All-Tribune soccer teams littered with Corona del Sol players

The All-Tribune First Team that was announced this week points out just how good the high school soccer season was for Tempe’s Corona del Sol HS.

The Aztecs placed four on the boys’ First Team – and had the All-Tribune Player of the Year in senior defender, Josh von Allworden.  The girls First Team included two more Aztecs from a team that played for the state championship.  The girls lost to Xavier, but the boys brought home the 5A-I trophy by defeating Hamilton HS.

As a defender, von Allworden was one of the best in the state, allowing just 15 goals for the season as he made life easier for goalkeeper Matt Bersano, who was also a First Team selection.  But von Allworden, a four-year starter, was still able to record 12 goals, no easy feat for someone committed to defense.

Samantha Cummings from Xavier Prep was named All-Tribune Player of the Year, one of two Gators selected to the First Team.

The senior midfielder had 19 goals and 14 assists over the season to help the Gators win their second consecutive 5A-I state title.  One of those goals was a shot into the top of the net with 17 seconds left in the semi-final game to get the Gators to the final.

Cummings was also selected as the Fiesta Region Player of the Year, piling up a total 52 points during her final high school season.

The boys’ First Team: Bersano, von Allworden, Kerel Bradford (Hamilton HS), Jesus Nevarez (Tempe HS), George Malki (Pinnacle HS), Trever Allen (Corona), Robert Renteria (Mesa HS), Carlos Bustillos (Mountain View HS), Daniel Van Vleet (Corona), Michael Markette (Hamilton HS), Kyle Alexander (Fountain Hills HS).

Van Vleet, a senior midfielder, scored the game-winning goal for Corona in the state championship game. Nevarez is a senior forward who was the East Sky Player of the Year in 4A-II; Renteria, a senior middlefielder, was the all-time school assist leader for Mesa HS;  and Alexander, a senior defender for Fountain Hills, was the small schools Central Region Player of the Year, scoring 30 points at sweeper.

The girls’ First Team: Cummings and Jessica Fitzgerald (Xavier Prep), Alex Doller (Marcos de Niza HS), Annie Newell (Horizon HS), Karisa Price (Highland HS), Sammie Weber (Corona del Sol HS), Tara Rickenbach (Mesquite HS), Hillary Zenuk (Highland HS), Madyson Wellcome (Hamilton HS), Courtney Watson (Horizon HS), McKenzie Semerad (Desert Vista HS), Hailey Hayes (Corona del Sol HS).

Doller, a junior forward at Marcos de Niza, was unanimously voted the most prolific offensive player in the East Valley Region, and Horizon’s Newell, a senior forward, was the Desert Valley Player of the Year, with 31 goals and 21 assists.

Price, a senior forward, set a school record at Highland with 73 points and 28 goals; Highland’s Zenuk, a senior midfielder, was All-region three of her four years and set a new school career record of 90 assists; and senior goalkeeper Hayes at Corona was the Central defensive Player of the Year and MVP of the state playoffs.

Cummings is headed to University of Arizona next year to play for the Wildcats and von Allworden was picked up by Oregon State.  But the Beavers will be getting a little extra for their recruiting efforts in the Valley.

Bersano is a junior, but will be joining von Allworden at OSU as soon as he wraps things up at Corona next year.