By Rob Potter
SULLIVAN COUNTY — Even though the calendar says today is Friday, March 27, local American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) leagues are already scheduling registration sessions for their fall 2009 seasons.
Before we know it, those AYSO players will be out on the pitch having fun with their friends and classmates while being cheered on by family members and friends on the sidelines.
And also before we know it, local high school boys will be out on the county’s scholastic soccer fields doing their best to help their team win matches and qualify for postseason play.
But before we look ahead to this autumn, we should take one final look back at the 2008 scholastic soccer season. With that in mind, the Democrat recently contacted several local high school boys’ soccer team coaches to ask them to nominate some of their own players, as well as some players from other Sullivan County teams, for the Democrat’s 2008 Boys’ Soccer All-Star Team.
And those outstanding soccer players are…

Jose Aguila, Fallsburg,
Senior, Forward

Aguila scored one of the Comets’ goals in their 2-1 victory over Liberty in an Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association (OCIAA) Division IV match last October.
He also had a goal and an assist in Fallsburg’s 6-2 triumph against Chapel Field in a September non-league match.

Justin Armstrong, Sullivan West,
Senior, Midfielder

Armstrong was one of the Bulldogs’ team captains last fall.
“Positioned in the midfield, Justin was one of the people who would mark opposing high scorers,” Sullivan West Coach Debbie Owen said. “He is quick, effective with either foot, has a smooth touch on the ball, and could defensively hold his position in the midfield both on and off the ground.”
Unfortunately, Armstrong was injured in the Bulldogs’ non-league match against Tuxedo and missed the last few games of the season. But he continued to attend practices and games to support his teammates.

Alex Castro, Monticello
Senior, Midfielder

When Monticello defeated state-ranked Goshen, 1-0, in an OCIAA Division III match last October at Monticello High School, Castro scored the lone goal of the contest.
Castro scored a goal in the Panthers’ 2-0 non-league win over Milford last October.
He also assisted on both of Monticello’s goals in a 2-0 non-league triumph against the Sullivan West Bulldogs in October.

Weston Currey, Tri-Valley
Senior, Forward

Currey scored a goal in the Bears’ tough 4-3 loss to the Eldred Yellowjackets in a non-league match last October.
During the same month, he registered T-V’s only goal in a 5-1 non-league defeat against The Family School.

Julio Deras, Fallsburg
Junior, Forward

Deras recorded a hat trick of three goals to lead the Comets to a 6-2 non-league win against the Chapel Field Lions last September.

Logan Grishaber, Sullivan West
Senior, Goalkeeper

Grishaber recorded 154 saves last fall, which was an average of 12 per game.
When the Bulldogs switched up their attack, Grishaber was a midfielder or attack wing. In that role, he scored four goals and had three assists.
Grishaber was named the team’s Most Valuable Player at the Sullivan West Fall Sports Awards Ceremony in November.
“One of our captains, Logan is very focused and intense,” Sullivan West Coach Debbie Owen said. “He expects nothing but their all from his teammates and he walks the walk since he gives them his all in return.”

Sam Heinle, Liberty
Senior, Midfielder

Heinle scored the winning goal for the Indians’ in their 1-0 OCIAA Division IV victory against Sullivan West in September.
“Sam was a versatile athlete who played midfield and filled in as a defender when we needed him to,” Liberty Coach Anne Ramos said.

Eric Minton, Sullivan West,
Senior, Midfielder

Minton scored eight goals and had four assists last autumn.
At the Sullivan West Falls Sports Awards Ceremony in November, he was presented with the Coaches’ Award.
“Although he is foot-skilled, can jump, finish the ball and volley kick well, Eric is most easily recognized as the player who is flying through the air heading the ball,” Sullivan West Coach Debbie Owen said. “He is a scrapper who creates havoc for the opponent and then capitalizes on their mistakes, creating offensive opportunities.”

Kris Ramos, Liberty
Senior, Midfielder

Ramos recorded three assists in the Indians’ 6-1 non-league victory against the Tri-Valley Bears last September.
He also scored a goal in Liberty’s 3-2 triumph over Fallsburg in a September OCIAA Division IV contest.
“Kris was our playmaker working in the center midfield,” Liberty Coach Anne Ramos said. “He organized the attack.”

Rafael Shore, The Family School
Senior, Forward

Shore had two goals and an assist to lead the Falcons to a 4-1 non-league victory against Chester last September.
He also scored two goals in The Family School’s 4-0 win over the Fallsburg Comets in a September non-league match and two goals in The Family School’s 4-1 win over the Liberty Indians during a September non-league contest.
In the Falcons’ 7-1 OCIAA Division VI victory against Chapel Field in September, Shore paced the Falcons’ offense by netting four goals.

Mike Walton, Eldred
Senior, Forward

Walton scored both of the Yellowjackets’ goals in a tough 3-2 loss to the Chester Hambletonians in an OCIAA Division VI match back in October.
He also registered two goals in the Yellowjackets’ 4-3 non-league win against the Tri-Valley Bears last October. The victory was Eldred’s first in five years..