5 players who could be the Daily Chronicle 2024 Player of the Year – Shaw Local

The Daily Chronicle looks ahead to the 2024-25 track and field season and five different Player of the Year competitions. Today, we look at five potential boys soccer players of the year.

Last year, defense ruled the area’s soccer field, with DeKalb center Matt Tuszynski being named the 2023 Daily Chronicle Boys Soccer Player of the Year.

Tuszynski has graduated, as have six members of the all-area first team. But there are still plenty of talented players returning. Here are five who could be our 2024 Player of the Year.

Jameson Carl, Sycamore, Sr., MF/F

Carl was a prolific scorer for the Spartans, scoring 22 goals and adding 11 assists. He was selected to the all-sectional and was co-player of the year in the Interstate 8. As a sophomore, he had three goals and 12 assists and was also selected to the all-area first-team.

The Spartans had won regional tournaments in three consecutive postseasons before Kaneland eliminated them in a regional semifinal. The Knights and Spartans split the regular season series and shared the I-8 title.

Five seniors graduated from that Sycamore team. If this year’s Spartans club is going to make a leap forward, it will likely mean an even bigger season from their offensive star.

Matthew Mitchinson, Sr., MF, Kaneland

The Knights were loaded with seniors when they clashed with Sycamore all year. But Mitchinson still found his way into the offense, even with prolific senior scorers like Sam Keen (37 goals) and Wilson Love (18).

Now a senior, Mitchinson scored five goals and had seven assists to earn all-conference recognition in the I-8. He figures to be a key piece of the puzzle for a Kaneland team that has lost three straight regional finals and is looking to cross that threshold for the first time since 2019.

Mauricio Jasso, jr., F, DeKalb

The Barbs were a senior-heavy team last year with a top-notch defense. The Barbs finished the regular season 5-2-1, including shutouts of Kaneland and Sycamore.

Jasso continued to be a reliable offensive weapon. His six goals were among the team’s leading goals and he also had three assists for the defensive-minded Barbs. If they want to claim their first regional title since 2019, Jasso will likely play a big role.

Tyler Bogle, Sr., MF/F, Indian Creek

The Timberwolves have won a combined two games in 2021 and 2022, going 9-10-2 in 2023. If they want to continue that upward trend and claim their first playoff victory since winning a regional title in 2019, Bogle will likely play a huge role in it.

The team’s MVP, Bogle scored 21 goals and had three assists while earning a spot on the All-Little Ten Conference team. With all of the honorable mentions expected to return, such as goalie and defenseman Jake Coulter and forward Jason Brewer, Bogle is poised for another solid year.

Jamie Serna, Sr., GK, Genoa-Kingston

The Cogs reached a regional final last year, but fell just one goal short of winning a third straight regional final. They normally have a prolific goal scorer, and last year was no exception with Jay Wolcott scoring 48 goals, while Serna had a breakout year as a goalie.

He allowed just five goals in Big Northern Conference play – the league’s next-best goalie allowed 10. He finished the year with four shutouts. And while the offense may look a little different this year with so many players like Wolcott graduating, Serna’s anticipated return gives the Cogs a huge weapon on the back end.