By DAVID ERSOFF, Journal Sports
There was no shortage of strong candidates, but only the best of the best earn recognition on the Shreveport-Bossier Journal All-Metro Teams.
In the 2024-25 boys soccer season, local talent stacked up very well statewide and that was reflected in playoff appearances and significant runs in postseason. Therefore, identifying the elite players was especially challenging.
Six schools are represented in this season’s SBJ All-Metro team: Captain Shreve, Byrd and Bossier with three players each, two apiece from Loyola and Northwood and one Benton Tiger.
After guiding his alma mater to the state championship game and a narrow 1-0 loss, Loyola’s Wes Kyle was voted the All-Metro Coach of the Year. Captain Shreve senior forward Jose Gomez was the runaway choice for Most Valuable Player honors.
The end of year awards are always a challenge to compile, moreso this year because the depth of high-performing local teams provided an abundance of quality candidates, and that resulted in plenty of opinions as the final list took shape. The same pleasant dilemma confronted the selection panel for Wednesday’s All-Metro girls team.
Coaches were tasked to submit a list of players on their teams they would nominate to play in a mythical area all-star game, and offered reasons why they belonged. There were 28 players listed for consideration. The SBJ staff compiled the All-Metro team based on those submissions. The “best of the rest” were players that were given serious consideration to be on the All-Metro team.
In the Coach of the Year category, the race was much tighter than expected, with Loyola’s Kyle edging Calvary’s first-year leader Mark Miller by a single vote. Miller surprised everyone by taking the Cavaliers all the to the state semifinals, falling to eventual champion Isadore Newman 6-0. Airline’s Daniel Turnbow also received a vote.
Assessing the MVP awards, there was not much debate for two honors as the players selected stood out above a talented crowd with their play and leadership displayed this year.
When picking the All-Metro Team’s Overall MVP, stats, leadership, the ability to stand out while fitting into the team concept, and many other attributes need to be present. Then there is the eye test. Shreve’s Gomez had every box checked emphatically. At every Gators’ game, it was apparent Gomez was the best player on the field. He scored a region-high 57 goals, adding 15 assists. Gomez was selected as Division I District I Overall MVP, as well as making the Senior-only All-Star Game this Saturday in Lafayette.
Loyola’s keeper, Hudson Moore, parlayed his Division III District I Overall MVP into the All-Metro Defensive MVP award. It’s not often keepers get this award, even though they should. Moore’s efforts this year, leading a very young team all the way to the state finals, cannot be understated — it was historic. He made game-winning saves all season long, helping his field players gain the confidence needed to make the playoff run they did. That leadership made Moore stand out.
The Offensive MVP honor was much more contested, with a group of strong attacking mids and forwards putting up the stats and performances to warrant the award. Ultimately Northwood’s Emiliano Martinez landed the hardware. Martinez was voted Division II District I Overall MVP after scoring 14 goals and adding 15 assists. No opponent of the Falcons lost their eyes on him, or they paid a price.
The hardest debates compiling this season’s team came due to the over-abundance of quality midfielders to consider. There are five on the list, but there were at least eight that had the resume to be included. In a different year, they easily make it, as do ALL the ones on the “Best of the Rest’ list – but this was an exceptional year for local prep soccer.
2024-25 SBJ All-Metro Boys Soccer Team
Individual honors
Overall MVP – Jose Gomez, Captain Shreve
Offensive MVP – Emilio Martinez, Northwood
Defensive MVP – Hudson Moore, Loyola
Coach of the Year – Wes Kyle, Loyola
SBJ All-Metro Team (player, school, position)
Marti Fabregas, Northwood, FW
Stefan Cosse, Byrd, FW
Zian Toves, Benton, MF
Wilson Alvarado, Bossier, MF
Soloman Thawngceu, Captain Shreve, MF
Holt Hamilton, Loyola, MF
Gordon Brown, Byrd, MF
Homero Villareal, Bossier, Def
Conner Hoss, Captain Shreve, Def
Jackson Cooper, Byrd, Def
Logan Bamberg, Bossier, GK
Best of the Rest
Bossier: Josue Enamorado, MF; Bryan Tuyizere, MF. Byrd: Anderson Bryan, F. Calvary: Preston Walton, MF. Captain Shreve: JT Hester, Def; Reese Wren, MF; Brett Pernell, Def. Loyola: Graham Kyle, MF; Will Sample, F.