Biography

Alex Harris closed-out his scholastic career with a 2A state championship. He scored two goals in Columbia River’s 4-2 win over North Kitsap. The win capped a perfect 24-0 season with Harris scoring 76 goals.

As a junior, Harris, who will attend Cornell University, scored for 51 goals. That won him Gatorade’s Washington Soccer Player of the Year award.

In addition to his great senior season on the pitch, in his first year of playing tennis, Harris qualified for the state double tournament.

Harris is the first Washington student-athlete to win the NHSCA Senior Boys’ Soccer Athlete of the Year Award.

Records

State Champion

Personal Honors

Attends Cornell University

Biography

Pechota closed-out his scholastic career by leading St. Ignatius to its third straight Ohio Division I high school soccer championship with a 2-1 overtime win over Centerville. Pechota assisted on the Wildcats’ first goal.

The future Ohio State Buckeye scored 14 goals as a senior and was named the United Soccer Coaches High School Player of the Year. He was named the 2020-21 Gatorade Ohio High School Player of the Year after scoring 14 goals with 12 assists. He was also Ohio Mr. Soccer twice.

Pechota is the second St. Ignatius student-athlete to win the NHSCA Senior Boys’ Soccer Athlete of the Year Award. Stephen Miloan won the award during the 2016-17 sports season.

Records

3x State Champion

Professional Achievements

Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year

Personal Honors

Attends Ohio State University

Biography

Bowser ended his scholastic career by leading his school to a 3A state championship. He scored 40 goals and passed 11 assists. For his high school career, he amassed 88 goals.

Bowser was named the 2020 Indiana Soccer Coaches Association Player of the Year and was a United Soccer Coaches High School All-American selection.

In the classroom, he carries a 4.44 GPA and will attend Mount Vernon Nazarene University in the fall.

Records

2x Indiana State Champion

Professional Achievements

Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year

Mr. Soccer Indiana

Personal Honors

Attends Mount Vernon Nazarene University

Biography

Dewing led Air Academy to its second straight Class 4A Colorado state championship this past season. He also led his team to another state title and an undefeated season, 20-0 in 2017. Dewing netted 29 goals with 16 assists, giving him 80 career goals with 30 assists. He earned CHSAA First-Team All-State honors three years.

At the end of the season he was named the state’s 4A Player of the Year for the second straight season. He was also named Colorado’s Gatorade State Player of the Year. In December, he played in the High School All-American Game.

In the classroom, Dewing carried a weighted 4.21 grade point average. Dewing will continue his soccer career at the Air Force Academy.

Dewing is the second Air Academy High School soccer player to win the NHSCA Senior Boys’ Soccer Athlete of the Year Award. Dan Walsh won our very first award for the 1999-2000 sports year.

Records

2x State Champion

Professional Achievements

2x Colorado Player of the Year honoree

2x Colorado Gatorade Player of the Year

Personal Honors

Attends the Air Force Academy

Biography

Cox closed-out his scholastic career by leading St. Xavier High School to its second straight Kentucky state title. Cox served as the team’s captain, leading the Tigers with 24 goals. He was named to the Kentucky High School Soccer Coaches Association 1^st Team All-State West squad and was a Preseason All-American on USA TODAY’s All-USA Team.

Cox, who will attend the University of Kentucky on a soccer scholarship, scored 10 goals and had 12 assists his junior year. St. Xavier finished No. 6 in the 2018 USA TODAY Super 25 Boys’ Soccer Fall national rankings.

Cox redshirted his freshman year and saw action in two games the following season, which was cut short due to Covid. He was named C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll in 2019.

Records

2x Kentucky State Champion

Personal Honors

Attends the University of Kentucky

Biography

Ruark was Missouri’s Class 4 Player of the Year, leading the Rockhurst Hawklets to a state championship during the 2017 season. Ruark scored 26 goals, including the game-winning goal in the state championship game. He also had 13 assists this past season.

Ruark, who will attend the University of Chicago, was a two-year captain for Rockhurst and was named an Academic All-American.

Ruark has seen action in 39 games over the first two seasons at Chicago. He was named UAA All-Academic in 2020.

Records

Missouri State Champion

Professional Achievements

2020 UAA All-Academic honoree

Personal Honors

Attends the University of Chicago

Biography

Connor Smith had an outstanding senior season with 23 goals and 21 assists to lead McDonogh to the semifinals of the Class A Independent Athletic Association of Maryland Tournament.

