Cream of the crop: Our 2023 Boys Soccer Player of the Year, Super Team and All-Stars

Five of the area's nine boys soccer teams qualified for the MIAA state tournament in the fall, but nobody got past the first round.

Old Rochester capped a 12-6-2 season with a 3-2 loss (penalty kicks) to Dedham in the Div. 3 Round of 32. The Bulldogs advanced with a 2-1 victory over Fairhaven (9-10-1) in the preliminary round.

New Bedford (6-6-7) dropped a 3-0 decision to Algonquin in the Div. 1 Round of 32, Dartmouth (8-7-2) bowed out after a 3-0 loss to Westborough in the Div. 2 Round of 32 and GNB Voc-Tech capped a 9-4-5 season with a 2-1 loss to Holliston in the Div. 3 Round of 32.

Here's a look at The Standard-Times' top boys soccer players for the 2023 season.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

George Psichopaidas, Old Rochester, Senior

Baseball was George Psichopaidas' favorite sport until his mother suggested he give soccer a try.

"I was big into baseball and my mom pushed me to start playing soccer," Psichopaidas said. "Once I started playing, I was hooked. I loved it and I quit playing baseball soon after to concentrate on soccer."

It proved to be a good decision, because Psichopaidas progressed quickly in Fairhaven's Mariner Soccer League, and he arrived at Old Rochester with a solid set of skills that allowed him to step in right away and contribute for the Bulldogs.

"George became a dynamic offensive player for us," said Old Rochester coach Mike Devoll, the school's principal. "He thrived in pressure situations and was a key part of our offense at forward. He was very skilled with the ball, he was good at finishing his scoring chances, and he scored some pretty goals. Teams had to game plan to stop him, and he put a lot of pressure on opposing defenses. He was also a good playmaker who distributed the ball well and got his teammates involved on offense."

The only bad part of this past season was the Bulldogs' early exit from the state tournament.

"That was tough, because we had high hopes going in," Psichopaidas said. "We had one of our best teams ever. Our chemistry was good, and we were hoping to make a stronger run in the playoffs."

WHY HE WAS SELECTED

Psichopaidas was one of five local players named as an Eastern Mass. All-Star. He played with a lot of poise and took on a leadership role in his last couple of seasons. He made everyone around him better and used his speed and ball skills to get past defenders and attack the net. Made improvements every season and helped the Bulldogs live up to their reputation for having one of the best overall programs in the area.

KEY STATS

Scored 16 goals and notched four assists on the way to earning South Coast Conference All-Star honors.

MVP MOMENT

After spraining an ankle in the Bulldogs' 2-1 win over Fairhaven in the Div. 3 preliminary round, he gutted it out and scored a late second-half goal to make it 2-2 in an eventual 3-2 loss (penalty kicks) to Dedham in the Div. 3 Round of 32.

WHAT'S NEXT

With his high school sports career over, Psichopaidas will continue working out until he begins spring soccer with the St. Michael's Bolts, a travel team based in New Bedford. He will attend either UMass Amherst or the University of New Hampshire in the fall and plans to major in finance.

NOTES

Lives in Mattapoisett. ... Has a younger sister, Maria, who played soccer and ran track at ORR and is now a sophomore nursing major at UMass Dartmouth. His father, Nick, played football at Stamford High School in Connecticut. .... Likes to ski, fish, and golf. ... His cousin, Dino Psichopaidas, is a sophomore forward who plays soccer at Bishop Stang.

SUPER TEAM

Carter Barbosa, New Bedford, Senior

Proved to be one of the area's best center fullbacks on the way to earning Southeast Conference All-Star honors and being named the league's most valuable player. Helped lead the Whalers to two SEC championships. Also earned First Team Eastern Mass. All-Star honors. "Carter was one of our most consistent players and he never came off the field," New Bedford coach John Macaroco said. "He made everybody around him better. He was a quiet leader, but when he talked, people listened."

Keaton Garcia, Fairhaven, Senior

An all-around player with solid ball skills and a good head for the game, Garcia powered the Blue Devils' offense with 16 goals and seven assists. Was named a South Coast Conference All-Star and made steady improvement every season. "Keaton was really good with the ball at his feet," Fairhaven coach Paul Fernandes said. "He got the job done for us as an aggressive, attacking forward and he took advantage of his scoring chances. He was good at getting to the net and finishing."

