SPORTS

Kevin Sanchez is 2015 Home News Tribune Player of Year

Daniel LoGiudice
@danny_logiudice
COURTESY OF Lee Neamand
New Brunswick boys soccer players Kevin Sanchez (11), Arlin Martinez (21) and Raul Gallindo celebrate after scoring against South Plainfield.
11 Kevin Sanchez, 21 Arlin Martinez, 10 Raul Gallindo celebrate after scoring against South Plainfield

One year ago, Kevin Sanchez was an underground star playing in the local recreational leagues.  This year, the 18-year-old sophomore from New Brunswick is the 2015 Home News Tribune Boys Soccer Player of the Year.

In his first — and, due to his age, his last — year playing high school soccer, Sanchez absolutely dominated the opposition.  He scored 55 goals, the highest total in the state, and recorded an impressive 20 assists.

A dynamic scorer, Sanchez seemed to find the back of the net at will.  He scored as many as seven goals in a single game, and in all 22 games this season Sanchez scored at least once.  In short, Sanchez absolutely dazzled.

Prior to this season, Sanchez played in semi-organized recreational leagues.  Seeking more structure and improvement in his game, Sanchez tried out for the high school team this fall.

“I knew by playing for the school, I could learn a little bit more under the guidance of the coaches,” Sanchez said.  “I learned off the ball movement, when to make a run, when to turn with the ball and shoot.”

Sanchez referred to the team as his “second family” throughout the season.  According to his head coach Rafael Castillo, the statement is a microcosm of his maturation.

“Him saying that shows how much he’s grown,” Castillo said in a November interview.  “He was used to doing his own thing, and we had to break that down.  Now he’s gotten to the point where he calls the team his second family.”

Sanchez has overcome many obstacles to star for New Brunswick

Raw talent combined with a newly found discipline turned Sanchez into an almost unstoppable force.  Sanchez’s remarkable play took a New Brunswick team that was perennially stuck in the middle of the pack and turned it into one of the best teams in school history and in the GMC.

“Our goal was to make history,” Sanchez said.  “Personally, I just wanted to contribute to the team and make a run during GMCs and states."

Sanchez’s season certainly came out of the woodwork.  With no one outside of New Brunswick having seen him play, Sanchez was a virtual unknown, an undiscovered gem.

However, in the fourth game of the season, Sanchez officially made his mark.  In an 8-0 rout against eventual GMC co-champions South Plainfield, Sanchez scored four goals and added two assists.

Sanchez also went on to score in a Oct. 19 win against South Brunswick, one of the best teams in the vaunted Red Division.

“I don’t think those teams expected the level of soccer we brought this year,” Sanchez said.  “They were the favorites, and that motivated us to beat them.”

Perhaps the highlight of Sanchez's impressive season was his goal in a loss against Monroe during the NJSIAA Tournament.  Off a set piece from 35 yards out, Sanchez set a rocket into the top right corner for a majestic and mind-numbing goal.

After the season he had, Sanchez has put himself on the map and certainly will not go unnoticed anymore.  In fact, professional clubs have already taken notice.  Sanchez was asked to participate in the New York Red Bulls Academy last month and will return when training resumes in January.

This isn’t the last time we’ll hear from Kevin Sanchez.  Stay tuned.

Staff writer Daniel LoGiudice: dlogiudice@gannettnj.com