A Spartan Stopper

Though relentless, physical and intimidating, La Canada High defender Derrick Dyslin still should be considered a cerebral soccer player.

Does a forward prefer to shoot with his right or left foot? Does he wait for a pass to come to him or does he move to receive it? Can he handle playing 80 minutes with the 6-foot, 175-pound Dyslin stalking him at every turn?

“The first couple of minutes I like to test a guy out and see what his favorite moves are,” said Dyslin, thought by many to be the premier one-on-one defender among U.S. high school players. “I like to take the other team’s best forward, their most creative player, and destroy him.”

Dyslin, The Times’ boys’ soccer player of the year, started his soccer career in Texas--as a goalkeeper.

“I was 4 or 5 years old and the second or third game I played I punted the ball off one of my defenders and into my own goal,” Dyslin said with a laugh. “Then they moved me up to forward but as I got older I got tougher and slower so I wound up at fullback.”

The past two seasons Dyslin played right outside fullback, anchoring a nearly impenetrable defense with fellow seniors Nick Paneno, Gaston Haupert and Chris Sawicki.

Dyslin moved to La Canada from Houston in the fall of 1994 when his father was transferred for work. With him, the Spartans have back-to-back undefeated seasons and Southern Section Division IV titles.

La Canada’s Southern Section record for consecutive victories is at 50 and running. The Spartans have surrendered only 13 goals during that span.

“Going undefeated for two years was a goal I set as soon as I got here and saw all the talent we had,” said Dyslin, who has accepted a scholarship to play at the University of Richmond (Va.) next season. “But as great as that was I’m going to miss the bond our defense had. We played for each other. I’m going to miss that.”

The area’s forwards won’t miss him at all.

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BOYS’ FIRST TEAM

BOJO ACKAH

Westlake, Goalkeeper, Senior

* Helped the Warriors to Marmonte League championship. Was the league’s best player at his position. Had 14 shutouts and an 0.5 goals-against average.

GEOFF CARLSON

Palmdale, Defender, Senior

* Falcons won Golden League title. Carlson was league’s player of the year and a first-team All-Southern Section Division III pick.

GASTON HAUPERT

La Canada, Defender, Senior

* Dominant stopper had five goals and 14 assists. A first-team All-Rio Hondo League and All-Southern Section Division IV choice.

NICK PANENO

La Canada, Defender, Senior

* Agile outside fullback was also a threat on the attack. A first-team All-Rio Hondo League and All-Southern Section Division IV pick.

CARLOS CABRERA

Sylmar, Midfielder, Senior

* Scored 23 goals. Helped Spartans to their second Valley Pac-8 Conference title in three seasons. Team reached City Section semifinals.

HUGO LLAMAS

Santa Paula, Midfielder, Senior

* Frontier League player of the year and a first-team All-Southern Section Division IV pick. Had 28 goals and 22 assists.

JOHN MACDONALD

Alemany, Midfielder, Senior

* Had 28 goals and 12 assists. Offensive player

of the year in the Mission League and a second-team All-Southern Section Division III selection.

PETE VAGENAS

St. Francis, Midfielder, Senior

* Led Golden Knights to Southern Section Division III title. Was division’s offensive player of the year. Had 21 goals and 21 assists.

JAIME AMBRIZ

Rio Mesa, Forward, Junior

* First-team All-Channel League and All-Southern Section Division II pick had 30 goals and 10 assists as Spartans advanced to division semifinals.

MIKE PREIS

Chatsworth, Forward, Senior

* The Chancellors’ all-time scoring leader with 46 goals, including 27 this season. Led team to City Section quarterfinals.

KENDALL SIMMONDS

Royal, Forward, Junior

* Marmonte League co-offensive player of the year and a first-team All-Southern Section Division I selection. Had 21 goals and 12 assists.

THE SECOND TEAM

NICK PAVLICK

Rio Mesa, Goalkeeper, Senior

* Had 13 shutouts and an 0.85 goals-against average. First-team All-Channel League, second-team All-Southern Section Division II.

ANDY VANORDEN

St. Francis, Defender, Senior

* First-team All-Southern Section Division III. Did not play in Golden Knights’ three losses. Team won division title.

JASON MORROW

Harvard-Westlake, Defender, Senior

* First-team All-Mission League. Had four goals, 11 assists.

JEREMY BELL

Westlake, Defender, Senior

* Marmonte League defensive player of the year. First-team All-Southern Section Division I.

LUIS CASTRO

Cleveland, Midfielder, Senior

* All-Northwest Valley Conference. Scored 20 goals. Helped lift Cavaliers from City Section doormat to playoff participant.

JOSE MENDOZA

Buena, Midfielder, Senior

* First-team All-Southern Section Division II, All-Channel League. Had nine goals, five assists.

CALEB WESTBAY

Royal, Midfielder, Senior

* Slick playmaker had six goals, 15 assists. Second-team All-Southern Section Division I, first-team All-Marmonte League.

NICK ANDRUS

La Canada, Forward, Senior

* First-team All-Southern Section Division IV, Rio Hondo League offensive player of the year. Had 37 goals, 21 assists.

MURAD DIBBINI

Palmdale, Forward, Senior

* Region’s leading scorer with 41 goals. Second-team All-Southern Section Division III, first-team All-Golden League.

SEAN HERRITY

Simi Valley, Forward, Senior

* Marmonte League co-offensive player of the year, second-team All-Southern Section Division I. Had 19 goals, three assists.

NATE WRIGHT

Saugus, Forward, Senior

* Foothill League player of the year. Had 30 goals and 22 assists. First-team All-Southern Section Division II.