1991-92 ALL-COUNTY TEAMS : BOYS’ SOCCER : Coye Used to Making Big Waves

HUNTINGTON BEACH — At the end of each high school soccer season, Kevin Coye drops off his cleats and grabs his surfboard. It’s an annual springtime event for the Ocean View junior.

“There is hardly any time to surf during the season,” Coye said. “We practice in the afternoon and play games on Saturday. I have to concentrate on soccer. But when the season’s over, I can go to the beach right after school.”

This year, he had to wait a little longer to hit the beach.

Coye’s season was extended by three weeks because the Seahawks won the Southern Section 4-A championship. He had a lot to do with that title.

Coye, The Times Orange County player of the year, was a key part of a defense that dominated opponents. Ocean View gave up only three goals in cruising through the Sunset League with an 11-0-1 record.

As the team’s sweeper, Coye was in charge of the defense.

“We controlled other teams with our defense,” Coach Paul Kollar said. “Kevin was the guy who directed everything.”

Coye’s value to the defense was evident in the championship match against Damien. The Seahawks built a 3-0 lead, then held on to win, 3-2, after Coye left with a broken bone in his ankle.

As a defender, Coye is tenacious, yet he also remains in control.

Instead of clearing the ball with a booming kick up field, he would work to get the ball to the Seahawks’ offensive players.

“I was the eyes of the defense,” Coye said. “The goalkeeper and I are the only ones who had the whole field in front of us. I talk to the other guys and pick up anything that gets through.”

Besides being the backbone of the defense, Coye contributed five goals.

“He could of scored more, but he wouldn’t shoot,” Kollar said. “He’s always looking to set up the other guys.”

Coye takes soccer seriously and hopes to play in college. He also plays for a Huntington Beach club team when the high school season is over.

“Kevin is a very devoted soccer player,” Kollar said. “He’s very focused on what he wants.”

And when he needs to unwind, it’s off to the beach.

Coye has been surfing since he was 9, the same age he began playing soccer. He followed his older brother Kelly into both sports.

He even plans to go to Maui to visit his brother this summer. Soccer is not in the travel plans, however.

“Surfing is how I relax,” Coye said. “We go out on weekdays after school to avoid the the crowds. It’s fun.”

And, sometimes, fun finds its way onto the soccer field, at Coye’s insistence.

It was Coye who organized a rather mucky celebration after the Seahawks beat defending 4-A champion Santa Ana in a Sunset League match. He and many of his teammates took turns sliding through a mud puddle on the Santa Ana field.

“Kevin is crazy sometimes,” Kollar said. “He’s a surfer.”

All-County Boys’ Soccer

FIRST TEAM

Player School Yr. Position Blayne Leitner El Dorado Jr. Goalkeeper Jared Abe Los Alamitos Sr. Defense Matt Berger Capistrano Valley Sr. Defense Kevin Coye Ocean View Jr. Defense Jason Boyce Corona del Mar So. Midfield Alex Perez Anaheim Jr. Midfield Hector Perez Santa Ana Sr. Midfield Juan Viveros Orange Sr. Midfield Tuan Dang La Quinta Sr. Forward Jose Escudero Saddleback Sr. Forward Barclay Harty Servite Sr. Forward

Player Comment Blayne Leitner Had 12 shutouts before breaking leg. Jared Abe Empire League MVP. Matt Berger Had 12 non-goalie saves; three goals. Kevin Coye Led the defense and scored five goals. Jason Boyce Scored 24 goals. Alex Perez Had 13 goals and 20 assists. Hector Perez Had eight goals and 10 assists. Juan Viveros Had 13 goals and 11 assists. Tuan Dang Had 25 goals and six assists. Jose Escudero Had 27 goals and 17 assists. Barclay Harty Scored 22 goals.

SECOND TEAM

Player School Yr. Position Comment Tom Evans Mater Dei Sr. Goalkeeper Had 14 shutouts. Jim Hicks Newport Harbor Jr. Defense Scored 15 goals. Jason Patterson Foothill Sr. Defense Team MVP; one goal, two assists. Ryan Robertson Ocean View Sr. Defense Scored nine goals. Scott Barnett Sonora Sr. Midfield Had 11 goals and 15 assists. Kyle Berger Capistrano Valley Jr. Midfielder Had four goals and three assists. Marco Hernandez Brea-Olinda Sr. Midfield Had four goals and five assists. Chris Hunter Newport Harbor Jr. Midfield Had two goals and three assists. Trevor Ickes Mater Dei Sr. Forward Scored 13 goals. Pat Lee Los Alamitos So. Forward Scored 17 goals. Chris Martin Ocean View Sr. Forward Scored 11 goals.

Honorable mention: Miguel Abarca (Anaheim), Cesar Araiza (La Habra), Iain Doleman (El Toro), Brian Engresser (Ocean View), Jorge Guerrero (Saddleback), Armando Hernandez (Santa Ana), Josh Keller (Santa Margarita), Francisco Islas (Santa Ana Valley), Jason Martinez (El Modena), Ethan Miller-Bazemore (Marina), Rafael Mosqueda (Santiago), Hulio Ososco (Saddleback), Robert Ryan (Huntington Beach), Ryan Schomberg (Ocean View), John Sharp (Magnolia), Armando Solis (Anaheim), Jason Surrell (Irvine), Jason Vlcek (Foothill), Teddy Watson (Los Alamitos), Robert Weber (Kennedy), Kevin Westman (Estancia).