Smith, who as the Player of the Year for the Baltimore Sun and the Maryland Association of Coaches of Soccer, finished his career with 46 goals and 31 assists.  Smith was Gatorade’s Maryland State Soccer Player of the Year and the National Soccer Coaches of America’s Player of the Year.

Smith continued to play for the University of Maryland throughout his college career.

Professional Achievements

Maryland's Gatorade Player of the Year

Personal Honors

Attended the University of Maryland

Biography

Brad Ross of Franklin High School closed out an impressive high school career by leading his school to back-to-back Tennessee Class AAA state championships and back-to-back unbeaten seasons with a 37-0-2 record.

Ross, who was a National Soccer Coaches Association All-American as a junior and a senior, carries a 3.90 GPA and has volunteered as a peer math tutor and a youth soccer coach.

Ross, who will attend Holy Cross, was Tennessee’s Gatorade Boys’ Soccer Player of the Year. Ross is the first Tennessee boys’ soccer player to be honored by the NHSCA.

Ross was a team captain at Holy Cross his junior and senior years. As a senior, he was named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll. He was active in the Holy Cross Leadership Academy.

Records

Member of 2 State Championship Teams

Professional Achievements

Gatorade Tennessee Boys Soccer Player of the Year

Personal Honors

Attended the College of the Holy Cross

Biography

Cristian Roldan had an incredible senior season, scoring 54 goals while passing for 31 assists.

Roldan’s explosive year led El Rancho to the California Interscholastic Federation’s Southern Section Division 3 championship with a 29-2-1 record. Roldan actually scored more goals this year than he did in his first three years.

The University of Washington recruit entered this season with 40 total goals and ends his career with 94 plus 71 assists.

Roldan went on to the to be a Huskie for two seasons. He helped the team claim the Pac-10 title in 2013.

After his sophomore season, Roldan declared himself for the MLS Draft. He was selected the 16th overall pick by the Seattle Sounders. In 2019, he and the Sounders won the MLS Cup with a 3-1 victory over Toronto.

Roldan has also been a part of the United States team the past three years (2017-19).

Professional Achievements

Plays in MLS 2015-present

2013 Gatorade National Player of the Year

Personal Honors

Attended the University of Washington

Biography

The only goalkeeper to become a two-time National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) High School All-American this year, the 6-foot, 190-pound Harris made 10 saves and recorded his school-record 13th shutout in his junior season.  He the Greyhounds to a 17-2-3 record and their first Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference championship since 1995.

He was named All-Metro Player of the Year by The Baltimore Sun as a junior and the Gatorade Maryland Player of the Year as a senior. This year, Harris led the Greyhounds (18-4-1) back to the conference title game. He broke his own school record by recording 15 shutouts, and allowed just 10 goals all season.

Also an expert ball-handler, Harris was a forward for the Greyhounds as a freshman, scoring three goals. In his three years as a starter, Harris was 52-14-7 with 37 shutouts. Also an outstanding student with a 3.5 grade-point average, Harris is the senior class vice president and a member of the school’s judiciary committee. A member of the U.S. Soccer Under-18 Team pool, Harris will attend Wake Forest University.

Harris played soccer during his years at Wake Forest. He had a handful of shutout games during his tenure.

Records

Led team to State Championship as a senior

Professional Achievements

2x NSCAA All American

Baltimore Sun's All-Metro Player of the Year

2012 Maryland's Gatorade Player of the Year

Personal Honors

Attended Wake Forest University

Biography

For the second straight year, the player voted Mr. Soccer by the Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association has been named the NHSCA Senior Athlete of the Year. Catic follows 2010 honoree Soony Saad of Dearborn High, who led the University of Michigan to the NCAA Final Four as a freshman.

A four-year starter, Catic, a 6-foot-2, 175-pound midfielder, became the first West Michigan player to earn Mr. Soccer honors since 2004. Catic scored 45 goals and added 23 assists in leading the Falcons to a 25-1-1 record and their third Division 1 state championship in the past four years, with those teams compiling an overall record of 94-6-5 during his career. Catic finished his career with 103 goals and 45 assists.

