By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

One was force on the offensive side of the ball, while the other excelled in stymieing those who challenged the net.

But what ties soccer standouts DeChris Strong of East St. John and Kelly Lienhop of St. Charles Catholic together is their status as L’Observateur’s 2009-10 Most Valuable Players in St. John Parish.

Strong garners honors as the boys’ MVP after an outstanding season in which he led all parish players in goals scored, despite facing numerous double teams and extra defensive attention.

That attention came in large part due to the junior forward’s greatest asset – speed, and lots of it.

“Defenses knew that he could race past the defense and get free unless they accounted for him,” said ESJ coach Paul Dupuy. “He was always a threat to put a score on the board.”

While Strong earns All-Parish honors for the second consecutive year, Lienhop earns parish MVP honors in her first season as a starter after stepping in at sweeper for departed senior Emily Bourgeois.

Called the “backbone of our defense” by St. Charles coach Don Peyton, Lienhop took to her new assignment with ease, earning District 8-III defensive MVP honors for a team that allowed two goals or less in over half its games this season.

“She stepped into that position not having a clue, having never played it before,” said Peyton. “But she’s found her niche. She likes it, and it suits her.”

They are joined on the team by Riverside coach Stephen Millet, who guided a much improved Rebel program on both the boys and girls sides. A program that once often found itself on the wrong side of lopsided scores, the Rebels were highly competitive even in losses this season and are trending in the right direction. The Rebel boys finished this season 6-9-2, while the girls ended their year 8-9-1. Each qualified for the postseason, bowing out in round one.

Four of Millet’s charges make the roster. On the boys side, Mher Noljayan and Marvin Flassenberg earn spots, while sophomore Shelby Deslatte and freshman Taylor Terrio earn the honors on the girls side. All are first-time selections.

Three St. Charles Comets make the team in senior Daniel Ballard and juniors Josh Matherne and Ben Brady (making his second straight appearance). Ballard earned honors as the District 8-III defensive MVP. He, Matherne and Brady led a defensive unit that allowed only 1.7 goals per game this season.

Lienhop is joined on the team by teammates Cassi Drexel and Clarissa Guidry, the senior leaders on a Lady Comet team that finished as District 8-III runner-up.

Strong isn’t alone from the Wildcats, joined by teammate Joe Perrilloux, last season’s boys MVP. Perrilloux was limited by injury early this season, but the senior returned to his stellar defensive form late in the year.

The ESJ Ladycats are also represented by Nyanza Bell, who led ESJ in scoring as a freshman. Despite her young age, Bell’s an experienced soccer player who has a long, productive run ahead of her as a Wildcat.