Marty Gordon
NRVsports@ourvalley.org
Auburn High School’s boys’ soccer team had an unbelievable 2019 season, claiming a regional title in a close game against Galax, but fell short in the state title contest to their Mt. Empire rival who gained a little revenge from the regional loss.
For their effort, Auburn goalie Carter Brockman is this year’s all-county/all-city player of the year. His coach, Kristopher Teaford, is the coach of the year.
Brockman was the Class 1 state player of the year, Region-C player of the year and Mt. Empire District player of the year.
In 17 appearances this season, with eight shutouts, Brockman was joined on this year’s list by teammates, Gage Phillips and Jesse Shelor. Phillips was first-team all-state, all-region and all-district after scoring 16 goals this past season. Shelor was all-state first-team, first-team all-region and first-team all-district and he punched in four goals for the Eagles.
Phillips established a new Auburn record this season in his 41 goal career.
The all-county/all-city goalie of the year is Thor Sproule of Radford High School. He has been selected to play in the 2019 Virginia Soccer Coaches Association (VSCA) Senior Showcase next week at the University of Lynchburg. The 6-foot 6 senior was a First-Team All-Three Rivers District selection and finished the year with 168 saves, while keeping eight clean sheets.
He was joined on the all-county/all-city boys’ soccer team by teammates Zane Rupe and Michael Wohlford.
Rupe, who is only a sophomore, was first-team all-district, second team all-region and led the team with 11 goals and eight assists. Wohlford, a senior, was first-team all-district with seven goals.
Blacksburg High School placed four players on this year’s all-county/all-city squad. They were: Daniel Salom, Kade Wheeler, Connor Cheynet and Stu Forsman.
Wheeler scored 11 goals and had seven assists this past season. He was first-team all-River Ridge District and all-region, and second team all-state. He will play at Hampden-Sydney College.
Salom, a junior midfielder, scored 13 goals with 15 assists this past season. He was first-team Class 4 all-state along with first-team all-district and all-region. He was honored as the district player of year and was the team’s most valuable player. He has made a verbal commitment to play at William & Mary following graduation.
Forsman is another one of the outstanding seniors that has helped the Blacksburg program establish itself as a state year every year. He scored five goals this year and was named first-team all-district, first-team all-region and second-team all-state. The central defender helped Blacksburg in allowing only 13 goals all season.
Cheynet scored 17 goal this year and was first-team all-district, first-team all-region and second-team all-state.
Christiansburg’s Anthony Giannecchini and Matthew Stewart were also honored.
Giannicchini was second-team all-River Ridge and second-team Region-3D as a forward and a midfielder, while Stuart was second-team all-region as a defender.
