Gill St. Bernard's Steven Bednarsky is the CN All-Area Boys Soccer Player of the Year

Every since he can remember, Gill St. Bernard's Steven Bednarsky has been playing soccer.

Growing up in a family where every single member played soccer, it was kind of hard to avoid. Bednarsky's father, Tony Bednarsky, has been the boys soccer head coach at Gill St. Bernard's since 1989 and won his 400th career game earlier this year. His mother, Donna, was an All-American at the University of Connecticut, and his two older brothers, Peter and Andrew, and sister, Kathryn, played at Gill and went on to play in college.

"I'm the youngest of four so I grew up with a ball at my feet, my brothers and sister and my parents all played," Steven Bednarsky said. "Obviously you knew what to expect but it was the only sport I wanted to play and it definitely helped with the passion part of it, I’ve always loved it, I kind of wish I had played other sports but I’m happy with the way it turned out."

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Bednarsky has played for the varsity squad for four seasons, playing the center midfielder position his two older brothers also played. This season, Bednarsky led the team with 19 assists and scored nine goals as the Knights (17-4-1) won the Skyland Conference Valley Division title and their first NJSIAA South Non-Public B title and first Non-Public B championship since 2013.

For his efforts, Bednarsky is the 2016 Courier News All-Area Boys Soccer Player of the Year.

"It was great to have him as a four year starter at center mid," Tony Bednarsky said. "I think his best attributes are he’s a great passer and setting up multiple goals for us, he’s a great assist guy. He makes players around him better, he has good vision and puts other players in good positions."

After getting shutout in the first game of the season against Rancocas Valley, Gill St. Bernard's allowed only four goals as it won its next seven games. The Knights then went 1-2-1 in its next four games, including getting upset in the Somerset County Tournament quarterfinals. Gill St. Bernard's rebounded, winning its next five games before again falling in tournament play, this time in the Prep B Tournament to Newark Academy.

"We had shaky starts, the prep tournament we lost, we lost counties, we were upset by Somerville, so we really rallied after that," Bednarsky said. "It’s our last year and we wanted to go out the way we started, we gelled at the right time."

As a freshman, Bednarsky won a state title, and it took the next three years to get back to the Non-Public B final.

"People kind of take it for granted how hard it is," Bednarsky said of winning a state championship. "It was a great way to end the way you started, there’s no better feeling to top off your last high school game as a state champion."

During its state tournament run, the Knights didn't allow a goal in their four games as their balanced offense and solid defense helped to lead the way to their third state title. Bednarsky recorded a goal and an assist against Ranney during their state tournament opener, then scored a goal against Wildwood Catholic in the South Non-Public B final and added an assist in the state tournament win against Hudson Catholic.

"I’ve been lucky to have good forwards playing in front of me, the last three years I had (Kevin) Brito and Anes (Mrkulic), having them up top makes my job easier," Bednarsky said. "I think I definitely stepped up more as a leader (this season), with six seniors it’s kind of hard to take different roles but I feel I helped the younger kids grow into their positions and I was being a leader on and off the field."

Bednarsky will be attending Lehigh University next season, and is excited to take his game to the next level. Despite the fact that Gill St. Bernard's will be losing six talented seniors from this year's state championship winning team, Bednarsky is confident his teammates will keep the winning tradition alive.

"We’ve always said treat the seniors with a sendoff, we want to play for each other and the senior class," Bednarsky said. "My freshman year I remember talking with the seniors about how quick it goes by and make sure you send off the seniors, it’s about camaraderie and family."

Staff Writer Lauren Knego: lknego@gannettnj.com; on Twitter: @laurenknego