Meet the 2024 Post Bulletin All-Area Boys Soccer Team

School: Lourdes

Grade: Sophomore

Position: Forward

Why he made the team: The 2024 Post Bulletin Player of the Year, Moynagh was a threat to score every time he touched the ball. In fact, thanks to a rocket of a left leg, sophomore needed just to be in the vicinity of the field and a sliver of space to score. In the end, he finished second in the state with 32 goals — many of which came against the best of the best. He netted seven goals in five playoff games. That included a hat trick in the Section 1, Class 1A final and two goals in the Class 1A state semifinal. He was one of just two underclassmen to be named First-Team All-State across the three classes. Class 1A First-Team All-State, All-HVL, All-Section 1-1A selection.

School: Pine Island/Zumbrota-Mazeppa

Grade: Senior

Position: Midfielder

Why he made the team: Few made it look as effortless as Konik. A state-qualifier in the 1600-meter in track, Konik seemed to never tire as he skipped past defenders endlessly. He was often the one that made the Wildcats go. Two-time Class 1A First-Team All-State, All-HVL, Post Bulletin POY finalist.

School: Mayo

Grade: Senior

Position: Midfielder

Why he made the team: The definition of unsung hero, Ibarra was simply terrific all season in manning the Mayo midfield. He recorded three goals and four assists, but that’s just part of the story. He seemed to always be in the right place at the right time as he provided support in the back as well as moving the attack forward. He paired that up with great feet and vision. A Class 3A First-Team All-State selection, a two-time All-Big Nine selection and a four-year varsity letter-winner; PB POY finalist.

“An utterly brilliant player, silky smooth on the ball with great vision,” coach Tim Jennings said. “Juan has been the heart of Mayo's midfield for the last 3 years and was playing a vital role as a ninth grader.”

School: Lourdes

Grade: Senior

Position: Midfielder

Why he made the team: Like Ibarra, Theobald was everywhere, while seemingly doing everything for the Class 1A state finalist. Standing 6-foot-3 with great speed, Theobald dominated the pitch at times. He was lethal on corner kicks and set pieces, using that great size to get a head on the ball more often than not. He finished with 16 goals and 10 assists — two of the many reasons he was a finalist for Class 1A Mr. Soccer. A Class 1A First-Team All-State, Class 1A Mr. Soccer finalist, Class 1A State All-Tournament Team and All-HVL selection; PB POY finalist.

"Sam’s abilities on the field are much greater than just his goals and assist stats," Lourdes coach Eric Feil said. "He was indispensable for us on both attacking and defensive set pieces. He also was a vocal leader on and off the field to always advocate for his teammates."

School: Mayo

Position: Defender

Why he made the team: Young is about as good as it gets in a defender. He pairs great strength with great ball skills and was a calming presence in a backline that was inexperienced to start the year. Opponents only scored a total of eight goals all season while Young was on the field. Scored two goals and had six assists. Class 3A Second-Team All-State, All-Big Nine.

“Bode has excellent skills, incredible vision, and never quits on the field,” coach Tim Jennings said. “He took charge of a backline that saw a lot of changes from last year and formed a unit that allowed only 10 goals this season.”

School: Pine Island/Zumbrota-Mazeppa

Grade: Senior

Position: Goalkeeper

Why he made the team: Just his second full season in goal, Sems has developed into not only one of the best in southeast Minnesota, but in the state. With an inexperienced defense in front of him, Sems was forced to make more saves this year which he did time and time again for the four-time defending Section 2, Class 1A champs. A Class 1A First-Team All-State and All-HVL selection.

School: John Marshall

Grade: Senior

Position: Midfielder

Why he made the team: Lowery was one of the best when it came to setting up his teammates. His 18 assists were 10th most in all of Minnesota. He also had seven goals for a talented Rockets squad that won 11 games and finished second in the Big Nine. Class 3A Second-Team All-State and All-Big Nine selection.

School: Lourdes

Grade: Senior

Position: Midfielder

Why he made the team: Broadbent’s vision and passing ability was top-notch all season long. Whether it was taking corner kicks or set pieces, his passes consistently led to goals. It’s why he finished leading the state with an eye-popping 24 assists. He also scored 14 goals. All-HVL selection.

