Meet the 2024 All-Observer soccer team, honoring the best in the Charlotte region
Garinger senior forward Diego Silva is The Charlotte Observer boys’ soccer player of the year after scoring 39 goals and dishing out 10 assists for a Wildcats team (20-5-1) that won the Southwestern 4A (SW4A) conference title and advanced to the third round of the 4A state playoffs.
Silva, an all-state selection, was also the only player from the state chosen as an All-American this season. Silva was also the N.C. Soccer Coaches’ Association state player of the year.
Garinger soccer coach David Garrett said that Silva hopes to continue his soccer career at Liberty University.
Davidson Day’s Brad Laatsch is coach of the year after guiding the Patriots to their second straight NCISAA state championship.
The Patriots, who won the NCISAA 3A title in their first year after moving from 2A last season, won their final 16 games of the season to finish 17-4 overall with 1-0 win over Cape Fear Academy in the state finals.
Laatsch’s team repeated as state champions despite losing nine seniors from last year’s team.
First team
Forwards
Ben Horgan, Gaston Day: The Spartans’ all-state junior scored 34 goals, had 16 assists for the NCISAA 2A state champions.
Keane LoCascio, Charlotte Catholic: The Cougars’ all-state senior led Charlotte Catholic with 18 goals and 13 assists.
Phillip Presslar, Charlotte Country Day: The Buccaneers’ all-state senior, the CISAA conference player of the year, scored a school-record 34 goals and had 11 assists.
Parker Rubinacci, Charlotte Latin: The Hawks’ all-state senior, an Emory University commit, scored 31 goals this season.
Beni Sibu, Myers Park: The Mustangs’ all-state senior led the Mustangs with 31 goals this season.
Capy Suarez, Hough: The Huskies’ all-state senior scored 24 goals, had 22 assists this season and will play at Braintree F.C. in England next season.
Midfielders
Jesus Blanco-Tellez, Lincolnton: The Wolves’ all-state senior scored 26 goals, had 20 assists. He led Lincolnton to 2A state semifinals.
Maximos Grafakos, Marvin Ridge: The Mavericks’ all-state senior, the Southern Carolinas’ conference player of the year, had 13 goals, four assists for the 4A state runner-up.
Zachary Hoyt, East Lincoln, Sr.: The Mustangs’ all-state senior, the Western Foothills’ Athletic conference offensive player of the year, poured in 21 goals and had 32 assists this season.
Parker Laatsch, Davidson Day: The Patriots’ all-state senior, the Foothills’ Athletic conference player of the year, had nine goals, 14 assists for the NCISAA 3A state champions.
Brady Lloyd, Marvin Ridge: The Mavericks’ all-state senior had five goals, eight assists for 4A state runner-up.
Diego Silva, Garinger: The N.C. state player of the year scored 39 goals and had 10 assists for the Wildcats this season.
Defenders
Sean Freace, Covenant Day: The Lions’ all-state defender scored four goals, had three assists and helped lead Covenant Day to its first appearance in NCISAA 4A state championship game.
Logan Grasso, Bradford Prep: The Bears’ all-state senior center back led the Bradford Prep defense, while also scoring 21 goals and adding 14 assists for a program that accomplished its best season in school history (20-4), advancing to the 1A state semifinals.
Quinlin Hahn, Charlotte Catholic: All-state senior defender, a four-year starter, led a Cougars’ defense that allowed 22 goals in 25 games, advanced to the 4A state semifinals, also contributed three goals and four assists.
Andrew Thompson, Davidson Day: The Patriots’ all-state senior moved from outside back to center back and was part of a Davidson Day defense that allowed just one goal in four playoff victories en route to the NCISAA 3A state title.
Gavin Trosch, Myers Park: The Mustangs’ all-state senior, a center back, led a Myers Park defense that allowed 17 goals in 22 games. Trosch also scored six goals and had four assists for the 4A state quarterfinalists this season.
Goalkeepers
Cole Freeman, Ardrey Kell: The Knights’ two-time all-state senior had 11 shutouts allowing only 12 goals in 23 games this season.
Judah Heis, Pine Lake Prep: The Pride’s two-time all-state junior had nine shutouts and allowed 14 goals in 19 games this season.
Second team
Forwards
Nathan Bird, Providence, Sr.
Preston Jones, Statesville Christian, Sr.
Rahal Karkoubi, South Mecklenburg, Sr.
Frank Lira, Concord Academy, So.
Prince Marvens, Garinger, Sr.
Jack Ramanata, Pine Lake Prep, Sr.
Austin Riser, Davidson Day, Sr.
Dhruv Srinivasan, Union Academy, Sr.
Midfielders
Levini Bankirer, Mooresville, Sr.
Shane Durso, Carmel Christian, So.
Avery Hiatt, Cox Mill, Sr.
Grant Ellis, Bradford Prep, Jr.
Brady Johnson, Covenant Day, Jr.
Peyton Phaneuf, Concord, Jr.
Gareth Siemers, Lake Norman, Sr.
Allan Ramirez, South Point, Sr.
Defenders
Evan Levitas, Central Academy, Sr.
Davis Reid, Hopewell, Jr.
Nelson Waple, Myers Park, Sr.
Owen Yu, Providence Day, Sr.
Goalkeepers
Owen Michalowski, Statesville Christian, Sr.
Xavier Porter, Gaston Day, Sr.
