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Alex Tuyo (10) led the county with 23 goals this season. PHOTO/ELOY HERNANDEZ -
Chris Vargas stops a shot during Celebration’s regional win over Jupiter. Vargas allowed just 11 goals in 18 games and recorded 11 shutouts. PHOTO/HARMONY HIGH SCHOOL
One was a scoring machine, the other was a brick wall in front of the goal.
Harmony’s Alex Tuyo and Celebration’s Chris Vargas had outstanding seasons and share the Osceola News-Gazette’s Boys Soccer Player of the Year award while highlighting our All-County Team.
Tuyo, who also excelled in football as a placekicker and was an Orange Belt Conference track hurdles champion, posted an outstanding season as the Longhorns’ striker, scoring 23 goals and adding eight assists. He was named the OBC Player of the Year on a vote of county coaches earlier this year as the Longhorns finished the year 9-9, losing to Celebration in a district final.
At the other end of the field—and county—the play of Vargas could not be ignored. The junior goaltender was simply one of the best in the state, posting 11 shutouts as the Storm recorded a 14-3-1 record, won the OBC and District championships and then made a run to the regional finals where they lost, 2-1, to Boca Raton.
Vargas allowed just 11 goals in 18 games. Highlights included a 2-0 regular season shutout over eventual state champion East Ridge and a 1-1 win over Spanish River in the regional semifinals— where he smothered three penalty kicks and the Storm advanced on PKs, 4-2.
“I truly believe he is the best goaltender in the state,” Storm AD and former Coach Chad Boudreaux said. “He faced an incredibly hard schedule that included six teams that advanced past district play. To record that many shutouts and to allow less than a goal a game against that schedule is simply outstanding.”
Vargas is joined by four Celebration teammates on the ONG All-County team. Defenseman Miguel Hernandez, midfielder Santiago Hernandez and strikers Julio and Jose D’Lima also make the team. Julio found the back of the net 10 times during the season and added five assists; while his brother Jose scored six times and assisted on 11 others.
Under Sagar Patel, Gateway had a fine 12-4-1 season. The Panthers were runner-up to the Storm in the OBC Tournament, lost a heartbreaking 2-1 decision to Horizon in overtime in the 5A, District 6 tournament. Selected as an at-large team for regionals, their season ended with another tough loss to Wesley Chapel (4-3 on penalty kicks).
The Panthers place four on the All-ONG team, including midfielders Matt Vargas (3 goals, 8 assists), Juan Cardenas (5 goals, 10 assists), and Kevin Retana (4 goals, 3 assists). The fourth Panther selected is goaltender Juan Peres, a team captain who recorded eight clean sheets.
Joining Tuyo from Harmony is midfielder Mateo Lozada, who had nine goals and eight assists on the season.
Tohopekaliga places two on the OGN All-County team including Juan Hincappie (7 goals, 3 assists, 29 steals) and striker Carlos Rojas (7 goals, 2 assists). St. Cloud team captains Sebastian Alexander (6 goals, 11 assists) and Yarrel Rodriguez (11 goals, 5 assists) are joined by Osceola’s Francesco Sanchez (15 goals and 11 assists) and defenseman Elijah Munoz (3 goals, 7 assists).
Rounding out the All-County team is Liberty’s Jeff Isaac and Poinciana’s Wesley Joseph. Isaac tallied six goals and added six assists for the Chargers; while defenseman Joseph helped the Eagles to four shutouts this past season. The Coach of the Year is Celebration’s Lauren Osborne, who replaced Boudreaux as head coach after he accepted the Athletic Director’s job. “ Lauren did a fantastic job coaching –especially with our defense,” Boudreaux said.
