By RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur

LAPLACE — St. John Parishes best and brightest soccer stars for the 2013-14 season are honored in this edition of L’Observateur, with a pair of Rebels earning MVP honors and a Comet earning the prize of this season’s top coach. 

Riverside senior midfielder Jordan Duhon earns this season’s St. John Parish girls soccer MVP after scoring 17 goals to lead the Rebels on a return trip to the postseason. 

Duhon finished second in the parish in goals scored and helped spur Riverside on a run of six wins in its final eight regular season games this season; the Rebels not only returned to the playoffs despite losing many senior starters from the 2012-13 season, but hosted a first round game.

On the boys side, sophomore Tyler Gauthier earns top billing, capturing the St. John boys MVP. Gauthier scored a parish-leading 23 goals and spearheaded the attack of an improved Rebels team that was much more competitive than in seasons prior, proving himself a fearsome scorer.

St. Charles Catholic boys coach Sean LeBlanc earns St. John Parish Soccer Coach of the Year honors after guiding his Comets on a late-season run of nine wins in 12 games after a slow start. SCC finished 9-6-3 and advanced to the second round of the Division III playoffs before falling to eventual state champion Lusher. 

He was the architect of a stingy Comet defense this season that allowed just 22 goals in 16 regular season games. 

Helping anchor that St. Charles defense were freshman goalkeeper Matthew Templet and senior defender Greg Vicknair. They are joined on the team by leading scorer and senior forward Nathaniel Weinert.

The East St.. John boys team sees two representatives, as junior midfielder Avery Williams and senior sweeper Eric Joseph earn spots after leading a young ESJ team in 2013-14.

On the girls side, freshman midfielder Maddie Duhon, freshman goalkeeper MacKenzie Saucier-Meyer and junior forward Caitlin Roussel each earn spots. Duhon and Roussel each tied for the parish’s third leading scorer, while Saucier-Meyer turned in a strong season as the Rebels’ goalkeeper. 

Rounding out the team is St. Charles Catholic senior midfielder Kaitlyn Lemoine, who provided consistent play and leadership for a very young St. Charles squad.