DAILY PILOT BOYS’ SOCCER DREAM TEAM:Edelstein source of Sage’s energy

Alex Edelstein did not get the ending to his Sage Hill School boys’ soccer career he was hoping for, but that did not dampen the ride to the end for him or any of the Lightning’s seven seniors.

Edelstein was the backbone of a defense that could not have dominated the regular season more than it did. The Lightning wrapped up the regular season with a 14-0-2 record. Only an own goal traveled into Sage Hill’s net on the way. All 14 victories were by shutout and the Lightning tied Laguna Beach and Corona del Mar, both of which made a run in the CIF Southern Section Division III playoffs.

Edelstein, a senior, was named the Academy League’s Most Valuable Player for the second time, the only player in league history to earn the honor twice.

Edelstein is the Daily Pilot’s Newport-Mesa Player of the Year in boys’ soccer.

While Edelstein is quick to credit Sage Hill forwards, like Braden Ross and Tyler Ellis, for the defense the team displayed, it was the lack of an overpowering offense that spurred the shutouts. Sage Hill had six 1-0 wins, five in league play, and a scoreless tie against the Sea Kings. With the outcome in doubt for the entire 80-minute match, Edelstein could never ease up his defensive intensity.

Sage Hill entered the playoffs as the No. 2-seeded team in Division VI, but exited in the second round to finish 15-1-2. Sitting down for a postgame meal following the loss, the team was quick to focus on the positives the season provided.

“We started off saying this is what we should have done to win,” Edelstein said. “But then we stopped and started talking about the season and all of the memories. We got together at Conrad [Whitaker’s] house later that day and just talked about the season. That was good closure, especially for the seniors. This is one of the greatest teams I’ve ever played on. It was a lot of fun. It would have been fun to go further, but in 10 years we will remember how much fun we had not how far we went in the playoffs.”

Edelstein and his fellow seniors had been eyeing this season since their freshman year. Coming in, the four-year starter knew he would have to take a more high-profile role on the team.

“I think I really tried to step up the leadership,” Edelstein said. “I wanted to set the tone for the freshmen this year and be more vocal. Everyone feeds off the energy. They definitely got the message, coming from a player three years older. [Lightning Coach] Noureddine [El Alam] set the tone, telling everyone this is the best team he’s had. The freshmen, they’re bummed they’ll never be on a team like this.”

With a short bench and starters ranging in grades, Edelstein played a major role in organizing the players to unite behind a unified cause. There were meetings outside of practice to discuss the team and the energy traveled to the younger players.

“We definitely played for each other,” Edelstein said. “Everybody was on the same page.”

Edelstein credited senior John Gordon and sophomore Max Ellison with helping him hold down the defense, along with goalkeepers Beau Caillouette, a junior, and Jake Blitzer, a freshman. Edelstein added that Ellis, even though he was a forward, regularly helped out on the defensive end.

“We’d have to tell [Ellis]to stop running,” said Edelstein, who was the last line of defense before the goalkeeper. “Sometimes he was as far back on defense as me.”

Around the end of the preseason, Edelstein said he was sure this would be a special season.

“We’d never done as well as tied Corona del Mar,” Edelstein said. “We’ve never done so well in preseason and we play a tough preseason because it gets us ready for league.”

Edelstein said the biggest change in his game this season was that he worked on being stronger.

“Physically I was a lot more dominant in the back,” Edelstein said. “I see the game as physical. It has always been the best part of the game. The other players saw me playing like that and thought ‘I should be doing that too.’ We played aggressive and physical to intimidate the opposition.”

Edelstein has focused on getting even stronger physically to prepare to play college soccer. He said he has chosen to look at Division III schools, from which he has a list of potential suitors. Edelstein, who is also the student body vice president at Sage Hill, said academics will be first in his mind when he makes the decision.

Here’s a look at the rest of the Dream Team.

RICHARD GADBOIS

SAGE HILL, SENIOR

The Lightning forward was the most dynamic scorer in the area. He had the power to go through multiple defenders impeding his path. He had the speed to beat the defense down the sideline and he had the ball-handling skills to baffle any defender one-on-one. To go with all of those attributes, Gadbois had a powerful right leg that allowed him to score from a wide variety of distances.

Gadbois, who was a first-team All-Academy League performer, will attend Boston University in the fall on an athletic scholarship. While Gadbois was hampered with a hamstring injury late in the season, fellow senior Tyler Ellis picked up the scoring slack with seven goals in the Lightning’s final five games.