As a senior, he was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) First Team, the ESPN Rise Fall All-America First Team and is the Gatorade Michigan Boys Soccer Player of the Year. Also an outstanding student with a 3.9 GPA, Catic is committed to Michigan State University. However, he worked out with a German soccer club overseas this spring and also is considering starting his professional career.

Catic came back to the United State after a stint in Germany and attended Davenport University. While there, he played on the Michigan Bucks club team. In 2015, Catic was selected by the Philadelphia Union in the MLS draft. Most recently, Catic is playing for the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros.

Records

Played on 3 State Championship teams

Professional Achievements

2x MHSSCA Mr. Soccer honoree

Personal Honors

Attended Davenport University

Biography

The 5-foot-10, 160-pound Saad was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year this year after setting a state record by scoring 76 goals this season – which also led the nation – adding 15 assists to earn Mr. Soccer honors from the Michigan Soccer Coaches Association. He led Dearborn to a record of 18-2-2 and a berth in the Division 1 state tournament round of 16, and the team was 75-11-2 during his four-year career. He also was named the ESPN RISE Player of the Year and was selected to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/Adidas All-America First Team in 2009.

Saad also was the 2008 U.S. Soccer Development Academy Player of the Year. A four-time All-State selection, Saad concluded his high school career with 172 goals, also a state record, and 51 assists. Also an outstanding student with a 3.44 grade-point average, he will attend the University of Michigan, where his brother, Hamoody, started at midfield this year as a freshman.

Saad was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year at Michigan. He was a NSCAA second team All-American.

Saad left Michigan to play professionally in 2011 when he signed with Sporting Kansas City. Over his three years there, Saad scored eight league goals in 58 game appearances. Saad then was loaned overseas and continues to play professionally for Ansar, a Lebanon team.

Professional Achievements

2010 Gatorade National Player of the Year

Biography

The versatile Bick was one of just seven players to be named a two-time National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Boys High School All-American this year and also was an ESPN RISE All-America First Team selection last fall. Bick led St. Xavier to back-to-back state titles his junior and senior seasons, as the Tigers compiled a record of 47-1-2 during those two years. St. Xavier was undefeated (25-0-2) during Bick’s junior season and 22-1 last fall.

The Gatorade State Player of the Year in 2007, Bick was named First Team All-State in 2007 and 2008 and became the first player to be named Kentucky’s Mr. Soccer recipient twice. In his final three seasons, Bick tallied 43 goals and 46 assists, including 21 goals and 19 assists as a forward in 2007. He moved back to the midfield as a senior, finishing with 12 goals and 14 assists. Committed to Indiana University, Bick also was a member of the U.S. Under-18 National Team in 2008.

His freshman year at Indiana ended landing him on the Big Ten’s All Freshman Team. After his sophomore season Bick transfered to San Diego State University. He finished his career being named on the All Pac-12 Second Team.

Records

2x Indiana State Champion

Professional Achievements

2009 Big Ten All-Freshman Team

2007 Indiana's Gatorade Player of the Year

2x NSCAA/ADIDAS Boys High School All-American

Personal Honors

Attended Indiana University

Biography

A three-time Parade magazine All-American and a two-time National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas All-American, the 5-foot-10 forward recently was selected as the Gatorade Michigan Player of the Year for the second time. Last fall Townsend tied the Division 1 state record by scoring 53 goals, adding 11 assists, to lead the Titans to a 19-3 record and a berth in the regional semifinals. As a junior he led Traverse City West to its first state title, recording 26 goals and 11 assists.

During the team’s six-game postseason run he scored in every match and notched the game-winner in both the semifinal and the championship game. Townsend concluded his career with 105 goals and 47 assists, and also is a member of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) Under-20 National Team. Townsend already has started classes at the University of Maryland, where he will play collegiate soccer, after graduating from West in December.

As a freshman Townsend was the starting forward. The Terps won the 2008 NCAA National Championships. He was a NSCAA First Team All-American in 2011. He finished his career ranked number four in Maryland history with goals scored and sixth overall in points.

Townsend went on to play professionally in the MLS and then the USL.

 

Records

Tied State Record with 53 goals

Professional Achievements

2x NSCAA/ADIDAS All-American

2x Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year

Personal Honors

Attended the University of Maryland

Biography

Duran has overcome a multitude of physical ailments to excel on the soccer field. The 6-foot-1 midfielder led Lincoln-Way East to a 22-2 record in his final 24 games played. During his career he scored 20 goals and added 47 assists, including a school-record 19 assists as a sophomore.

