Sobrato senior Shawn Henner and Live Oak junior Alexis Diaz have been named first-team all-league in boys soccer for their respective Blossom Valley Athletic League divisions.
Henner was arguably the Bulldogs’ most versatile player this winter. He starred at sweeper and forward and played an integral part at both ends of the field.
The Bulldogs struggled to a 4-8-2 finish (5-12-2 overall) in their first season in the elite Mount Hamilton Division. But behind Henner and the other seniors, Sobrato finished the second half of league play strong, culminating in a 2-0 upset of previously unbeaten Willow Glen, which shared the 2012 Central Coast Section Division II title after winning it outright in 2011.
It is the third all-league honor for Henner, who was Sophomore and Freshman of the Year in the Santa Teresa Division. He missed most of his junior season because of a hip injury.
Diaz said he did not feel as dominant this winter as he was during his Sophomore of the Year season, when he emerged as one of the Acorns’ best offensive threats during their run to the CCS Division III final. But Diaz’s speed and creative ball-handling were nonetheless impressive this year, even as Live Oak went a disappointing 7-8-4 and 4-8-2 in the Santa Teresa Division.
Seniors Scott Henningsen of Sobrato and Ben Hartl of Live Oak ended a pair of solid high school careers with second-team all-league nods.
An All-Santa Teresa Division honoree in 2010-11, Henningsen was just as adept at the BVAL A level this winter, becoming one of the league’s top goal-scorers.
Hartl, an All-West Valley Division pick in 2009-10, controlled the middle of the field each game and showed excellent touch with his passes and shots. Hartl was an excellent defender as well.
Sobrato will rejoin Live Oak in the Santa Teresa Division next season.