School: Stewartville

Grade: Junior

Position: Midfielder

Why he made the team: Kropp continues to be a big reason why the Tigers have gone to a three-win team three years ago to back-to-back double digit win seasons. The junior midfielder can do just a little bit of everything as was evident with his 20 goals and 15 assists. A back-to-back Class 1A Second-Team All-State and All-HVL selection.

“Cole is the engine that makes our team go,” Stewartville coach Chris Kuisle said. “His 35 contributions put him in the mix with some of the most elite players throughout the state.”

School: John Marshall

Grade: Junior

Position: Goalkeeper

Why he made the team: Carter was called by the numerous coaches as the best keeper in the area. He has great instincts, knowing when to come out or stay in his spot. He paired it with great hands and natural ability. A Class 3A First-Team All-State and All-Big Nine selection.

School: Mayo

Grade: Senior

Position: Forward

Why he made the team: Blessed with what coach Tim Jennings calls “magical feet”, Haslam was as good as it gets on the wing. So much so, Maple Grove had to adjust its whole gameplan in the second half of a Class 3A state quarterfinal match. He consistently wore opponents out, pushing the Mayo attack forward. Finished with six goals and 12 assists. Class 3A Second-Team All-State, All-Big Nine, All-Class 3A State Tournament Team.

"Electric on the wing, Patrick's quick feet and brilliant skill allowed him to drive past people on his own or in combination with others,” coach Tim Jennings said. “A real leader and captain on the team, he led our team in assists.”

School: Pine Island/Zumbrota-Mazeppa

Grade: Senior

Position: Midfielder

Why he made the team: Oberg was a key cog in helping the Wildcats reach the program’s fourth consecutive state tournament. He was a force up and down the field, helping Konik man the midfield. With a powerful shot, he was a threat to score from anywhere. A Class 1A Second-Team All-State and All-HVL selection.

School: St. Charles/Lewiston-Altura

Grade: Senior

Position: Goalkeeper

Why he made the team: Rinard is as consistent as it gets between the posts. Out of 16 games, Rinard kept a clean sheet in eight of them. He seemed to save his best for the top-flight competition. He had made eight saves against both Lourdes and Pine Island/Zumbrota-Mazeppa — two squads that finished top-four in the state. Overall, Rinard finished with 79 saves for an 11-win Saints team. In three games in the field, Rinard had a goal and an assist as well. A Class 1A First-Team All-State and All-Three Rivers Conference selection.

School: Mayo

Grade: Senior

Position: Forward

Why he made the team: Few play with the type of tenacity and speed that Nelson does. It helped turn him into one of the best goal-scorers in the area. He was second on Mayo with 16 goals, while also dishing out four assists. There was a stretch during the season that saw him score in seven consecutive games. Scored in 11 of 18 games. All-Section 1-3A and All-Big Nine selection.

School: John Marshall

Grade: Senior

Position: Forward/Midfielder

Why he made the team: Franken was simply outstanding for the Rockets this season. He had a hand in 27 of JM’s 51 goals, netting a team-best 18 goals to go along with nine assists. Poised beyond his years, Franklin is as cool as the other side of the pillow on the pitch. All Big-Nine.

School: Lourdes

Grade: Senior

Position: Forward/Midfielder

Why he made the team: Kane was a menace on the wing and in the midfield for the Class 1A runner-up Eagles. He was involved in 37 of Lourdes’ 91 goals this season, finishing with 18 goals and 19 assists. Like his teammate Broadbent, Kane was lethal on corner kicks and set pieces. Class 1A All-State Second-Team, Class 1A State All-Tournament and All-HVL selection.

School: Mayo

Grade: Senior

Position: Forward

Why he made the team: Wolf had already made a name for himself as a junior, but really took it to another level in his final high school season. He netted a team-best 18 goals to go along with six assists for the Section 1 and Big Nine Conference champs. Scored in nine straight games at one point and scored in three of the four postseason contests, including the Class 3A state quarterfinal. All-Section 1-3A, All-Big Nine selection.

“Our top goal scorer this season, and second last year, Cadel is calm, cool, and collected on the field,” coach Jennings said. “His touch is superb and he has a real nose for goal.”

