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New Bern forward Nicholas Theodossiou (10) led the Bears in goals, making him the Sun Journal Player of the Year.
Sun Journal file photo
NICK’S THE PICK
All-Sun Journal soccer team
The New Bern boy’s soccer team racked up a 12-8-1 record this past season before getting knocked out of the state playoffs by Wilmington Hoggard (18-1-1).
The Bears were also just two wins away from claiming the Coastal 8 Conference championship.
They lost to West Carteret and J.H. Rose in the final two games of the season, giving Rose the title.
New Bern responded by beating Garner, 3-2, in the first round of the state playoffs.
One of the main reasons for the Bears’ success was forward Nicholas Theodossiou. The junior scored over 25 goals and was named all-conference.
He is selected as the Sun Journal’s top soccer player.
Sun Journal first team selections
■ Havelock’s Jacob Waldman, senior forward.
Waldman scored 15 goals and added seven assists for the Rams. Waldman was the lead attacker for the Rams, as they posted a 10-10-1 season. The reached the playoffs before falling to White Oak in the first round.
■ West Craven’s Mike Planchet, junior forward.
Planchet was the leader of a young and inexperienced West Craven soccer team. The junior tallied 10 of the Eagles’ 24 goals and recorded one assist. He scored the game-winning goal against Kinston this season to give West Craven its first ever varsity victory.
“Mike's speed and determination to score forced many defenses to have to double-team him,” said West Craven coach Dana Steele.
■ Havelock’s Robert Simeon, senior midfielder.
Simeon was named to the All-Coastal 8 Conference team in 2007. Simeon played center midfield for the Rams and registered four goals and six assists.
■ West Craven’s Dustin Steele, junior defender.
Steele’s play stepped up a lot in 2007. The junior scored a goal and had three assists, helping the Eagles’ offensive production improve from seven goals in 2006 to 24 in 2007.
“Dustin Steele provided the stability and control of the midfield, WCHS had lacked in its first two seasons,” West Craven coach Dana Steele said. “Dustin's physical play and precision passing was a key factor in the team's rise.”
■ Havelock’s Gabe Fisher, senior defender.
Fisher earned all-conference honors after being the Rams’ primary stopper. Fisher’s role helped protect the Rams’ goalkeeper injuries that were hampered with injuries towards the end of the year.
■ New Bern’s Will Hardison, senior defender.
During his high school career, Hardison and the rest of New Bern’s senior class posted a record of 54-22-8. During that time frame, the Bears lost just four conference games and tied two.
The Bears’ defense held an explosive Hoggard team to just three goals in the second round of the playoffs.
■ New Bern’s Joe Simel, senior defender.
Simel is another key member to a solid New Bern defense. Simel can play midfield and then drop back to a defender. He scored a goal in the second to last week of the regular season against Washington, giving the Bears hope of a conference championship.
Unfortunately, New Bern dropped its next two games.
■ New Bern’s Logan Kingman, junior goalkeeper.
The reason for any team’s success is by having a solid goalkeeper. The Bears had a good one.
Kingman was selected as an all-conference goalkeeper, as he helped New Bern into the second round of the playoffs.
Sun Journal second team
■ Havelock’s Michael Jolley, junior forward.
Jolley scored seven goals and posted five assists. He also filled in at goalkeeper for Jimmie Burroughs during the state playoff game against White Oak.
■ Havelock’s Taylor Vaden, junior forward.
Vaden recorded eight goals and 10 assists.
■ West Craven’s Phuc Rosham, freshman midfielder.
Rosham scored three goals and assists seven other scores for the Eagles.
“Phuc Rocham was a work horse at midfield for West Craven, providing continuous ball possession in the midfield and leading many of the offensive attacks on the opposition,” said West Craven coach Dana Steele.
■ New Bern’s Joe Fagan, senior midfielder.
■ New Bern’s Giovanni Corona, senior midfielder.
■ West Craven’s Jonathan Salazar, senior defender.
■ West Craven’s Y’yoch Rmah, freshman defender.
Rmah was the Eagles’ shut down defender. From his outside fullback position, Rmah did not allow a goal to get past him in 2007.
■ Havelock’s Glen Noble, senior defender.
Noble assisted on seven goals for the Rams. He also kicked most of the corner and free kicks, while also filling in at goalkeeper.
■ Havelock’s Jimmie Burroughs, senior goalkeeper.
Burroughs played most of the season at goalkeeper for the Rams, before getting injured. Burroughs racked up 20 saves in a game against South Central earlier in the season.
