The 2009 Hudson Reporter All-Area High School Boys’ Soccer Team features seven players who make return appearances on the season-ending honor roll and three who join an illustrious and elite list of three-time honorees.
The three-time honorees are Fernando Alvarez of Memorial, Cesar Ventura of North Bergen and Maxi Garcia of Dickinson.
Alvarez is a sure-fire striker for the Tigers who has tallied more than 60 goals in his brilliant career. Ventura has been a do-everything for the Bruins, including earning the Hudson Reporter’s Most Valuable Player award last season.
The repeat honorees are Andrew Hayes of St. Peter’s Prep, Jose Arismendi of High Tech, Ricardo Benitez of Memorial and Willy Cardenas of North Bergen.
Cardenas earned All-Area honors as a freshman in 2007, but had to endure an injury-filled campaign a year ago, so his elevation to the area’s elite is a testament to his fortitude.
Hayes earned honors as a midfielder last year and this year, he was among the top strikers in the state, scoring 22 goals for the Marauders, who were one of the most improved squads in the county this season.
Arismendi and talented teammate Kevin Mayaka, another All-Area honoree, helped High Tech to reach the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 2, Group I title game.
The other team that reached a state sectional final from the area is where the Hudson Reporter’s Offensive Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player resides.
Dickinson had a great run in the state tournament, defeating Elizabeth, Westfield and perennial state power Columbia in the North Jersey Section 2, Group IV tourney, only to lose a 2-0 heartbreaker to Ridge in the sectional title game. It was the furthest that Dickinson ever traveled in the state tournament.
The leader of that memorable run was Maxi Garcia, who moved from forward to midfield this year and never missed a beat, scoring an amazing 36 goals and dishing off to the tune of 25 assists. Garcia ended his high school career with more than 100 goals, which is an absolute rarity. He also finished his days as Dickinson’s all-time leading scorer.
So Garcia owns the distinction of being both the Hudson Reporter Offensive Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player, the first time that a soccer player has earned both honors. No question, Garcia was head and shoulders above the rest locally and deserves that kind of dual recognition.
The Hudson Reporter Defensive Player of the Year was Matt Woods of St. Peter’s Prep, who helped turn that program around. Woods was a standout defender and one of the main reasons why the Marauders were as defensively strong as they were this season.
And the Hudson Reporter Coach of the Year honor goes to Rene Portillo of Dickinson, for spearheading the great playoff run, one that won’t be forgotten in local circles for quite some time. Portillo also managed to lead his team to two wins over Kearny in the regular season, the first time that the state powerhouse lost to two Hudson County teams in the same year.
All in all, a solid season of soccer in the area, capped by this great compilation of standouts. – Jim Hague
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