Landon Hunter, Old Colony, Junior

Armed with good speed and a strong shot, Hunter was able to get past defenders and attack the net. Finished with 17 goals and 15 assists on the way to being named a Mayflower Athletic Conference All-Star. "Landon set the tone for us on offense with his scoring and passing skills," Old Colony coach Alex Soares said. "He was one of our most versatile and consistent players. We ran our offense through him in the middle of the field and he helped us with his ball distribution skills and field vision."

Spencer Menard, Bishop Stang, Senior

Played a key role on offense for the Spartans with eight goals and four assists as an attacking midfielder with good ball skills and a good head for the game. Earned All-Star honors playing in the competitive Catholic Central League. "Spencer was a natural scorer and playmaker who did a great job creating scoring chances for himself and his teammates," Bishop Stang coach Ricardo Aguiar said, "He beat a lot of defenders in one-on-one situations with his quickness and he had a good nose for the net."

Claudio Ramos, GNB Voc-Tech, Senior

Helped the Bears with his ball skills as an attacking midfielder who was also versatile enough to get back and help out on defense when needed. Was one of the team's most consistent players with seven goals and seven assists that helped him earn First Team Eastern Mass. and South Coast Conference All-Star honors. "Claudio was fast, strong on the ball, and very coachable," GNB Voc-Tech assistant coach Ethan Garcia said. "Teams respected him and he helped us on both sides of the ball."

Landon Raposa, Dartmouth, Sophomore

Wasn't the biggest player around, but he made a big impact for Dartmouth with 11 goals and four assists at forward. Turned some heads by earning Southeast Conference All-Star honors in his second varsity season. "Landon played with some incredible pace up top and he put a lot of pressure on opposing defenses," Dartmouth coach Josh Silva said. "He was small, but strong, and he plays the game the right way. He was a dynamic player with the ball who always played hard and never backed down."

Nate Rezendes, Bishop Stang, Senior

Started the season as a center fullback but was called upon to make the switch to midfielder late in the season. Finished with two goals and an assist and proved versatile enough to be named a Catholic Central League All-Star. "Nate was a good, tactical defender who was strong on the ball," Bishop Stang coach Ricardo Aguiar said. "He kept our back line on the same page and did a nice job communicating with our goalie. He also gave us a nice spark on offense when he moved to the midfield."

Josh Roderiques, Bishop Stang, Senior

A true team player and talented midfielder, Roderiques did all the little things that don't show up in the box score and was rewarded for his efforts by being named a Catholic Central League All-Star. "Joshua did all the dirty work for us. He won a lot of 50-50 balls in the middle of the field and was good on balls in the air," Bishop Stang coach Ricardo Aguiar said. "He was tough to get past on defense and he was strong on the ball. He made a lot of big plays in the middle to help us keep possession of the ball."

Nicholas Silvia, Dartmouth, Junior

Helped Dartmouth with his scoring and passing skills while finishing with 10 goals and five assists as a dependable offensive-minded midfielder. Earned First Team Eastern Mass. and Southeast Conference All-Star honors. "Nicholas is a tough kid and a smart player who always made good decisions with the ball," Dartmouth coach Josh Silva said. "We leaned on him for his leadership, and he led by example. He was a great teammate, and he was willing to do anything to help the team. He played with a lot of heart."

Kaiden Soares, GNB Voc-Tech, Senior

Proved to be a dependable offensive weapon for the Bears with nine goals and four assists at forward. Capped a solid career by earning South Coast Conference All-Star honors. "Kaiden is a big, strong kid who gave us a physical presence up front," GNB Voc-Tech assistant coach Ethan Garcia said. "He always seemed to be in the right spot at the right time and he made a lot of big plays for us on offense. He always played hard, and he was aggressive on offense. He wanted the ball, and he went after it."

