South Kitsap was unable to repeat as Class 4A state champions as it finished one win away from state.

But the Wolves still had several top performers during the spring, including forward Austin Arper and midfielder Diego de la Cruz, who were selected to the 2010 All-Kitsap County Soccer Team as voted on by the sports editors of the Kitsap News Group. Three Wolves also were named honorable mentions.

2010 All-Kitsap County Soccer Team

F — Austin Arper, senior, South Kitsap: After not seeing a minute on varsity during the Wolves’ state championship season in 2009, Arper finished as the leading scorer in Kitsap County with 19 goals this year.

“It’s a little fairytale story, isn’t it?” South coach James Ritchie said last month. “He’s a late bloomer … but he’s done so well. He’s an inspiration to all the boys.”

F — Nick Riders, sophomore, Bremerton: It was a breakout season for Riders, who scored an Olympic League-high 12 goals and was his team’s second-leading distributor, finishing with seven assists. Riders’ efficiency allowed coach Randy Lund to move last year’s league-leading scorer, Matt Olson, from forward to midfield, solidifying the team in the middle-third of the field.

F — Ryan Hough, senior, Central Kitsap: Hough made up one-third of a Central Kitsap trio that combined to score 27 goals, joining senior captain Niles Stirrett (nine) and sophomore Miles Nilsen (10), with eight of his own. Coach Christopher Floro called Hough an “unbelievable talent” with the ability to create scoring opportunities — for himself and others — and finish them. He was Central Kitsap’s all-around points leader, adding a team-high 10 assists.

M — Spencer Black, senior, North Kitsap: Black, who helped the Vikings to their second state tournament berth in as many years, was North Kitsap’s primary leader on the field. On a team that spread its scoring among several players, Black had five assists and five goals, three of which were game-winners.

M — Diego de la Cruz, junior, South Kitsap: Behind Arper, de la Cruz and Dallas Brewster were the Wolves’ top scorers with nine goals apiece during the regular season. But de la Cruz might have been the Wolves’ most dynamic player as he had a team-best nine assists.

M — Matt Olson, senior, Bremerton: The heart and soul of a Knights team that edged North Kitsap for the Olympic League title by virtue of a tiebreaker, Olson finished with nine goals and as many assists. He saw a diminished scoring role after Lund shifted him from forward to midfield three games into the season, but that shift strengthened the team in the middle-third of the field. It also was a large reason Bremerton won its first league title in school history en route to districts, where the season ended with a 3-2 loss in overtime against Auburn Mountainview High School.

M — Jimmy Baggett, senior, Bainbridge: The four-year letter-winner helped the Spartans earn two state tournament berths and was named Metro League MVP as a sophomore. Baggett had five goals and one assist as a senior, and will play for the Sea Warriors of Hawaii Pacific University in the fall.

D — Matt Hust, senior, Kingston: A versatile leader on the pitch, Hust began the season as a midfielder but quickly moved into a defensive spot. He and teammates Chad Trask and Ian Chaussee dominated the middle and defensive thirds of the field. The Buccaneers allowed just four goals in 16 regular-season games, and never more than one in any match. Hust also contributed two goals and two assists.

D — Billy Gieri, senior, North Kitsap: Gieri, a sweeper, anchored a North Kitsap defense that allowed just seven goals during 15 regular season games. He also helped the Viking offense by scoring the winning penalty kick in a sub-district playoff game against North Thurston.

D — Eli Chastain, senior, Bremerton: The three-year starter, a co-captain this season, scored four goals to go with two assists. Lund said Chastain was the team’s best player on set pieces, and as a result, the coach moved him forward for corner kicks. The lanky defender scored three times off corner kicks. He also anchored the team on the backline.

G — Jordan Hadden, sophomore, North Kitsap: Though just a sophomore, Hadden is making a name for himself as one of the top goalkeepers in the Olympic League. He and the Viking defense shut out 10 opponents during the regular season and allowed an average of 0.47 goals per game.

Coach of the Year — Randy Lund, Bremerton: Lund’s third season at Bremerton was by far his best. The Knights went 10-2-3 during the regular season en route to their first league title in school history and a No. 1 seed to the district tournament. Although the team fell one game shy of the state tournament, it was a banner season for Bremerton. Lund loses nine seniors, seven starters, but he is confident in an upcoming sophomore class that figures to improve in 2011 and peak in two seasons.

Honorable mention:

Dallas Brewster, junior, South Kitsap; Nico de la Cruz, senior, South Kitsap; Gavin Klein, senior, South Kitsap; Ian Chaussee, senior, Kingston; Chad Trask, junior, Kingston; Brian Bain, senior, Kingston; Riley Anderson, senior, Kingston; Spencer Miele, senior, Kingston; Ismeal DeLuna, freshman, North Kitsap; Nick Tedford, sophomore, North Kitsap; Marco Lopez, junior, North Kitsap; Alex Raquer, junior, Bainbridge; Sam Mutty, senior, Bainbridge; Ben Van Drunen, senior, Bainbridge; David Zimmerman, senior, Bainbridge; Charlie Von Reis, senior, Bainbridge; Matt Sawyer, Bremerton; Anthony Toombes, Bremerton; Niles Stirrett, Central Kitsap; Miles Nilsen, Central Kitsap; Jordan Kollars, Central Kitsap; Jacob Beck, Central Kitsap; Thomas Bryan, Olympic; Jeff LaGranduer, Olympic.