Ariaan Cardenas
Marysville Pilchuck | Sr. | F
Cardenas was a first-team All-Wesco 3A North selection last season as a central midfielder. But with Sebastian Navarro, last year’s star forward, having graduated, the Tomahawks are asking Cardenas to move into the central forward role and take over as the primary goal scorer.
“He’s really good at reading the field, understanding where people are going and why,” Marysville Pilchuck coach Paul Bartley said. “Last year we didn’t ask him to score all the time, he was more of a playmaker and assist guy. This year we’re looking for him to contribute more on the goal end of it.”
Eric Jones
Snohomish | Sr. | M
Jones was Snohomish’s Swiss army knife during the Panthers’ run to 4A state titles in each of the past two seasons, filling in wherever he was needed most. The All-Wesco 4A first-teamer will reprise that role again this season, beginning at the center of Snohomish’s defense, but potentially moving into the midfield and even up front when necessary.
“He reads the game so well,” Snohomish coach Dan Pingrey said. “He’s a good technical player and can be physical when he needs to be. But people sometimes believe he’s not working hard, and that’s because he reads the game well and makes it look simple.”
Connor Seed
Glacier Peak | Sr. | M
Seed is entering his fourth season as a starting central midfielder for the Grizzlies, and his second as a team captain. The first-team All-Wesco 3A South performer possesses the ability to dictate the game from his central position, though he’ll miss the beginning of the season as he recovers from knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus.
“Connor is a leader,” Glacier Peak coach Kyle Veach said. “Everyone looks to him to lead the way in both good and difficult times. And his soccer IQ is off the charts. He just has such a high soccer IQ that it makes the game look easy to him.”
Vaughn Silver
Lake Stevens | Sr. | G
Silver, who was a second-team All-Wesco 4A selection last year, will be the backbone and last line of defense for a Vikings team that will be exceptionally young this season. At 6-foot-2 and with broad shoulders, he’s able to cover a large portion of the goal.
“It comes down to being fearless,” Lake Stevens coach Kit Shanholzer said. “We always kind of make fun of goalkeepers, saying they’re a little off. But when the ball is flying in his face at 50 miles per hour, he’s unflinching. I think he’s a guy who will turn the tide of a lot of games.”
Matt Williams
Archbisop Murphy | Jr. | F
Williams was named first-team All-Cascade Conference last year as a sophomore, and scored in the state-championship game. Now as a junior he’ll be the offensive focal point for a Wildcats team that’s looking to defend its 2A state crown.
“Matt has the ability to create something out of nothing,” Archbishop Murphy coach Mike Bartley said. “He’s a goal scorer, but he’s also a leader and a driver. He loves to play the game, so there’s a lot of passion in him. You’ll see some really nice stuff out of Matt.”
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