Josh Snyder, Apponequet, Junior

Faced a lot of shots in net but averaged 10.3 saves a game and notched three shutouts on the way to earning First Team Eastern Mass. and South Coast Conference All-Star honors. "Josh trains year-round, he knows how to play angles, and he's a technically-sound keeper," Apponequet coach Tom Couet said, "He kept us in games with his athleticism, good hands, and footwork skills. His goals-against average went down two goals a game and the team got getter each season with him as our goalie."

ALL-STARTEAM

Aidan Andrade, GNB Voc-Tech, Sophomore

Shined for the Bears as a defensive-minded center midfielder. Earned South Coast Conference All-Star honors and did a nice job setting the team's offense in motion with his distribution skills. Played hard with a lot of discipline and always carried out his assignments.

Cole Berriault, Wareham, Senior

A five-year varsity player who joined the Vikings as an eighth grader, Berriault was a rock-solid defender and one of the few veterans on a young squad. Earned Mayflower Athletic Conference honors and helped keep the team in games with his tough play around the net.

Davi Coelho, Old Colony, Junior

Gave the Cougars a tough, physical presence on defense and won a lot of balls in the air. Scored two goals and earned Mayflower Athletic Conference All-Star honors. Got to the ball quickly and won a lot of 50-50 balls to help the team keep possessions alive.

Carlentz Jean Pierre, New Bedford, Sophomore

Scored eight times to finish as the Whalers' leading goal scorer. Added three assists on the way to being named a Southeast Conference All-Star in his first season playing organized soccer. Had a good nose for the net and was tough to stop with the ball at his feet.

Rowan Jensen, Apponequet, Sophomore

Put together a solid season on offense with six goals and four assists. Proved to be a key part of the Lakers' offense with his improved shot accuracy. Played with good speed and was strong on the ball. The hard work he put in during the offseason paid off in a big way.

John Marmelo, Old Rochester, Senior

Had a solid career with the Bulldogs as a four-year player and three-year starter. Proved to be a physical fullback who played strong on the back line. Played with good one-on-one skills, did a great job clearing the ball away from trouble, and made good decisions.

Grady Oliveira, Old Rochester, Freshman

Made an immediate impact on offense with eight goals and five assists on the way to being named a South Coast Conference All-Star. Started every game for the Bulldogs and proved to be a good finisher around the net. Fueled offense with his ball control and passing skills.

Gabriel Peixoto, New Bedford, Senior

Proved to be a tough center fullback around the net. Played with a lot of physicality and earned Southeast Conference All-Star honors. Was a vocal team leader and proved to be a nice complement to teammate/Super Teamer Carter Barbosa on the Whalers' back line.

Nathan Santos, Old Colony, Senior

Helped power the Cougars' offense with his ball skills, speed, and nose for the net. Finished with seven goals and six assists. Filled a need for scoring up front and took advantage of his scoring opportunities with a lot of tenacity and a strong shot.

Tommy Smith, Apponequet, Junior

Finished as the Lakers' leading scorer with seven goals and three assists on the way to earning South Coast Conference Honorable Mention honors. Had a good nose for the net and scored on a lot of second chances. Played hard with a motor than never shut off.

Reinaldo Trinidad, GNB Voc-Tech, Senior

Played with a lot of speed and quickness on the way to scoring eight goals and earning South Coast Conference All-Star honors. Made good decisions with the ball and gave the Bears' offense a big lift. Was able to get past defenders and make runs to set the offense in motion.

HONORABLE MENTION

Ryan Abreau, Apponequet, Junior; Dino Psichopaidas, Bishop Stang, Sophomore; Owen Carter, Dartmouth, Senior; Lucas Martinez, Dartmouth, Senior; Tyler Medeiros, Dartmouth, Senior; Lucas Fernandes, Fairhaven, Senior; Aiden Pacheco, Fairhaven, Sophomore; Brennan Vieira, GNB Voc-Tech, Senior; Avry Whitson, GNB Voc-Tech, Junior; Jose Coreas, New Bedford, Sophomore; Troy Rocha, New Bedford, Senior; Lucas Pimentel, Old Colony, Senior; Garrett Ignacio, Old Rochester, Sophomore; Malachi Samuels, Wareham, Senior; Kyle Susko, Wareham, Senior.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: 2023 Boys Soccer Player of the Year, Super Team and All-Stars