School: Byron

Grade: Junior

Position: Forward

Why he made the team: Hartman is a coach's dream. He attends every camp and extra training, while being the ultimate unselfish player. He switched positions early in the season and still found himself leading the team with 10 assists. He also added seven goals for a nine-win Byron team. All-HVL selection.

“A tremendous asset to the Byron program,” coach Dave Bahr said. “... His player ability, vision, game insight and execution are very advanced. His leadership and calm demeanor keeps the players cool under pressure.”

School: Century

Grade: Senior

Position: Forward/Midfielder

Why he made the team: The senior Spaeth had another stellar season for coach Hal Houghton and the Panthers. He could do a little bit of everything, helping push the attack and dropping back in defense. Quick and fast, he made others around him better. All-Big Nine selection.

“A very versatile player,” Houghton said. “Could play any position well. Has a very good understanding of the game and excellent field sense. He makes other players on his team look good through his movement off the ball. Very dedicated.”

School: St. Charles/Lewiston-Altura

Grade: Junior

Position: Forward

Why he made the team: The German foreign exchange student had a cannon of a left leg and he showed it off plenty. He scored in 13 of SCLA’s 17 games, netting a team-best 19 to go along with seven assists. A Class 1A Second-Team All-State selection.

School: Austin

Grade: Senior

Position: Midfielder

Why he made the team: Thawng once again proved he was one of the best in the area in setting up teammates. It’s why he was a Class 2A All-State First-Team selection for the third consecutive season.

School: Century

Grade: Senior

Position: Midfielder

Why he made the team: Rice was lethal all season long in taking corner kicks and set pieces. It’s why he ended up leading the Panthers in assists. His dedication to his craft was a model for the next generation. All-Big Nine.

“Extremely dedicated,” coach Houghton said. “He could be seen often working on his individual game on the Century practice fields in the off-season and then during the season after practice or on days off. Great foot skills. He delivers a very accurate ball on set pieces. He is a big reason we scored on so many corner kicks this season." 

Austin: Leo Hernandez, Sr., M, (Class 2A First-Team All-State). Byron: Jaxon Boynton, Sr., F, (11 goals, 7 assists; All-HVL); Ben Zimmerman, Sr., MF (2 goals, 5 assists; two-time All-HVL). Cannon Falls: Isaac VanSlyke, Jr., F (All-HVL); Century: Craig Whitney, Sr., D (All-Big Nine HM); Joshua Kyei-Baffour, Sr., D/MF (All-Section 1-3A, 3-year varsity starter); Alejandro Fonseca, Sr., F (All-Big Nine). John Marshall: Louis Schoeberl, Sr., F (10 goals, 9 assists, All-Big Nine); Enan Mujcinovic, Sr., MF (9 goals, 8 assists, All-Big Nine HM); Lennox Robinson, So., D (2 goals, 6 assists, All-Section 1-3A). Kasson-Mantorville: Miguel Martinez, Sr., F, (All-HVL); Sawyer Bendickson, Jr., F (All-HVL). La Crescent-Hokah: Mitchell Reining, Sr. (10 goals, 8 assists); Ben Tradewell, Sr. Lake City: Chino Baltazar Gonzalez, Sr., F (All-HVL); Alec McElmury, Sr., MF (All-HVL). Lourdes: Will Jacob, So., GK (Class 1A Second-Team All-State, All-HVL); Luca Duerr, Sr., F (All-Section 1-1A, missed most of the season with injury); Jaxon Seelhammer, So., D. Mayo: Stephen Gonzalez, Sr., LW, (7 goals, 8 assists; All-Big Nine HM); Adrian Bacilio, Sr., CB. PIZM: Anders Helleyer (Class 1A Second-Team All-State, All-HVL); Ethan Gerhart, D (All-HVL). Red Wing: Reece Hatch, So., MF (All-Big Nine). Schaeffer Academy: St. Charles/Lewiston-Altura: Camden Twait, Jr., MF/D (13 assists); Miles Barclay, Jr., F (15 goals, 6 assists in just six games, missed the majority of the year with injury). Stewartville: Matthew Watters, MF (All-HVL); Logan Quam, MF (All-HVL); Winona: Olin Overhaug, Sr., MF (All-Big Nine).