Ashbrook, Hunter Huss lead All-Big South soccer team

GASTONIA — Conference champion Ashbrook claimed two awards and runner-up Hunter Huss took the other as the Big South 3A Conference announced its postseason soccer honors Monday.

The league’s coaches voted Hunter Huss senior midfielder Hector Cortes Big South player of the year, Ashbrook’s Billy Baucom goalkeeper of the year and Ashbrook’s Joel Webb coach of the year.

Cortes scored seven goals and assisted four in conference play, helping Hunter Huss to its highest finish since 2001, when then-coach David Shearer (now at Forestview) guided the Huskies to an 11-0-1 Big South record and 20-3-2 overall mark.

“He wasn’t our goal leader, he wasn’t our assist leader, but almost everything went through him,” Hunter Huss coach Mike Pond said.

Cortes, a four-year varsity player and two-time all-conference and all-region performer, led Hunter Huss to a 9-3 Big South record. The Huskies finished 13-8 overall after a first-round playoff loss to St. Stephens.

“This season he has been a team leader,” Pond said. “I would describe him as just a smooth, beautiful soccer player. He just makes it look so simple.”

Baucom recorded four conference shutouts for Ashbrook, which went 12-0 in the Big South for its first conference title since 2004.

“He stepped up in big games is what he did,” Webb said. “He was a leader in big games.”

Baucom, Webb and the Green Wave reached the second round of the playoffs and finished with a 17-3-1 overall record, coming one win shy of the school record.

“They team played well and that’s it,” Webb said. “I wish we could have gone farther.”

You can reach Phillip Gardner at 704-869-1843.

All-Big South 3A Conference soccer team

Player of the year — Hector Cortes, Hunter Huss, MF, Sr.

Keeper of the year — Billy Baucom, Ashbrook, Sr.

Coach of the year — Joel Webb, Ashbrook

All-conference team:

Juan Villa, Ashbrook, MF, So.

Sebastian Zuluaga, Ashbrook, MF, Sr.

Daniel Carvajal, Ashbrook, F, Sr.

Justin Brooks, Ashbrook, D, Sr.

Cooper Johnson, Ashbrook, MF, Jr.

Matt Conner, Ashbrook, D, Sr.

Rey Chegue, Hunter Huss, F, Sr.

Victor Pinto, Hunter Huss, F, Jr.

Cesar Garcia, Hunter Huss, MF, Sr.

Alejandro Fabela, Hunter Huss, D, Sr.

Justin Henry, Forestview, MF, Jr.

Josh Lane, Forestview, D, Jr.

Danny Sassano, Forestview, MF, Sr.

Ben Propst, South Point, MF, Jr.

Joseph Carswell, South Point, D, Sr.

Kevin Patz, South Point, MF/KP, Sr.

Camerson Stillwell, South Point, D, Jr.

Patrick Houser, Crest, D, Sr.

Jake Kennedy, Crest, MF, So.

Tony Chanthaphaeng, Kings Mtn., F, Sr.

Tanner Deaton, Kings Mtn., D, Sr.

Zach Pappas, North Gaston, MF, Sr.

Final conference standings

Overall records include playoffs

North Carolina All-Region 9 team (3A)*

Billy Baucom, Ashbrook, GK, Sr.

Daniel Carvajal, Ashbrook, F, Sr.

Rey Chegue, Hunter Huss, F, Sr.

Hector Cortes, Hunter Huss, MF, Sr.

Justin Henry, Forestview, MF, Jr.

Josh Lane, Forestview, D, Jr.

Kevin Patz, South Point, GK/MF, Sr.

Victor Pinto, Hunter Huss, F, Jr.

Ben Propst, South Point, MF, Jr.

Danny Sassano, Forestview, MF, Sr.

Juan Villa , Ashbrook, MF, So.

Sebastian Zuluaga, Ashbrook, MF, Sr.

*The All-Region 9 Team is made up only of Big South Conference schools for the 2009-10 seasons.