He scored the final goal of the local high school soccer season on a brilliant play, the score that gave his school its fourth HCIAA championship in six years, so it’s only fitting that Emerson’s brilliant forward Mauricio Castillo has been named The Hudson Reporter Soccer Player of the Year, also highlighting the 2002 All-Area Boys’ High School Soccer Team.
The 13 players who have been selected to the team represent the finest that the Hudson County area could offer, including three players who are repeat honorees on the team, namely Castillo, Drew Buzzio of St. Peter’s Prep and goalkeeper Bruce Neves of Hudson Catholic.
Castillo earns Player of the Year status for leading the Bulldogs to the HCIAA crown, but also scoring 20 goals and adding 16 assists. His scoring prowess carried the Bulldogs through a stretch of the season where they won 18 of 20 games.
Neves, who was downright spectacular all season, earns the Defensive Player of the Year honors. The deft goalkeeper collected nine shutouts and kept the undermanned Hawks in many games on his own, registering double figures in saves in 15 games. Neves was also precise in taking penalty kicks, scoring two goals, including the game winner against Ferris in the HCIAA playoffs.
Emerson’s Angelo Avella, who carried the Bulldogs through some early season difficulty, only to see the team recover in stride to capture the HCIAA championship, is the Coach of the Year.
Emerson, the league playoff champion, and Memorial, the regular season league champion, each placed three players on the All-Area team. Other than Castillo, midfielder Diego Flores and defender Juan Gomez also earned All-Area honors from the Bulldogs.
Memorial was represented by forward Julio Garcia, midfielder Danilo Ariza and defender Walter Martinez. – Jim Hague