with 15 goals to go with five assists for NCISAA 4A state runner-up.

Eugenio de la Parra Polina, Hough, Sr.: The all-state forward led Hough with 25 goals, including six scores in a playoff run that finished with the Huskies as 4A state runner-up.

Griffin Nixdorf, Pine Lake Prep,Sr.: The all-state pick was Region 9 (1A) player of the year led Pride with 23 goals, 15 assists.

Nicholas Patrignani, Hough, Sr.: The Queen City Athletic conference player of the year, Patrignani was an all-state selection who had 24 goals, 18 assists this season.

Devin Reinhardt, Charlotte Latin, Sr.: All-state forward, CISAA conference player of the year also earned U.S. Soccer Coaches’ Mid-Atlantic all-region honors; had 10 goals, 13 assists to lead Hawks’ offense.

Luis Tuttle, Lake Norman, Sr.: Greater Metro 4A conference player of the year and all-state pick had 12 goals, 12 assists to lead Wildcats to first ever No. 1 seed 4A West Region.

Marco Wright, Gaston Day, Jr.: Spartans’ all-state forward exploded for 44 goals, 10 assists to lead Gaston Day to a NCISAA 2A state title.

FORWARDS/MIDFIELDERS

Jack Berkowitz, Shelby, Jr.: The Golden Lions’ junior had 33 goals and 14 assists for the 2A state champions.

Josh Bravo, Stuart Cramer, Sr.: All-state pick had 32 goals and 14 assists for a Storm squad that won the Big South conference title.

MIDFIELDERS

Ewan Gath, Providence, Jr.: The Panthers’ all-state selection was Southwestern 4A player of the year; had five goals, seven assists this season.

David Franquiz, Hibriten, Sr.: The Panthers’ all-state pick was co-Northwestern 3A/4A player of the year and had 24 goals, 21 assists this year; scored 91 goals in his high school career and hopes to play at High Point University, according to Hibriten soccer coach, Jim Blanton.

Drew Hansen, Christ the King, Jr.: The all-state junior was Region 9 (1A) player of the year as well as Catawba Shores’ conference player of the year. He led the 1A state champions with 30 goals and 17 assists this season.

Jackson Kirila, Concord, Jr.: All-state forward and South Piedmont conference player of the year lit up scoreboards with 28 goals and 16 assists this season.

Carter Laatsch, Davidson Day, Sr.: All-state selection was Foothills’ Athletic conference player of the year for the second straight year with 39 goals and 17 assists. He finishes his high school as Davidson Day’s all-time leader in goals (71) and assists (45).

Valentina Lira, Concord Academy, Jr.: Three-time all-state pick had 28 goals and 21 assists to lead Concord Academy to the NCISAA 3A state championship.

Kheynne Ona, South Mecklenburg, Sr.: The all-state, all-American pick led the Sabres with 13 goals and nine assists.

DEFENDERS

Grant Crump, Weddington, Sr.: The Warriors’ all-state defender was the Southern Carolinas’ conference player of the year for a team that allowed 24 goals in 21 games this season.

Tyler Scott, South Mecklenburg, Sr.: The Sabres’ all-state defender also had 13 goals and eight assists for the South Mecklenburg offensive attack.

Lewis Tate, Hickory, Sr.: The all-state defender was co-Western Foothills’ 3A player of the year; also had three goals and three assists for the 3A state runner-up squad.

David Twiggs, Shelby Soccer, Sr.: All-state defender helped lead Shelby allowed only two goals (in regulation) in their six-game run to the 2A state championship.

Zach Zagorski, Lincolnton, Sr.: All-state defender led a defense that allowed just 13 goals in 24 games with 15 shutouts in that same span.

GOALKEEPERS

William Bowers, Concord, Jr.: All-region goalkeeper led Spiders’ defense that allowed only 12 goals in 28 games, including 19 shutouts.

Eli Wilbanks, Shelby, Sr.: All-region goalkeeper, 2A state championship game’s most valuable player helped lead a defense that allowed 19 goals in 26 games, including 13 shutouts.

SECOND TEAM

FORWARDS

Anthony Armas, Queens Grant, Jr.

Tiaggo Bittencourt, Ardrey Kell, Sr.

Oliver Coreas, Concord Academy, Jr.

Alex Guzman, Concord, Jr.

Liam MacKinnon, Union Academy, Sr.

Gannon Peters, Myers Park, Sr.

Billy Soares, Cuthbertson, Sr.

Forward/Midfielders

Kevin Rivera-Rios, Hibriten, Sr.

Will Webb, Salisbury, Jr.

MIDFIELDERS

Anthony Brown, Cuthbertson, Sr.

Eric Calderone, South Mecklenburg, Sr.

Jose Dominguez, Central Academy, Jr.

Irwin Martinez-Villa, Fred T. Foard, Sr.

Jack Matz, Stuart Cramer, Sr.

Jesus Mejia, Newton Conover, So.

Desmond Bullard, Gray Stone Day, So.

DEFENDERS

Kevin Cavo, Lincolnton, Sr.

Sutherland Fox Tran, Pine Lake Prep, Sr.

Carter Fritz, Christ the King, Sr.

Andy Harris, Cannon School, Sr.

Gus Mendieta, Carmel Christian, Jr.

Charlie Williams, Charlotte Christian, Sr.

Defenders/Midfielders

Quentin Hippert, Gray Stone Day, Jr.

Andrew Labadorf, Community School of Davidson, Sr.

GOALKEEPERS

Ben Burger, Mooresville, Sr.

Colton White, Providence, Jr.

This story was originally published December 23, 2021 at 7:15 AM.