The Daily Leader’s 2022 All-Area Boys Soccer Team
Published 3:00 pm Saturday, April 2, 2022
Addison Brady,
Brookhaven High
In his varsity soccer career Brady has played all over the field for Brookhaven High coach Aaron Ayers. A senior, he stepped up as a goal scorer in 2021-2022 as he notched a team best 13 goals for the Panthers while also adding two assists. Also plays baseball for Ole Brook.
Corey Case,
Brookhaven Academy
Case began playing varsity soccer as an eighth grader and this season he captained the best team in Brookhaven Academy’s history. Scored 27 goals and had 12 assists in 18 games for a Cougar team that went 18-2 and won 13 consecutive games to begin the season. A repeat All-Area selection, he was also an All-Area pick as a kicker in football and has signed to play kicker next season at Co-Lin.
Cooper Creel,
Loyd Star
The Hornets went 13-8 and made the playoffs this season as runners-up in Region 7-Class I and Creel’s play was a big part of that success. Scored a team high 13 goals as a freshman for coach Jordan Lea. Had a hat trick in wins over Perry Central and Bogue Chitto and will have a chance to score many more goals with three years of varsity soccer remaining.
Cole Cruthirds,
Brookhaven High
An important piece of the formation for the Panthers since his freshman season, Cruthirds continued in his role as a primary striker for BHS this season. Now a junior, Cruthirds scored 11 goals and had a hand in three assists for an Ole Brook team that finished 11-7-1. Will be counted on as a critical senior leader next season for BHS.
Briar Hamilton,
West Lincoln
Blossomed into a scoring threat as he led the Bears this season with 14 goals in 14 games. Added seven assists for West Lincoln coach Jeremy Johnson during his senior season. A repeat All-Area selection, he also scored 14 goals last season as a junior.
Enrique Hernandez,
Brookhaven Academy
One doesn’t need to be a soccer savant to see the touch that Hernandez puts on the ball when it leaves his foot. A maestro of the midfield, Hernandez was in on 24 assists for Brookhaven Academy coach Alex Brown while also scoring 10 goals. A junior, he’s a repeat All-Area selection after making the team last year for Bogue Chitto.
Yojan Hernandez,
Brookhaven Academy
Blessed with a motor that doesn’t stop, Hernandez used his effort and energy to lead the Cougars in goals this season. A freshman, he scored 30 times for BA in 20 games. Hernandez led the team in minutes played as well, had 18 assists and is a repeat All-Area selection after making the team last season for Bogue Chitto.
Bryce Smith,
Brookhaven High
Thrust into the positions of starting goalkeeper as a mere seventh-grader, Smith has grown into the best stop-gate in the area. Now a 6-foot-1, 175-pound sophomore, Smith had an 82.1 percent save percentage in his 12 starts. Missed the start of the season while playing for the BHS football team, where he was also an All-Area pick as a specialist.
Josh Thornhill,
West Lincoln
Already one of the all-time leaders in games played for West Lincoln, Thornhill added to his career totals for a team that finished 7-9-1 this season. Led the team with seven assists and added 13 goals for the Bears. When West Lincoln didn’t have a soccer match, he also played basketball for the Bears.
Brantley Walker,
Loyd Star
The captain on the backend of the Loyd Star defense, Walker was solid as a rock this season for the Hornets. A starter throughout his varsity career, he was instrumental in Loyd Star making the postseason. Scored two goals and was also an All-Area selection in football for the Hornets.
Peyton Warren,
Loyd Star
The central hub through which the Loyd Star offense flowed, Warren was at his best this season for coach Jordan Lea. Scored 10 goals and had six assists while playing in the midfield. A senior, he was named MVP of the 2021-2022 Loyd Star team.