Goalkeepers, goal scorers net area MVP honors

Two goalkeepers and two high-scoring forwards took the top honors this season as the area’s soccer coaches picked their all-league teams.

Silverado goalkeeper Joey Mora, who had 15 regular-season shutouts and helped the Skyhawks to an appearance at state, was named the Southeast Division Most Valuable Player. Andrew Fontein, who had 11 shutouts to help Sierra Vista make the playoffs, was the Southwest MVP.

Eldorado forward Rene Ardon took the Northeast Division MVP, and Cheyenne forward Frank Barnes was the Northwest MVP.

Those four players highlighted the 39-member All-Southern Nevada team.

Basic’s Tino Diaz, who guided the Wolves to their first postseason appearance since 1979, was the Southeast Coach of the Year. Legacy’s Jose Gomez was the Northeast Coach of the Year, after the Longhorns rebounded from an 0-19 record in 2006 to advance to the Sunset Region semifinals this season.

Gerald Pentsil, whose Eldorado team won the Northeast Division, took that league’s coaching honor, and Western’s Frank Luevanos was the Southwest Coach of the Year.

• LATE HOME OPENER — Bishop Gorman’s football team finally will get a chance to play an actual home game this week.

The Gaels (11-0) host Cheyenne (8-2) in the Sunset Region semifinals in a game that will take place on their new campus.

Construction delays kept Gorman from playing on its field earlier this season, but the school finally got the go-ahead Tuesday.

• CLASS 3A FOOTBALL — It has been a big year for the Hafen family at Virgin Valley.

Doug, the team’s quarterback, and Kirk, the team’s head coach, have the Bulldogs back in the state title game for the second consecutive season.

And the Hafens also took the top awards from the Class 3A Southern League coaches.

Doug Hafen was named the league’s Most Valuable Player, and Kirk Hafen was the Coach of the Year.

Doug Hafen has passed for 1,679 yards and 13 touchdowns this season and rushed for 333 yards and 14 scores. He’s also a standout free safety who intercepted two passes in last week’s state semifinal game against Fernley.

Kirk Hafen has guided the Bulldogs to an 11-1 record this season, improving his career mark to 142-48 in 17 seasons.

• CLASS 3A SOCCER — Pahrump Valley’s Brittany Orr and Faith Lutheran’s Ryan Sniezyk were named the Class 3A Southern League girls and boys soccer MVPs by league coaches.

Faith Lutheran’s Dave Elliott was the girls Coach of the Year, and Lake Mead’s Bill Wadley took the boys coaching honor.

• CLASS 1A VOLLEYBALL — Lake Mead’s Jenna Willis, who helped the Eagles to an appearance in the Class 1A state tournament, was named the 1A South League MVP by the coaches.

• UP NORTH — High Desert League rivals McQueen (11-1) and Galena (9-2) will meet for the Northern Region football championship at 7 p.m. Friday at Damonte Ranch High.

McQueen won the regular-season meeting over the defending Northern champs, 36-10.

The winner will meet the Sunrise Region champ in the state semifinals. The Sunset champ advances directly to the state final this season.

• ON THE AIR — Friday’s Sunrise Region championship football game between Del Sol and Las Vegas will be broadcast live on KDWN-AM (720) at 6 p.m.

Contact Prep Sports Editor Damon Seiters at dseiters@reviewjournal.com or (702) 380-4587.