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Clay Today All County Boys Soccer

Henderson’s season leads Knights to history

By Randy Lefko
Posted 3/28/18

ORANGE PARK – Last year, Fleming Island High forward Reed Davis won all the awards for his spine-tingling finishes of the Golden Eagles state championship run, but, in 2018, it was Oakleaf …

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Clay Today All County Boys Soccer

Henderson’s season leads Knights to history


Posted

ORANGE PARK – Last year, Fleming Island High forward Reed Davis won all the awards for his spine-tingling finishes of the Golden Eagles state championship run, but, in 2018, it was Oakleaf High’s speedy front man, senior Andrew Henderson who turned the tables to produce a first-time win over Davis’ Golden Eagles in the district semifinal and a district title win over Creekside with an overtime goal and a gamewinner in two playoff games.
For his season, which included strategically less games for the Knights, Henderson produced his own highlight film on the biggest nights for the Knights and is chosen as the Clay Today Boys Soccer Player of the Year.
“Andrew is a great selection for the Clay Today Player of Year,” said Oakleaf first year coach Matt Hollyoak, who guided the Knights to an overtime district 4-4A semifinal win over Fleming Island and followed up with a district final win over Creekside before falling to eventual 4A runnerup Fletcher High in the Knights first home region playoff game. “I agree the key games were the district final and semifinal, but he kept us competitive throughout the year.”
Henderson, who scored 32 goals and had 11 assists for the year, got plenty of help in the Knights up-tempo speed game from outside midfielder Albert Cooper who was instrumental in creating opportunities for the Oakleaf scoring with his speed up and down the sideline.
“Albert is a very strong and dynamic attacking player,” said Hollyoak. “He is a leader both on and off the field. All of his peers respect him tremendously.”
Davis, who ended his historic career with a second Florida Dairy Farmers
Player of the Year selection, teamed with senior teammate Lucas Hauth to produce an amazing 95 goals between the two; 52 and 43, respectively, but the unbeaten season ended abruptly with a tie to Fletcher in the final regular season game and the playoff loss to Oakleaf.
“Reed and Lucas did work together but Marcus Murphy (graduated early, now at University of South Florida) was the key to that duo,” said Fleming Island coach Mike Green. “All three of them are such good players that the defenses were not able to double team any one of them.”
Reed and Hauth join Ridgeview’s Miguel Ortiz and Keystone Heights Alex Cruz as top attackers in the county soccer ranks. Ortiz punched in 26 goals for the region finalist Panthers in their historic season with eight assists en route to a district title, two region playoff wins and an excruciating overtime penalty kick loss in the region final.
“Miguel Ortiz was the guy who could find a goal when we needed it,” said Ridgeview coach Paul Tomaro. “He created problems for defenders with his ability to hold off challenges and go at defenders with speed.”
Cruz, one of just a handful of seniors on the traditionally senior-strong Indians soccer squad, took the leadership mantle for coach Trevor Waters and produced 31 goals with 16 assists; with seven games of three goals or more.
In the middle, with Cooper one of the top slashers in the county, Ridgeview’s offensive start began with seniors Dante DeSantis and Andrew Prestridge who were the first kicks into enemy territory that ended with Ortiz on the receiving end of most of the service passes. DeSantis finished with 11 goals and 16 assists with Prestridge following brother Ricky’s lead with 11 goals and 13 assists in one of the more exciting seasons in Panther history under Tomaro.
“DeSantis and Prestridge are both four year starters with Dante a great passer and Andy the vocal leader of the group,” said Tomaro. “Andy always played with his heart on his sleeve and Dante sees passes that most players do not.”
Defensively, the big walls in the county were Ridgeview senior Charlie Barrett, Fleming Island senior Noah Hamlett and Oakleaf’s Nash-Xavier Philogere, who was key to Oakleaf’s success in the final two wins for the Knights.
“Nash is a rock for us defensively,” said Hollyoak. “He is very athletic and has made some big plays for us.”
In the goal, Ridgeview junior Adam Mineo had to come up big in all of the Panthers’ playoff games with penalty kick endings two games.
“Adam came up huge when it mattered,” said Tomaro. “In both penalty shootout games, he didnt allow a goal in regulation. He saved three penalties in the district championship. Very calm and composed in the goal during that situation.”

Player of Year

Andrew Henderson, OHS, 32 goals, 11 assists, gamewinners vs. FIHS, Creekside for District title. lost to Fletcher in region quarters. Fletcher Class 4A runnerup.


First Team

Reed Davis, FIHS, Sr., 52 goals, 17 assists, Florida Dairy Farmers Player of Year (Second year in row), Class 4A player of year (Second year in a row).
Lucas Hauth, FIHS, Sr. 43 goals, 12 assists
Miguel Ortiz, RHS, 26 goals, 8 assists; District title, region playoff win. Region finalist
Alex Cruz, KHHS, Sr., 31 goals (3-plus goals 7 times), 16 assists
Albert Cooper, OHS, Sr.
Dante DeSantis, RHS, Sr., 10 goals, 16 assists
Andrew Prestridge, RHS, Sr.,11 goals, 13 assists
Noah Hamlett, FIHS, Sr.
Charlie Barrett, RHS, Sr.
Nash-Xavier Philogere, OHS, Sr.
G: Adam Mineo, RHS, Jr.

Second Team
Andrew Bartley, OPHS, Sr.
Marcus Murphy, FIHS, Sr.
Bradley McMahon, FIHS, Sr., 4 goals, 4 assists
Pele Blackley, RHS, Soph
Braden Ammons, OHS, 10 goals, 15 assists
Matt Wolf, SJCDS
Kadesh Moore, OHS, Sr.
Dylan Bartel, FIHS, Jr.
Elias Martin, RHS, Jr.
Milan White, OHS, Sr.
G: Omar Zermeno, FIHS, Sr., 12 shutouts, 66 saves

Honorable Mention
OPHS: Richard Vazquez, Benjamin Holmer, Ian McCarty
CHS: Jacob Mancino, Sebastien Avril, Sixto Esteban, Ethan Tillman
KHHS: Caleb Cushman, KHHS, Jr., 250 saves, 10 saves per game, 9 shutouts; Dean Hogg, Fr., 8 assists, 4 goals; Peyton Box, Jr., 7 assists; Landon Ricketts, Jacob Hopkins, Sr., 8 goals, 5 assists, 49 shots
OHS: Carlos Acosta
FIHS: Connor Davis, Ryan Hosier, Zach Robbins, Josh Cook, Evan Parks
SJCDS: Max Monroe, Jackson Powers, Ben Kailes, Drew Detlefsen
FIHS: 14-1-4, 3-1
OHS: 5-3-3, 3-1-2, District champions, lost in region quarters to Fletcher, eventual 4A runnerup
KHHS: 14-11-3, 5-5-2
OPHS: 7-9-2, 1-4-1
MHS: 2-10, 0-5
SJCDS: 12-4, 3-0
CHS: 6-10-1, 0-2