ETSN.fm’s 2014 East Texas Soccer Players to Watch

East Texas graduated a ton of talented soccer players following the 2013 season, but plenty of talent returns for the 2014 campaign.

Teams across the region and state start the regular season Thursday. Here's a look at some of the players who could be among the top to watch this soccer season.

BOYS

J.D. Perales

School: Kilgore
Class: Senior
Position: Goalkeeper
2013 stats: 17 shutouts (school record), ETSN.fm East Texas Player of the Year, District 32-4A MVP

Martin Melchor

School: Jacksonville
Class: Senior
Position: Midfielder
2013 stats: 30 goals and 13 assists, ETSN.fm East Texas Super Team

Leo Perez

School: Longview
Class: Senior
Position: Forward
2013 stats: 15 goals and 11 assists, ETSN.fm East Texas Super Team, Class 5A Region II first team, District 12-5A first team

Jose Valdez

School: John Tyler
Class: Senior
Position: Defender
2013 stats: 8 goals and 8 assists, ETSN.fm East Texas Super Team

Pablo Aguilar

School: Palestine
Class: Junior
Position: Midfielder
2013 stats: 3 goals and 8 assists, District 35-4A first team

Travis Blackburn

School: Whitehouse
Class: Senior
Position: Midfielder
2013 stats: 14 goals and 7 assists, District 31-4A first team

Cass French

School: Palestine
Class: Junior
Position: Midfielder
2013 stats: 4 goals and 11 assists, District 35-4A first team

Cristian Perales

School: Kilgore
Class: Senior
Position: Forward
2013 stats: 18 goals, District 32-4A Newcomer of the Year

Alan Flores

School: Longview
Class: Senior
Position: Defender
2013 stats: Class 5A Region II first team

Pine Tree's Ana Solis (right) and Emily Shelton celebrate after Solis scored her first of two goals in PT's 2-1 Class 4A Region II sectional playoff vs. Whitehouse on Friday in Lindale. (Christopher Vinn, ETSN.fm)

GIRLS

Hannah Brantley

School: Texas High
Class: Junior
Position: Forward
2013 stats: 28 goals and 25 assists (both single-season school records), ETSN.fm East Texas Super Team, District 29-4A MVP

Lauren Hall

School: Longview
Class: Senior
Position: Midfielder
2013 stats: 10 goals and 8 assists, ETSN.fm East Texas Super Team, District 12-5A first-team selection

Yelsi Rosales

School: John Tyler
Class: Junior
Position: Defender
2013 stats: ETSN.fm East Texas Super Team, District 31-4A Defensive Player of the Year

Ana Solis

School: Pine Tree
Class: Senior
Position: Defender
2013 stats: 7 goals and 3 assists, ETSN.fm East Texas Super Team, District 32-4A Co-Defensive Player of the Year

Sydney Tiiman

School: Lindale
Class: Senior
Position: Midfielder
2013 stats: 38 goals and 13 assists, ETSN.fm East Texas Super Team, District 31-4A first team

Ari Assad

School: Bullard Brook Hill
Class: Junior
Position: Defender
2013 stats: TAPPS Class 3A first team, helped Lady Guard win TAPPS 3A state championship

Lanie Bennett

School: Kilgore
Class: Senior
Position: Defender
2013 stats: 9 goals, District 32-4A Co-Defensive Player of the Year

Chelsea Cole

School: Pleasant Grove
Class: Junior
Position: Forward
2013 stats: 20 goals and 18 assists, District 29-4A Co-MVP

Danielle Harroff

School: Palestine
Class: Senior
Position: Defender
2013 stats: Class 4A Region III honorable mention, District 35-4A Newcomer of the Year

Alex Payne

School: Chapel Hill
Class: Junior
Position: Midfielder
2013 stats: District 31-4A Midfielder of the Year

Cheyenne Sepulveda

School: Texas High
Class: Senior
Position: Defender
2013 stats: 3 goals and 3 assists, Class 4A Region II honorable mention, District 29-4A Defensive Player of the Year

Kendall Wells

School: Bullard Brook Hill
Class: Senior
Position: Midfielder
2013 stats: 20 goals and 13 assists, helped Lady Guard win TAPPS Class 3A state championship