Newton Citizen

CONYERS - The Area 8-AAAA soccer committee recently voted on its All-Area team, and as expected, local teams were well represented.

Twenty-five players were selected to both a boys and girls team. On the girls team, 14 of the 25 players, and eight of the 11 first-team selections, were from Rockdale or Newton.

Salem forward Jordan Young headlines the list after being voted as the area's Most Outstanding Player. Young, a junior, scored 23 goals and contributed eight assists this season. This is the second year in a row she has won the award.

Other Lady Seminoles to make the first team included sophomore midfielder Taylor Gates (24 goals, 14 assists), junior midfielder Brittany Beaumont (12 assists, seven goals) and junior sweeper Brittany Whitson (five goals).

Heritage had two first-team selections in sophomore goalkeeper Melissa Drish (104 saves) and senior sweeper Meredith Wilson (three goals, three assists).

Rounding out the local first-team selections were Rockdale midfielder Nicole Young and Eastside midfielder Ashton Tehrani (33 goals, four assists).

Salem and Heritage each had two players make the second team, while Rockdale had one. Salem goalkeeper Kellianne Collins and defender Emily Boggus made the team, as did Heritage midfielder Constance Bates and forward Megan Drish. Rockdale's Miriam Perfecto also made the second team.

Heritage's Nadia Bryan was also given honorable mention on the All-Area team.

On the boys side, Salem had three first-team selections in junior goalkeeper Trent Carpenter (119 saves), junior sweeper Garrett Wallace (two goals) and senior midfielder Colin Easterbrook (16 goals, eight assists). Rockdale had two first-team selections in Ryan Young and Michael Morgan, while Heritage had one in Kevin Huet (eight assists).

Local players to make the second team included Heritage's John Barnes and Tyler Peoples, and Salem forward Nate Pulliam.

Salem also has three players receive honorable mention in midfielders Jonathan Ryon, Daniel Aguilar and Blake Whitson. Heritage's Corey Rogers also received honorable mention.

Brandon Evans can be reached at brandon.evans@rockdalecitizen.com.

SideBar: All-Area 8-AAAA Soccer Teams

aGirls First Team

· Goalkeeper: Melissa Drish, Heritage

· Defender: Brittany Whitson, Salem

· Defender: Meredith Wilson, Heritage

· Defender: Jordan Weaver, Dacula

· Midfielder: Taylor Gates, Salem

· Midfielder: Brittany Beaumont, Salem

· Midfielder: Nicole Young, Rockdale

· Midfielder: Ashlynne Bass, Loganville

· Midfielder: Ashton Tehrani, Eastside

· Forward: Jordan Young, Salem (Most Outstanding

Player)

· Forward: Danielle Brannon, Loganville

Girls Second Team

· Goalkeeper: Kellianne Collins, Salem

· Defender: Carly Brown, Loganville

· Defender: Miriam Perfecto, Rockdale

· Defender: Amber Fratesi, Loganville

· Defender: Emily Boggus, Salem

· Midfielder: Constance Bates, Heritage

· Midfielder: Tandy Turk, Habersham Central

· Midfielder: Hannah

Bentley, Habersham Central

· Forward: Rebekah Autry, Winder-Barrow

· Forward: Alexis Scott,

Dacula

· Forward: Megan Drish, Heritage

Girls Honorable Mention

· Goalkeeper: Katie Floyd, Winder-Barrow

· Midfielder: Tori Klingensmith, Loganville

· Forward: Nadia Bryan, Heritage

Boys First Team

· Goalkeeper: Trent Carpenter, Salem

· Defender: Jorge Paseta, Clarke Central

· Defender: Garrett Wallace, Salem

· Defender: Kevin Huet,

Heritage

· Defender: Michael Morgan, Rockdale

· Midfielder: Colin Easterbrook, Salem

· Midfielder: Ado Junuzovic, Dacula

· Midfielder: Adam Erickson, Clarke Central

· Midfielder: Ryan Young, Rockdale

· Forward: Preston Franklin, Habersham Central

· Forward: Luis Huartas, Dacula (Most Outstanding Player)

Boys Second Team

· Goalkeeper: John Barnes, Heritage

· Defender: Sawyer Hemmer, Habersham Central

· Defender: Keith Ogino, Loganville

· Defender: Thomas Yoder, Clarke Central

· Midfielder: James Clement, Habersham Central

· Midfielder: Tyler Peoples, Heritage

· Midfielder: Juan Vargas, Habersham Central

· Midfielder: Taylero Klepal, Loganville

· Forward: Daniel Carrandia, Dacula

· Forward: Nolan Hemmer, Habersham Central

· Forward: Nate Pulliam, Salem

Boys Honorable Mention

· Goalkeeper: Kris Alonzo, Dacula

· Goalkeeper: Andrew Suddeth, Clarke Central

· Midfielder: Jonathan Ryon, Salem

· Midfielder: Daniel Aguilar, Salem

· Midfielder: Corey Rogers, Heritage

· Midfielder: Blake Whitson, Salem

· Midfielder: Newt Turk, Habersham Central