PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Reagan Heslin, JSerra
JSerra’s boys soccer team won everything it could win this season.
The Lions won the Trinity League championship, the CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship and the CIF Southern California Regional Division I championship.
The best player on Orange County’s best team was Reagan Heslin, and he is the Register’s Orange County boys soccer player of the year.
Heslin, a 6-foot-2, 175-pound senior forward, scored 17 goals with eight assists in 21 games.
He was chosen the CIF Southern Section Division 1 player of the year and MaxPreps.com’s state player of the year.
Among Heslin’s many highlights were scoring three goals in a 4-2 win over Fullerton in the CIF-SS Division 1 quarterfinals and scoring twice in a 3-0 win over Birmingham in the SoCal Regional Division I final.
During his four years at JSerra he played center-midfielder before settling in at forward on the left side. Heslin said playing different positions was beneficial to his success at forward.
“It sounds simple,” he said, “but paying attention in practice helps you play any position where you might be needed. If I have to play goalkeeper I have the confidence I could do it because I pay attention.”
JSerra coach Erik Kirsch said Heslin was at his best in the biggest moments.
“The way Reagan played in CIF and at the state level was at another level,” Kirsch said. “And at the same time, he was getting players around him to respond and work hard with him.”
Heslin said the season highlight was winning the CIF-SS Division 1 title after losing to Servite by one goal in the Division 1 final in 2022.
“The best achievement of the season was redeeming ourselves in CIF,” he said. “That was one part of the journey that was winning league, CIF and state. We were looking at winning those three the whole time. We were focused on each game individually but we were determined to win all three.”
COACH OF THE YEAR
Erik Kirsch, JSerra
A league championship, a CIF Southern Section championship and a CIF Southern California Regional championship. JSerra won all of those titles this season.
Erik Kirsch coached the Lions to that triple crown, and he has been chosen the Orange County boys soccer coach of the year by the Register.
The Lions finished 20-1-1, including an 8-1-1 record in the Trinity League.
Kirsch, 55, has coached at JSerra since the 2016-17 season. He also is an assistant coach for Concordia University men’s soccer.
JSerra senior forward Reagan Heslin said Kirsch is an expert communicator
“He makes it simple to understand what he’s trying to explain,” Heslin said. “There also is his passion and his belief in what he has to say. He’s not telling you something just to say it, he’s telling you something because he knows it’s the right thing to say and do.”
ALL-COUNTY FIRST TEAM
Keenai Braun, JSerra, Sr., D
Brown was the Trinity League most valuable player and was selected to the All-CIF Southern Section Division 1 team.
Mathias Brown, Sunny Hills, Sr., F
He was the Freeway League player of the year and an All-CIF Southern Section Division 1 selection.
Sidney Dina, JSerra, Sr., M
Dina was the Trinity League’s defensive MVP and was chosen to the All-CIF Southern Section Division 1 team.
Kenneth Flores, Fullerton, Sr., F
Flores made All-CIF Southern Section Division 1 and was named Freeway League offensive player of the year.
Dylan Graham, Servite, Sr., F
Graham was chosen for the All-Trinity League team and All-CIF Southern Section Division 1 team.
Reagan Heslin, JSerra, Sr., F
The Orange County player of the year.
Ryan Mann, Aliso Niguel, Sr., D
He was the South Coast League most valuable player and is on the All-CIF Southern Section Division 1 team.
Jordi Pineda, Orange Lutheran, Jr., F
Pineda was named CIF-SS Division 4 player of the year and helped the Lancers win the CIF-SS Division 4 championship.
Jake Poole, San Clemente, So., D
Poole was named CIF Southern Section Division 2 player of the year after leading the Tritons to the division championship. He scored 12 goals.
Ethan Sullivan, Aliso Niguel, Jr., GK
Sullivan was 10-1-1 with a 0.38 goals-against average. He was All-South Coast League first team.
ALL-COUNTY SECOND TEAM
Gianluca D’Amato, El Toro, Fr., F
Finn Linas, San Clemente, Jr., D
Carson Hammond, Valencia, Sr., F
Anthony Hernandez, Godinez, Sr., F
Logan Mahoney, JSerra, Jr., D
Isaac Morales, Sunny Hills, Jr., M
Sonny Mosdri, Santa Ana Valley, Sr., M
Daniel Park, Sunny Hills, Sr., D
Ryan Savoie, San Clemente, Sr., GK
Hayden Snyder, Orange Lutheran, Sr., F
