LAPLACE — It was a banner soccer season in St. John the Baptist Parish.

Two of our local boys teams reached the state quarterfinal round of the Division III state playoffs, with St. Charles Catholic reaching that point for the first time since 2008 and Riverside doing it for the first time ever. Individually, meanwhile, four different players scored 18 goals or more this season — only one of those players was a senior, suggesting the future will be as bright as the present.

However, it is indeed a senior who tallied the most — and who comes away with our choice for St. John Parish boys soccer MVP in 2015. St. Charles Catholic’s Albert Hane put together a monster season, earning the nod after leading the Comets to one of their most successful seasons ever.

Hane scored 36 goals while adding 13 assists in a season the Comets went 14-5-3, over their 22-match season accounting for more than two goals a contest. The Comets scored wins over some of the state’s perennial contenders this season, Hane’s leg making the offensive difference in many of their biggest wins. Most notably, in a comeback win over Opelousas Catholic in the second round of the state playoffs, Hane scored four goals in SCC’s 6-3 victory.

Riverside freshman Taylor Aubert is the 2014-15 girls soccer MVP after breaking out to the tune of 24 goals in her first season as a forward. Despite playing on the defensive side as an 8th grader, Aubert quickly adjusted to the move to offense and used her considerable speed and finishing ability to rack up scores for a Lady Rebels team that once again returned to the Division III postseason.

Riverside boys soccer coach Jonathan Reed earns St. John Parish Coach of the Year honors after leading the Rebels to the best season in team history. The Riverside boys had never won or hosted a postseason game prior to this season, but the No. 23 seed Rebels  did both this season, pulling upsets of No. 10 North Vermilion, 3-0, and No. 7 St. Frederick, 2-1, en route to the state quarterfinals.

The Rebels finished 10-10-3.

From the boys side, joining them on the team are St. Charles Catholic’s Matt Templet and Dalton Landry; Riverside’s Tyler Gauthier, Evan Kenney and and Jared Hymel; and East St. John’s Tony Warren. From the girls side are Riverside’s Paige Bivona and Caitlin Roussel and St. Charles Catholic’s Regan Duffourc.

2015 St. John All-Parish Team

Albert Hane

Senior, St. Charles Catholic

Hane has long been a go-to guy for the Comets, but few could have seen this season’s explosion coming. 36 goals and 13 assists were the final tallies for St. John’s leading goal scorer, and those scores were more than just personal gains for the senior: Hane led the Comets to the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2008 and to one of the most successful overall seasons in team history. He became a clear choice for L’OBSERVATEUR as the 2015 St. John Parish boys soccer MVP.

Coach’s Quote: He’s a hard worker who loves to learn, and you love a guy like that as a coach. He’s a good leader and a good kid. I think he became a better leader and team player this season and understood he needed others to help him. He was tremendous.” — SCC boys coach Sean LeBlanc.

Taylor Aubert

Freshman, Riverside

Aubert scored 24 goals for the Lady Rebels in a breakout freshman campaign, tops among all St. John Parish girls and tied for second overall. She moved from the defensive side to forward this season and it paid major dividends. The Rebel girls program has taken flight over the past few years and players like Aubert suggest that upward turn will continue forward.

Coach’s quote: “Her speed gave her a major advantage, and she learned a lot from Cookie (Caitlin Roussel) and Maddie (Duhon). She was our scoring machine and we depended on her a lot. I think she’s just going to continue to grow.” — RA girls coach Mert Deger.

Paige Bivona

Sophomore, Riverside

Bivona did not miss a single minute of action for Riverside this season and was a key in holding the Lady Rebels’ backline together after injuries hit in the latter part of the season.

Coach’s quote: “She was the key for us keeping our defense in good shape and keeping everyone together and on the same page. That comes down to her experience, her toughness and that she gives 100 percent every single game. — RA girls coach Mert Deger.

Regan Duffourc

Freshman, St. Charles Catholic

Duffourc burst onto the scene as a freshman, scoring 18 goals as the Lady Comets’ premier striker. While SCC has had to regroup and rebuild, Dufroce’s play suggests the future is bright.

Coach’s quote: “She’s a year-round player and she brought us a lot of experience, even as just a freshman. Towards the end, she started lifting the play of her teammates and helping them develop their skills. I see that as being big part of her future and ours.” — SCC girls coach Travis Trepagnier.

Tyler Gauthier

Junior, Riverside

Gauthier was the leader of a Rebels team that had the most successful season in the history of the boys program. He scored 24 goals and kept his success going in the postseason, where RA reached the state quarterfinals.

Coach’s quote: “I think Tyler grew up a lot this year as a leader. Good players make those around them better, and he did that. He made a big effort to be the first at practice and the last to leave, and he really grew into that team captain’s role.” — RA boys coach Jonathan Reed.

Jared Hymel

Junior, Riverside

RA coach Jonathan Reed called Hymel the stabilizing force of his defense, and credited him with setting a physical, gritty tone in the middle of the field alongside teammate Harrison Heckathorn.

Coach’s quote: “When you look at how you physically match up with teams, one on one, we pride ourselves on playing an aggressive style, Riverside soccer. That’s what Jared epitomized. He was our defensive leader.” — RA boys coach Jonathan Reed.

Evan Kenney

Junior, Riverside

Kenney took to the goalkeeper position quickly in his first season in that position, and helped stabilize an ascending Riverside defense this season while keeping them in games against some of the state’s best teams.

Coach’s quote: “His play and his attitude were infectious. He made the other guys want to step up. He made a lot of strong saves and kept us close in plenty of games. Especially for his first full season, he had a heck of a year.”— RA boys coach Jonathan Reed.

Dalton Landry

Senior, St. Charles Catholic

Landry was the experienced leader of the Comet defense, a four-year starter and original cornerstone of the SCC program’s rise to the upper echelon over the years and, this season, into the top 10 of Division III.

Coach’s quote: “He’s been a solid, standout defensive player for the past four years. He was our rock in front of (goalkeeper Matt) Templet and we knew we could always count on him to be in the right place at the right time.”— SCC boys coach Sean LeBlanc.

Caitlin Roussel

Senior, Riverside

“Cookie” scored 11 times this season and her speed and experience on the wing was instrumental in leading the offensive charge for a Lady Rebels team that returned to the playoffs in 2015.

Coach’s quote: “She’s a strong all-around player. Wherver we needed her to play, Cookie could step into that role. She was a leader on and off the field. We leaned a lot on her and we hate to see her go.” — RA girls coach Mert Deger.

Matt Templet

Sophomore, St. Charles Catholic

The Comets goalkeeper often seemed like a brick wall against opposing attacks. A third-year starter who earned the starting position in goal as an 8th grader, he’s already seen a great deal of high-pressure situations.

Coach’s quote: “When I first came to St. Charles I put him in there as an 8th grader. There was just something there about him. (He’s) fearless. He loves the game and it’s been a treat to watch him grow into his role.”— SCC coach Sean LeBlanc.

Tony Warren

Senior, East St. John

East St. John’s defense took a big step forward late in the season and Warren’s play was one of the key elements. The senior defender also added some offensive punch, scoring five goals and establishing himself as a dangerous weapon on throw-ins plays.

Coach’s quote: “He’s a naturally gifted player. He showed a lot of ability even as a freshman. He had the ability to play forward, but he’s an unselfish player and he played on the defensive side where we needed him most.”— ESJ boys coach Paul Dupuy.