Hoover boys’ soccer’s Sislian caps career with top league honor

On and off the field, Romio Sislian didn’t take too many breaks.

When the Hoover High senior boys’ soccer player wasn’t competing in a match for the improved Tornadoes, he could be found in the weight room working on his conditioning. When the midfielder stepped on the field, he proved to be the consummate player who could shoot with accuracy and make deft passes.

Things came nicely together for Sislian, who finished with a team-leading 26 goals and 21 assists for 69 points en route to being named the Pacific League’s Player of the Year for the first time.

“That’s the key thing in that you have to be willing to put in the time and work on and off the field,” said Sislian, who helped Hoover finish third in league behind Burroughs and Crescenta Valley and qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2010. “If you train hard, then good things are going to happen. It’s an honor and one of the best feelings to be named the player of the year. It will give me more confidence looking ahead to the next stage of my career.”

Hoover second-year Coach Ace Metallinos said Sislian proved to be a difference maker for the Tornadoes, who went 14-6-4, 7-4-3 in league and reached the CIF Southern Section Division IV playoffs.

“He had such a great season last year and he learned from a lot of players who graduated from that team,” Metallinos said. “They were role models for Romio and he saw to it to step up his game that much more and contribute any way he could.

“He came into this season ready to go and he was a force. He pulled through in so many games and he wanted to carry the team.”

Crescenta Valley, Hoover and Glendale combined to have 13 players bestowed with all-league recognition, as voted on by the league’s eight coaches.

Crescenta Valley’s Henry Barkhordarian, Alex Atanackovic and Luis Flores and Hoover’s Jesus Rodriguez and Jonathan Hernandez were selected to the all-league first team.

Barkhordarian, a senior forward, registered 20 goals and 11 assists for 51 points. He had five match-winning goals for the Falcons, who went 18-4-4, 9-1-4.

“He had the right touch when he shot the ball,” said Crescenta Valley Coach Grant Clark, whose team qualified for the Division III playoffs. “He did so many things well in stepping up his overall game.”

Atanackovic, a senior, collected five goals as a center back.

“Alex was comfortable when he had the ball and he knew where to dribble in order to make a pass or shoot,” Clark said.

Flores, a senior goalkeeper, finished with 87 saves. He went 12--2-3 and had eight shutouts.

“Luis had the support and confidence of his teammates,” Clark said. “He made a lot of big saves and his work detail was incredible.”

Rodriguez, a senior forward, finished with 16 goals and six assists.

“Jesus went out their with the mindset of knowing he had to finish and he connected well with Romio,” Metallinos said.

Hernandez provided the Tornadoes with versatility at midfield and forward. He notched six goals and six assists.

“It helped that he could play both positions well,” Metallinos said. “He had great control and technique with shooting.”

Jonathan Han and Tomik Baghramian of Crescenta Valley, Hoover’s Anthony Flores and Aaron Alexander of Glendale (5-11-4, 2-10-2 for seventh in league) earned all-league second-team honors.

Han, a senior forward, notched 15 goals and 10 assists. Baghramian, a junior center back, had five goals and three assists.

Flores, a senior goalkeeper, had 150 saves. Alexander, a senior midfielder, collected one goal and three assists.

Crescenta Valley’s David Villasenor, Kajayr Boghozian of Hoover and Glendale’s Shahe Thomas received honorable mention.

Villasenor, a sophomore defender, recorded one goal and one assist. Boghozian, a junior defender, finished with three goals. Thomas, a senior center back, had three goals and four assists.