BEAU CAILLOUETTE

SAGE HILL, JUNIOR

Every good team needs a goalkeeper to match the talent of the rest of the lineup and this junior put up the numbers to make that claim. While Caillouette was spelled regularly in goal by freshman Jake Blitzer, the two-sport star was a major reason for Sage Hill’s defensive dominance.

The second-team all-league performer played a large role in the Lightnings’ 15 shutouts, blanking Laguna Beach and Corona del Mar, two Division III teams. No regular-season opponent scored on Sage Hill.

BRYAN BURKE

CORONA DEL MAR, SENIOR

The midfielder was the epitome of the Sea Kings’ season. Burke, a physical player for every minute he was on the field, contributed on offense and defense, spanning the length of the field. While using his size, Burke was able to set up scoring opportunities for his teammates with a deft passing touch.

Burke, who will play at the University of San Francisco next season, was named Most Valuable Offensive Player of the Pacific Coast League and first-team All-CIF Southern Section Division III for the Sea Kings (9-12-2). Burke was also instrumental in the Sea Kings advancing to the section quarterfinals.

JOHN UDARTSEV

CORONA DEL MAR, SENIOR

The outside midfielder brought a spark to the Sea Kings. Udartsev missed the first month of the season due to a torn abdominal muscle, but once he returned, the Russian-born player made his presence felt. The left-footed Udartsev had power to go with his precision passing.

CdM began the season 2-8-2 before Udartsev stepped onto the field. He scored a goal in his first game and helped the Sea Kings to a second-place finish in league. Udartsev, a first-team all-league honoree, set up freshman Reed Williams for the game-winning goal in the 74th minute of a first-round playoff match with Estancia.

PATRICK SUOZZI

CORONA DEL MAR, SENIOR

He played sweeper and contributed across the field. Suozzi scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Orange in the second round of the playoffs on a free kick from midfield.

Suozzi also filled in at center midfielder for Burke in the middle of the season, helping CdM to a 1-0 league victory over Beckman. Suozzi helped CdM get four shutout wins in league play.

ERIC DUARTE

ESTANCIA, JUNIOR

The midfielder’s fiery play was an important ingredient in the Eagles winning the Orange Coast League title, their first league championship since 1999. In back-to-back league games, Duarte scored two goals in a 3-0 victory over Laguna Beach and the game-winning goal against cross-town rival Costa Mesa.

Duarte, who used his speed, ball control and ability to manipulate shots for the Eagles offense, also scored a goal in a 2-0 victory over the Mustangs in the regular-season finale. He was named first-team all-league and had seven goals and seven assists on the season.

EDGAR RODRIGUEZ

ESTANCIA, SENIOR

The forward was nothing less than a scoring machine for the Eagles. Rodriguez had a team-high 10 goals and was named the Orange Coast League Offensive Player of the Year. Rodriguez’s play led Estancia to a 5-0 start in league.

Rodriguez scored a goal in surprising ties with Division I Santa Margarita to open the season and Edison, ranked No. 6 in Division I at the time. Rodriguez also scored against Division I Esperanza for Estancia (11-6-5).

GEORGE OLIVAS

ESTANCIA, SOPHOMORE

The midfielder is a major reason why Estancia’s level of play next season might not slip, despite a mass exodus of seniors. Olivas led the Eagles with 38 steals to go with five goals on his way to being named Orange Coast League Most Valuable Player.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder, a third-degree black belt, was first-team All-Golden West League as a freshman. Olivas had a goal in the tie with Edison.

ULISES VEGA

NEWPORT HARBOR, SENIOR

In the Sailors’ first season in Division I, Vega proved to be the go-to player on offense. The midfielder had a game-winning goal in the last 15 minutes to complete a comeback victory over league foe Marina. Vega also scored with 12 minutes remaining to give the Sailors a 2-1 nonleague victory over University.

Vega was named first-team All-Sunset League and helped the Sailors (10-10-4) reach the playoffs. Vega also picked up a goal in a tie with eventual league champion Los Alamitos.

DANNY GONZALEZ

NEWPORT HARBOR, SENIOR

The defender helped Sailors Coach Ryan Hernandez run the type of defense needed to make sure Newport Harbor was always in the game. Gonzalez also played some midfield for the Sailors, helping hold Costa Mesa scoreless in the first half of a preseason meeting.

Gonzalez was named first-team all-league and helped the Sailors post five shutouts.

FRANCO DUARTE

COSTA MESA, SENIOR

The midfielder and forward was a bright light in a mostly dark season for the Mustangs (3-12-3). Duarte was named first-team All-Orange Coast League.

Duarte scored one of the Mustangs’ goals in a 2-1 upset victory over cross-town rival Estancia.