All-Whatcom County Boys’ Soccer first team

JAKE BIRNEL

School: Meridian

Year: Senior

Position: Midfielder

What he did: Trojans’ leading scorer, tallying nine goals and two assists in just 18 games. ... Ranked tied for sixth in the Northwest Conference for goals scored. ... Was a multiple goalscorer on two occasions, including a hat trick against Blaine in a 4-3 loss and two goals against Ferndale in a 2-2 tie. ... Second-team All-Northwest Conference pick.

BRANDON BURBANK

School: Squalicum

Year: Junior

Position: Midfielder

What he did: Strong central midfielder for Storm team that went undefeated in league and came within game of making state tournament. ... Scored seven goals, including a two-goal effort against Anacortes and a two-goal game against Lynden, and a team-high five assists. ... Second-team All-Northwest Conference selection.

QUINN CARPENTER

School: Squalicum

Year: Senior

Position: Midfielder

What he did: Part of Squalicum’s daunting three central midfielders that were key to possession game the Storm loved to play. ... Played in more defensive roles than his counterparts, scoring only two goals and two assists on the year, but still was essential to 14-2-3 season the blue and silver had. ... Second-team All-Northwest Conference pick.

ISAAC DEVANGE

School: Sehome

Year: Junior

Position: Defender

What he did: The centerpiece of strong Sehome defense that allowed 20 goals in 12 league games. ... Had to lead backline while also being counted on to maintain other roles when the injury bug bit Mariners, who still came within a game of state. ... Used tall frame to score team-high six goals, adding two assists. ... All-Northwest Conference second-team selection.

CODY FRANSEN

School: Lynden Christian

Year: Senior

Position: Forward

What he did: Despite missing two weeks of season due to wrist surgery, still scored team-high 11 goals, which also ranked second in Whatcom County and fourth in Northwest Conference. ... Hit stride when it counted, scoring hat trick to make bi-districts and then scoring two goals in first game of bi-districts. ... First-team All-Northwest Conference pick.

ELI GUIDROZ

School: Squalicum

Year: Junior

Position: Forward

What he did: Was part of dynamic scoring system of Storm, which finished with a 14-2-3 record, a Northwest Conference title and was a game away from state. ... Scored eight goals and two assists, including giving the feed to Ben Peterson for the game-tying desperation goal in the district playoffs. ... Scored two goals on three separate occasions.

HECTOR GUTIERREZ

School: Lynden

Year: Senior

Position: Goalkeeper

What he did: Star goalie on Lions’ team that only allowed 15 goals in 12 league games. ... Helped Lynden to a 5-5-2 league record, a 7-7-2 overall record and nearly snuck the Lions into the playoffs. ... For the second straight year, won Northwest Conference Defensive MVP. ... Miraculously scored two goals and an assist with the gloves on.

TYLER HUGHES

School: Squalicum

Year: Sophomore

Position: Forward

What he did: Crafty, youthful player who always seems to have a trick up his sleeve. ... Scored eight goals and a team-high five assists, despite missing two weeks for a soccer camp in Europe. ... Scored a hat trick in an 8-1 win over Meridian. ... Was versatile enough to play central forward, wing and midfielder. ... First-team All-Northwest Conference pick.

WILL KINGMA

School: Nooksack Valley

Year: Senior

Position: Defender

What he did: Four-year captain’s career came to end in spectacular season. ... Strong leader that allowed just 17 goals in 12 league games. ... Put in gutsy effort with ankle injury in season-ending district loss. ... Led the Pioneers to best season in school history, as they finished with 11-6-1 record. ... First-team All-Northwest Conference selection.

LIAM KROONTJE

School: Lynden Christian

Year: Senior

Position: Defender

What he did: Senior leader on Lyncs’ squad that finished season with 7-12-1 record and made deep postseason run. ... Tough defender on stingy Lynden Christian defense. ... Scored four goals and an assist on the year. ... Season came to unfortunate end with off-field concussion before bi-district tournament. ... Second-team All-Northwest Conference pick.

NICOLAS PARRIS

School: Lynden

Year: Sophomore

Position: Forward

What he did: Sophomore Lion came out of nowhere to have fantastic breakout season before season-ending knee injury with just a couple games left on the slate spoiled spectacular ride. ... Scored league-high 14 goals and added five assists. ... Had two hat tricks in first five games of season. ... First-team All-Northwest Conference selection.

BEN PETERSON

School: Squalicum

Year: Sophomore

Position: Forward

What he did: Speedy, crafty and versatile are just a few of the adjectives to describe the sophomore. ... Played defender, midfielder and forward throughout season and ended with team-high nine goals, including game-tying desperation goal in district playoffs. ... Also added four assists. ... Somehow went unnamed on All-Northwest Conference team.

GERARDO QUIROZ

School: Lynden

Year: Junior

Position: Midfielder

What he did: Was key part of Lynden squad that went 7-7-2 overall and 5-5-2 in Northwest Conference play and nearly made postseason. ... Central midfielder scored five goals and team-high five assists. ... Had great stretch in middle of season when he scored a goal and assist in three of four games. ... Second-team All-Northwest Conference selection.

MASON RATHKAMP

School: Sehome

Year: Sophomore

Position: Midfielder

What he did: Gritty midfielder on Mariners team that was one game away from state tournament after 8-6-5 season, in which they went 6-3-3 in league play. ... Scored one goal and one assist, which came from a corner kick at the most opportune moment in the opening round of district to help knock off Squalicum. ... First-team All-Northwest Conference pick.

LUKE VAN WINGERDEN

School: Nooksack Valley

Year: Senior

Position: Forward

What he did: Leading goalscorer on high-powered Pioneers’ offense that scored 31 goals in 12 league games in best season in school history. ... Used good positioning and great finishing to tally eight goals and two assists. ... Most of scoring came in early part of season before injuries started to plague senior forward. ... Second-team All-Northwest Conference pick.

SPENCER WALLACE

School: Squalicum

Year: Senior

Position: Defender

What he did: One of two captains on backline of Storm that only allowed two goals in 12 Northwest Conference games and came within one game of making the Class 2A State Tournament. ... Central back was anchor and leader of defense looking to replicate success of last season and came mighty close to doing so. ... Second-team All-NWC selection.

ZACH WANNE

School: Sehome

Year: Senior

Position: Midfielder

What he did: Missed a few games in middle of season but was unarguably heart and soul of Mariners team that went 6-3-3 in league play. ... Scored three goals but highlight came with header goal in district win over rival Squalicum. ... Tall frame made effort player force to be reckoned with. ... First-team All-Northwest Conference.

JOE WORLEY

School: Bellingham

Year: Sophomore

Position: Goalkeeper

What he did: The transfer to the Red Raiders from Meridian didn’t diminish the value of this young backstop. ... He was spectacular on Whatcom County’s second-best defense, which only allowed 12 goals in 12 league games. ... Recorded five shutouts on the season, three of which came in league play. ... Second-team All-Northwest Conference.

COACH OF THE YEAR

BRENT DE RUYTER

School: Lynden Christian

What he did: Veteran coach guided team to late-season rally, when they topped a city school for first time in school history, ran past Nooksack Valley in districts for a spot at bi-districts, where they got shootout win despite pre-game car accident.

HONORABLE MENTION

This story was originally published June 18, 2015 at 3:00 PM with the headline "All-Whatcom County Boys’ Soccer first team."