All-county awards end memorable soccer season

Another boys soccer season has passed with the sport's continued growth becoming more and more evident.

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A new soccer program popped up at Augusta Christian with a win in the team's first ever game. Greenbrier and Lakeside once again earned state playoff berths, and the Wolfpack made another deep postseason run.

With a 20-2 record, Greenbrier reached a state ranking as high as No. 2 and topped out at No. 5 in the nation, according to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Their only two losses came to eventual state champion McIntosh.

That leaves the all-county awards left to be decided.

Here are the Columbia County News-Times Boys Soccer All-County Teams:

First Team

GK - Michael Combs, Lakeside, So. He made 155 saves and boasted a 1.67 goals against average for the state playoff bound Panthers.

D - Matt McCue, Greenbrier, Jr. He anchored a defense that had a goals against average of 1.

D - Blake Brandenburg, Lakeside, Sr. This two-year captain served as a leader of the Panther defense not only in basketball but in soccer as well.

D - Bryce Cartledge, Evans, So. He played every minute of every game for Evans and marked the opposing team's top scorer.

D - Chris Burch, Augusta Prep, Sr. He's a team leader who helped turn a rebuilding year into a team with a state playoff win.

MF - Brooks Duff, Greenbrier, Sr. His 17 goals and 12 assists don't begin to tell the whole story. He was also named Region 3-AAAA Player of the Year and will play for Furman next year.

MF - Kyle Turner, Lakeside, Sr. The best all-around player at Lakeside finished the year with two goals and five assists.

MF - Quint Wilson, Evans, Jr. His nine goals and 10 assists were good, but his performance as goalkeeper in a shutout over Lakeside was even better.

MF - Anthony Henry, Harlem, Sr. He just wrapped up his fourth year of varsity ball and served as a team captain who ruled the middle of the field for the Bulldogs.

F - Will Dunaway, Greenbrier, Sr. It's hard to say which were prettier to watch - his 12 goals, the 26 assists or the throw-ins that were as good as corner kicks. He'll play at nationally-ranked UNC-Greensboro next year.

F - Bobby Zimmerman, Greenbrier, Sr. His play with a cracked rib in the state semifinals is something that will be talked about for years to come.

F - Pieter James, Greenbrier, Jr. The top offensive man on the top offensive team scored 26 goals and added 9 assists.

F - Tyler Bivens, Lakeside, Sr. He scored 10 goals and dished out 12 assists as one of the top offensive threats for Lakeside.

Player of the Year

Brooks Duff, Greenbrier

Coach of the Year

Chip Warren, Greenbrier

Second Team

GK - Kenji Link, Harlem, Sr.

D - Alden Fisher, Augusta Christian, Sr.

D - Kian Khazrai, Evans, Jr.

D - Clay Carswell, Greenbrier, Jr.

D - Dallas Dickerson, Greenbrier, Sr.

MF - Kyler Harden, Greenbrier, So.

MF - Hunter Norton, Greenbrier, Fr.

MF - Stephen Maxwell, Greenbrier, Fr.

MF - Madison Harte, Augusta Prep, Jr.

F - Justin Pitock, Lakeside, Fr.

F - Chris Fodera, Evans, So.

F - A.J. Thibedeau, Harlem, So.

F - Alex Levy, Augusta Prep, Fr.

Honorable Mention

Brad Powell (GB), Kevin Wish (L), Joe Hastings (L), Matt Hutchison (L), Dalton Beckham (L), Harold Rivner (AP), Phillip Tuten (AP), Carter Timmerman (E), Chad Stefani (H).