Lynnwood senior Dane Evanger is one of the top high school soccer players in the area. (Kevin Clark / The Daily Herald)

Lynnwood senior Dane Evanger is one of the top high school soccer players in the area. (Kevin Clark / The Daily Herald)

Boys soccer: 5 players to watch

Matt Williams

Archbishop Murphy | Sr. | Forward

Williams recorded a school-record 35 goals and 10 assists last season while leading the Wildcats to their second consecutive Class 2A state title. He was the state coaches association’s 2A Most Valuable Player and The Herald’s Boys Soccer Player of the Year.

“He’s super strong, he’s great with his feet and he’s a finisher,” Archbishop Murphy coach Michael Bartley said. “The bottom line is he’ll find a way either to score or to finish off anything that’s delivered to him. And right now he’s playing at his highest level, so expectations are high for Matt to have another great season.”

Sam Johnson

Archbishop Murphy | Jr. | Midfielder

Johnson, a second-team all-state selection last season, recorded 14 goals and 13 assists in helping the Wildcats to their second consecutive Class 2A state title.

“Sam’s kind of like the field general,” Archbishop Murphy coach Michael Bartley said. “He develops our point of attack, he runs off the ball well and he’s actually playing a little more of a defensive role this year, because he can handle it. … He’s just playing really well and he has a really good grasp of the game. He’s creating a lot of opportunities for us.

“Sam plays right behind (standout forward Matt Williams),” Bartley added, “so the combination of the two is pretty lethal.”

Efren Martinez

Mariner | Sr. | Midfielder

Martinez recorded eight goals and 14 assists last season while helping lead the Marauders to the Class 4A state quarterfinals.

“Efren is a very skilled player,” Mariner coach Vince DeSimone said. “He plays center midfield and outside midfield. He’s valuable in (both) those areas and he brings a finesse to the game. He can create things very simply from something real hard.”

Dane Evanger

Lynnwood | Sr. | Forward

Evanger, a second-team all-state selection last season, scored 20 goals and led the Royals to a second-place tie in Wesco 3A.

“He’s definitely a scorer,” Lynnwood coach Pablo Mummey said. “He’s got a good ability to find the net. To me, he’s a natural forward. Constantly, he’s moving and looking for ways to beat defenders, get around and behind the defense and take shots in front of the goal.”

Camron Miller

Glacier Peak | Sr. | Defender

Miller earned Class 3A second-team all-state honors last year after anchoring a defense that allowed just 19 goals, and only one goal in Wesco 3A play. Miller also scored six goals for the Grizzlies, who advanced to the 3A state quarterfinals.

“He’s the IQ of our team,” Glacier Peak coach Kyle Veach said. “He really is a smart soccer player, and that translates onto the field so much. … His IQ of the game is just a complete level above everyone else.”

— Cameron Van Til, Herald Writer

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