Mater Dei’s Hulgreen Earns Right to Bask in the Glory

It has been three weeks since pain shot through Mater Dei midfielder Kris Hulgreen’s body with so much intensity he could barely stand. But to Hulgreen, it must seem more like three years.

So many good things have happened to him since he was accidentally kicked in his left shin during the Southern Section Division II playoff semifinals, he may have forgotten how much pain he was in.

Four days later, he won his second section title, playing in more than half of Mater Dei’s 2-1 victory over San Bernardino San Gorgonio in the championship game. Then the fun really started.

In the next week, Hulgreen learned he was named MVP of the South Coast League and offensive MVP of Division II, he was being honored by The Times Orange County as its player of the year and he signed a letter of intent to play soccer at Cal State Fullerton.

“I’ve been getting phone calls every other night,” he said. “It’s nice getting all this good news. In a week, it’ll be back to normal. There won’t be all the glory.”

But Mater Dei Coach Martin Stringer said Hulgreen deserves to bask in the glory.

“He’s swept the table, hasn’t he?” Stringer said. “That reflects the hard work he’s put into his game. And he’s been amply rewarded.”

Hulgreen said he wasn’t expecting any of the accolades.

“I just wanted to make [The Times’] first team,” he said. “I hadn’t made that yet. I wasn’t really thinking about any of this other stuff.”

After last year’s season ended early in the playoffs, Hulgreen said he simply wanted himself and his teammates to play to their potential.

They couldn’t have played much better.

The Monarchs lost only once all season, to Capistrano Valley in South Coast League play. Hulgreen scored 14 goals and had 11 assists. Three other Mater Dei players were selected to The Times’ first team--forwards Walter Camargo and Tony Micheletti and defender Giancarlo Barzotti. Midfielder Bret Corbin made the second team.

“It’s pretty awesome,” Hulgreen said. “It’s a dream come true. The only way it could have been better was if we beat Capo both times. That’s about it.”

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ALL-COUNTY BOYS’ SOCCER

KEVIN MEHRENS

Goalkeeper

San Clemente, Jr.

Named first-team all-section Division II and first-team All-South Coast League, Mehrens had 13 shutouts and was largely responsible for San Clemente reaching the second round of the playoffs.

*

WALTER CAMARGO

Forward

Mater Dei, Sr.

Although he missed seven games after appendicitis, Camargo scored 13 goals with 13 assists and played in the section final. A first-team all-league and all-section pick, Camargo has signed with UC Irvine.

*

TONY MICHELETTI

Forward

Mater Dei, Sr.

Scored the second-most goals in school history (25) for a season. Also had 11 assists and was named first-team all-league and first-team all-section Division II, but he probably will play baseball in college.

*

CHRIS WHITWORTH

Forward

Laguna Beach, Sr.

Honored as the Division IV offensive player of the year and the Pacific Coast League’s MVP, Whitworth scored 20 goals. Had the lone goal in the section final victory over Pasadena La Salle.

*

KRIS HULGREEN

Midfielder

Mater Dei, Sr.

Capped a tremendous four-year varsity career by winning his second Southern Section title and being named defensive MVP of the division and the South Coast League. Scored 14 goals and had 11 assists.

*

GARRETT JANSMA

Midfielder

Newport Harbor, Sr.

Selected MVP of the Sea View League, Jansma scored nine goals and helped lead the Sailors to the league title and into the second round of the Division III playoffs. He has signed to play at California.

*

MATT MOSES

Midfielder

Santa Margarita, Sr.

The offensive MVP of Division III, Moses had nine goals and 14 assists, two assists coming in the section final victory over South Torrance. Also a first-team all-league pick, Moses has signed with Stanford.

*

GIANCARLO BARZOTTI

Defense

Mater Dei, Jr.

Also selected first-team All-Southern Section and All-South Coast League, Barzotti had a goal and two assists last season and was an instrumental part of the Monarchs’ Division II section championship.

*

DAN CALIFF

Defense

Orange, Jr.

Though he missed some games when traveling with the under-17 U.S. national team, Califf’s play in the back was a big reason that Orange tied a school record for shutouts in a season with 14.

*

RYAN FUTAGAKI

Midfielder

Fountain Valley, Jr.

A three-time All-Sunset League selection, Futagaki scored 15 goals with 22 assists and was named the Sunset co-offensive MVP while leading the Barons to the Division I final for the second time in three years.

*

MARIO GONZALEZ

Defense

Santa Ana, Jr.

Named defensive player of the year in the Golden West League and first-team all-section, Gonzalez also was an offensive threat with 10 goals and five assists for the Saints, who lost only one game.

*

ANDY THOMAS

Coach of the Year

Laguna Beach

Transformed the Artists from a bunch of surf dudes and snow-boarders into a fine soccer team that eventually won a section championship, the first boys’ soccer title in the school’s history.

THE SECOND TEAM

Byron Foss

Goalkeeper

Santa Margarita, Jr.

A first-team All-Southern Section and All-Sea View League pick, Foss ended the season with seven consecutive shutouts.

*

Aaron Colacion

Forward

Esperanza, Jr.

The co-offensive MVP of the Sunset League, Colacion helped lead the Aztecs to the Division I semifinals.

*

Aaron McAthy

Forward

Huntington Beach, Jr.

A first-team All-Sunset League and second-team all-section Division II selection, McAthy had 18 goals and five assists.

*

Juan Reyes

Forward

Santa Ana, Sr.

Named to The Times’ second team for the second consecutive year, Reyes scored 11 goals and had 16 assists.

*

Bret Corbin

Midfielder

Mater Dei, Jr.

A first-team all-league and third-team all-section pick, Corbin scored 15 goals and had 11 assists.

*

Jeff Jensen

Midfielder

Woodbridge, Sr.

Honored by The Times for the second consecutive year, Jensen was also a first-team all-league and first-team all-section Division II pick.

*

Seth Simchowitz

Midfielder

Laguna Beach, Sr.

Exceptional in the Artists’ section final victory, Simchowitz was named first-team all-section Division IV and first-team all-league.

*

Kenny Simons

Midfielder

El Dorado, Sr.

The MVP of the Empire League and a first-team all-section pick, Simons has signed to play for UC Irvine.

*

Ryan Hoke

Defense

Fountain Valley, Sr.

A first-team All-Sunset League selection, Hoke’s play in the back helped the Barons reach the Division I final.

*

Tarek Hussin

Defense

Loara, Sr.

A first-team All-Empire League selection, Hussin helped lead the Saxons into the playoffs, where they lost to Mater Dei, 2-1.

*

Chris Latini

Defense

Capistrano Valley, Jr.

Named first-team all-league and third-team all-section Division I, Latini kept the Cougars in games with his strong defensive work.