Bernards' LaSpada and Hunterdon Central's Smith are the CN All-Area Boys Soccer Coaches of the Year

For the Bernards and Hunterdon Central High School boys soccer teams, this season was history in the making for both programs.

Bernards, with Joe LaSpada at the helm, won the Somerset County Tournament title for the first time since 1990, the NJSIAA Central Group II sectional title and the Group II championship. It was the first time in program history the Mountaineers had won three championship crowns in one season.

"He's always there for you, he's a really good coach and a good person," Bernards' Nico Arce Arza said. "So it's really nice to be playing for him."

Anson Smith's Hunterdon Central squad won the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Tournament for the third time in five years, the Central Group IV sectional crown for the first time since 2010 and the first Group IV title in program history.

For their efforts, LaSpada and Smith are the 2016 Courier News All-Area Boys Soccer Coaches of the Year.

"I think he's a very dedicated coach and motivated because in the offseason he puts in the work to make sure we're doing the things we need to do to get better," Hunterdon Central's Matt Slebodnik said of Smith. "He's always checking up on our grades to make sure we're working hard in the classroom as well as on the soccer field, and then he always makes sure we're as well prepared as we can be."

Smith, who has coached the Red Devils for the past nine seasons, helped his team to a 20-1 record and the Skyland Conference Delaware Division title. Hunterdon Central posted 15 shutouts and allowed only six goals all season, with the lone loss coming at the hands of Scotch Plains-Fanwood. The team also had to dig deep during its state tournament run, winning back-to-back games on penalty kicks.

"I think he's allowed our program to realize the importance of character and how you act on the field as well as off the field to be a better person," Slebodnik said. "So I think overall he's made not only me but our team better people and better men."

LaSpada, who won his 500th game on Oct. 31 against Carteret in the Central Group II quarterfinals, helped the Mountaineers to a school record 22-1-1 record this season. Bernards, which scored a school-record 76 goals, didn't allow a goal during its state tournament run, posting six shutouts, and scored a total of 15 goals, as well as finished with 16 total shutouts and allowed a school-record 10 goals.

"I think he pushed me to limits I never thought I would go," Dan Paez said of LaSpada. "In conditioning, when I don't think I can go anymore, he would honestly just push everyone to their limit and I think that's what made us pull through and have the great season we had."

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