After suffering four collapsed lungs over a two-year period that required surgery on both lungs, Duran returned just months after the operations to score 10 goals and 10 assists for the Griffins as a senior before a broken foot ended his season in the team’s 11th game.

Selected the National Soccer Coaches Association of America’s NSCAA/adidas High School Player of the Year as a senior, he will attend Creighton University.

While at Creighton Duran was a NSCAA All-America Second-Team his senior year.

In 2012 Duran was drafted by the Seattle Sounders in the fifth round and played professionally for one year.

Professional Achievements

NSCAA All-America Second-Team

First-Team All-MVC

2007 NSCAA/adidas High School Player of the Year

Biography

The 6-foot midfielder scored 28 goals and added 11 assists as a senior, leading Portage Central to a 19-2-4 record and a district title. One of the top players in Michigan history, he was a two-time All-State and Michigan Dream Team selection and was the recipient of Michigan’s Mr. Soccer award as a senior. One of only two players in the nation to be named to an Adidas Elite Soccer All-Star team twice, Alexander is a four-year member of the Michigan Olympic Development Program (ODP), the Most Valuable Player of the 2004 State Cup, and a three-year member of the Region II ODP team. The National High School Soccer Coaches Association (NSCAA) Player of the Year, he will attend Indiana University.

While a Hoosier, Alexander was named to the Big-Ten All Freshman Team and All-Big Ten First-team his sophomore and junior year.

In 2010, Alexander was the 44th overall MLS draft pick for the Dallas FC. He went on to play with a few different teams throughout his career but went back to Dallas in 2019.

In addition, Alexander has made two US Men’s National Teams in 2011 and 2013.

Records

2x ADIDAS Elite Soccer All-Star

Professional Achievements

2006 Michigan's Mr. Soccer Award

Personal Honors

Attended Indiana University

Biography

In his first six games as a senior, Nguyen, a 5-foot-8 midfielder/forward, scored eight goals and had six assists to go with the 42 goals and 33 assists he scored as a sophomore and junior. The Parade All-American was voted the Gatorade National Player of the Year.

He led the U.S. under-18 national team with four goals in the Copa Chivas Tournament in Mexico in January and scored his team’s only goal as the under-20 national team tied the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer 1-1 in April. Also an outstanding student with a 3.8 GPA, he will attend Indiana University.

In his one season as a Hoosier, Nguyen was first team All-Big Ten selection and the Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

In 2006 Nguyen began his professional career. He played with multiple club teams overseas until 2012 when he signed with New England Revolution. In November of 2019 Nguyen was drafted by the Miami CF in the MLS Expansion Draft.

Professional Achievements

Played professionally in MLS 2012-2019

Personal Honors

Attended the University of Indiana

Biography

The NHSCA Senior Boys’ Soccer Athlete of the Year is Nick Colaluca of La Salle Academy in Providence, R.I. Colaluca, a midfielder with several national honors and recognitions, led his team to a 23-0 record last fall and a fourth straight state championship. The four-year starter will now take his athletic and academic careers to the University of Virginia.

While attending UVA, Colaluca was named the Freshman of the Year, the ACC All-Tournament Team and ACC All Freshman Team in 2004. Colauca left UVA after his sophomore year and was the 6th overall pick in the 2007 MLS Draft by the Colorado Rapids. He played professionally for a number of years.

Records

High School team won 4 State Championships

Professional Achievements

The 6th overall pick at the 2007 MLS Draft

2004 Freshman All-American Team

2011 Soccer Rhode Island Hall of Fame Inductee

Personal Honors

Attended the University of Virginia

Biography

“While it is often easier to notice the offensive accomplishments of the best soccer players in the nation, Greg Dalby made a name for himself playing some of the best defense in the country this year,” said NHSCA executive director Bob Ferraro. “The NHSCA is proud to recognize Greg Dalby as the National High School Senior Boys Soccer Athlete of the Year.”

Dalby earned a soccer scholarship to Notre Dame after closing out his senior season being named the California Player of the Year for the second time and being chosen for several national player of the year honors. A defensive specialist, Dalby still managed to score 15 goals and tally 16 assists in his career at Poway High. During his three years with Poway the team compiled a record of 50-16-9, and his teammates and the program honored his efforts by making him co-captain as a senior and retiring his jersey after the his final game.

