Smoky Hill’s massive turnaround and run to the Class 5A state championship game put plenty of Buffaloes on the 2012 Aurora Sentinel All-City Boys Soccer Team, as selected by the Sentinel with balloting of Aurora coaches.
Senior striker Jeff Gillis was the heart and soul of a Smoky Hill team that went from a 5-win team to one that finished 15-2-3 and runner-up to Boulder for the state title with a 3-1 loss at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
Gillis had a 5A-best 21 goals, including two game-clinchers in the postseason. Sophomore midfielder Kevin Del Mazo (9 goals, 10 assists) had a different gear than most players and was invaluable on set pieces for the Buffaloes.
Defense was a major strength for coach Kersten Mullan’s squad, as the Buffaloes didn’t give up a goal in the run of play in the first 19 games of the season until the final.
A unit that included a physical force in senior Hamilton Pennywell and steady sophomore Kevin Edgar had support from dynamic senior goalkeeper Grayson Heath, who posted 10 shutouts and allowed just 19 goals in 20 games.
Eaglecrest fell in heartbreaking fashion to Cherry Creek in the 5A quarterfinals, but the Raptors had an outstanding season and routed top-seeded Adams City in the playoffs.
With a blend of speed and fearlessness, senior forward Symon Fabbricatore piled up a 5A-best 18 assists plus 10 goals and had coach Greg Watts questioning if he was the top player in all the postseason.
Senior Andrew Martinez (4 goals, 7 assists) in the midfield and senior Ben Demming on a defensive unit with six shutouts formed the backbone of one of Aurora’s best teams.
Rangeview senior striker Ruben Zuniga was the master of opportunistic goals, as several of his 17 scores on the season were in key spots for coach Vic Strouse’s squad. Senior Cesar Gonzales was the most highly-regarded defender on a unit that gave up 13 goals in 17 games.
Senior midfielder Miguel Mendoza was once again the glue for a talented Gateway team that upset Arvada West in the first round of the 5A playoffs as the 28th seed. Mendoza had a team-best eight assists for the Olys, who finished 8-4-5.
Striker Chang Yang, a two-time All-Centennial League first teamer, represents rebuilt Grandview, while do-everything senior midfielder Brayan Molina helped Overland stay competitive despite its record.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555
2012 AURORA SENTINEL ALL-CITY BOYS SOCCER TEAM
FIRST TEAM
FORWARD/STRIKER: Symon Fabbricatore, Eaglecrest, sr.; Jeff Gillis, Smoky Hill, sr.; Chang Yang, Grandview, sr.; Ruben Zuniga, Rangeview, sr.
MIDFIELD: Kevin Del Mazo, Smoky Hill, soph.; Andrew Martinez, Eaglecrest, sr.; Miguel Mendoza, Gateway, sr.; Brayan Molina, Overland, sr.
DEFENSE: Ben Demming, Eaglecrest, sr.; Kevin Edgar, Smoky Hill, soph.; Cesar Gonzales, Rangeview, sr.; Hamilton Pennywell, Smoky Hill, sr.
GOALKEEPER: Grayson Heath, Smoky Hill, sr.
SECOND TEAM
FORWARD/STRIKER: Freddy Fragozo, Aurora Central, jr.; Refugio Gomez Lopez, Gateway, soph.; Vinny Magriplis, Smoky Hill, sr.; Omar Sandoval, Eaglecrest, jr.
MIDFIELD: Jerdan Daniels, Cherokee Trail, jr.; Seth Gordon, Grandview, sr.; Austin Marques, Eaglecrest, sr.; Walter Prince, Smoky Hill, soph.
DEFENSE: Gunnar Dickey, Eaglecrest, jr.; Michael Prichard, Eaglecrest, soph.; Brandon Scott, Rangeview, sr.; Conor Walsh, Regis Jesuit, sr.
GOALKEEPER: Devin Reimer, Cherokee Trail, sr.
HONORABLE MENTION: Nahom Abebe, Hinkley, soph. (MF); Trey Ahern, Regis Jesuit, sr. (D); Alex Amador, Rangeview, jr. (MF); Jason Camey, Vista PEAK, jr. (F); Carlos Castellon, Hinkley, sr. (MF); Carlos Castro, Hinkley, jr. (D); Mario Castro, Hinkley, jr. (D); Jose Elias, Vista PEAK, soph. (MF); Alan Garcia, Gateway, sr. (GK); Tyler Glenn, Smoky Hill, jr. (MF); David Hernandez, Gateway, sr. (MF); Zach Huff, Grandview, jr. (D); Alan Islas, Vista PEAK, fr. (GK); Mirza Karasalihovic, Hinkley, sr. (F); Bronson Le, Hinkley, jr. (F); Jake Lee, Cherokee Trail, jr. (D); Cruz Lopez, Hinkley, sr. (GK); Adam Manilla, Regis Jesuit, sr. (F); Jose Martinez, Rangeview, jr. (MF); Jordyn McGrath, Cherokee Trail, soph. (MF); Franklin Mendez, Aurora Central, jr. (GK); Christian Naes, Regis Jesuit, sr. (MF); Ernesto Pena, Aurora Central, jr. (MF); Giovanni Pinon, Gateway, sr. (D); Sergio Ramirez, Rangeview, sr. (D); Jashua Rodriguez, Cherokee Trail, sr. (MF); Mitch Rossi, Regis Jesuit, jr. (MF); Joe Schaefer-Glick, Overland, sr.; Drew Schmidt, Regis Jesuit, sr. (GK); Omari Shabani, Aurora Central, sr. (F); Ian Shelton, Regis Jesuit, sr. (F); Jake Smith, Grandview, jr. (MF); Jose Colton Alvarez Trippany, Aurora Central, soph. (D); Cristian Valadez, Gateway, sr. (D); Kevin Varela, Aurora Central, jr. (MF); Bryan Vasquez, Vista PEAK, soph. (D); Marcos Wolde, Rangeview, soph. (MF); Edward Zuniga, Rangeview, jr. (GK)