Dalby, who already has made his presence known on the U.S. National Team, is expected to make and immediate contribution at Notre Dame despite being one of the nation’s youngest players due to graduating from Poway a year early.

Dalby played all four years while at Notre Dame and was a two year co-captain. The Fighting Irish won back-to-back Big East Championships in 2003 and 2004. He was named to First-team All-Big East honors twice.

After graduation, he played professional soccer for seven years starting in the Belgian Premiere League before moving to the Major League Soccer team in Colorado, the Rapids. He spent his final two years on the Charlotte Eagles.

Upon his retirement from professional soccer, Dalby began his coaching journey with a two year stint back at Notre Dame. He then went to be the assistant coach at Davidson College from 2015 until 2017. In 2018, he was hired as the assistant coach at Penn State University.

Professional Achievements

2x First-team All-Big East

Played Professional Soccer for 7 years

Named California Player of the Year twice

Personal Honors

Attended Notre Dame University

Biography

“Athletes like David Walters are among the success stories produced in high school athletics today,” NHSCA Executive Directors Bob Ferraro said. “He has worked extremely hard to develop his skills and has become one of the best soccer players not only in the state of Pennsylvania, but the entire nation, and we are proud to be honoring him.”

Walters, who will attend Penn State University, was a two-time First team All-America selection by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) as well as a three-time All-State selection. The runner-up in the NSCAAA Player of the Year balloting as a senior, Walters was selected to the East squad for the inaugural Powerade McDonald’s All-America Games last month. He also has played on the under-16 and under-15 national teams.

Walters was a 4 year starter and 3 year co-captain during his collegiate career. Walters led Penn State to the 2005 Big Ten Championship. He was also named Third Team All-American. He was honored All-Big Ten Team First team his junior and senior years.

Records

2x NSCAA First Team All-American

Personal Honors

Attended Penn State University

Biography

“Athletes like Ned Grabavoy are among the success stories produced in high school athletics today,” NHSCA executive director Bob Ferraro said. “He has worked extremely hard to develop his skills and has become one of the best soccer players not only in the state of Illinois, but the entire nation, and we are proud to be honoring him.”

Grabavoy, who will attend Indiana University, grabbed national attention as a junior by scoring 42 goals, leading Lincoln-Way High to the first of back-to-back appearances in the Class AA state championship game. As a senior, Grabavoy added 43 more goals to lead nationally-ranked Lincoln-Way to a record of 52-4-3 over two years.

A two-time high school All-American and captain of the U.S. Under-18 National Team, Grabavoy was selected National Player of the Year by SchoolSports.com.

After his time as a Hoosier, Grabavoy joined MLS and played professionally from 2003 until 2016 when he retired from the Portland Timbers. He is now the Director of Scouting and Recruitment for the Timbers.

Records

2x High School All American

Led the Knights to two straight Illinois State Championship games in 2000 and 2001

Professional Achievements

Played professionally from 2003-2016

2001 Gatorade Player of the Year in Illinois

Personal Honors

Attended Indiana University

Biography

Walsh, a forward, was named to the All-Colorado Team by the Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News as a senior after scoring 25 goals and adding 7 assists in 15 games, ranking second in the state’s Class 5A scoring race. The 25 goals gave him 69 in his career, both school records. He also starred for the Chargers Premier Gold under-18 traveling team. A three-sport athlete, Walsh was a captain of the basketball team and was voted the team’s Most Inspirational Player as a senior. He was also a member of the track team.

“Athletes like Dan Walsh are among the success stories produced in high school athletics today,” NHSCA executive director Bob Ferraro said. “He has worked extremely hard to develop his skills and has become one of the best athletes not only in the state of Colorado, but the entire nation, and we are proud to be honoring him.”

Walsh also was outstanding in the classroom. The National Honor Society member earned a 3.98 grade-point average, graduated in the top 7 per cent of his class, and scored 25 on the ACT and 1150 on the SAT. His accomplishments earned him a spot on the Colorado State Academic First Team.  He earned an appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Records

Set school record for both single season (25) and career goals (69)

Professional Achievements

Named First Team All State

Personal Honors

Attended US Air Force Academy

Left the Air Force as a Captain