And when it came time for the coaches of the Blossom Valley Athletic League's Mt. Hamilton Division to honor the best players of the '03­04 campaign, they recognized how important the defensive end of the field really is by naming von Stockhausen and Gall among the special honors winners on the all-league team.

But then, defense seemed to be the story of the year in the BVAL with the coaches in the three divisions for boys and girls naming eight keepers and eight defenders among those winning special awards this winter.

Von Stockhausen was one of the seven Most Valuable Players picked by the BVAL coaches this winter.

Westmont senior keeper Fernando Jacquez was named the MVP in the Santa Teresa Division with Prospect junior forward Abel Atlaw the MVP in the West Valley Division.

In girls play, Piedmont Hills senior midfielder Katie Osborne was the Mt. Hamilton MVP, Branham senior forward Ashley Allison and Evergreen Valley sophomore midfielder Jennifer Herrera were co-MVPs in the Santa Teresa Division and Del Mar senior forward Kristen Perry was the MVP of the West Valley Division.

Mt. Hamilton boys

Pioneer's von Stockhausen and Gall, and Leland's Richie Gharapentian were among the top selections in the boys Mt. Hamilton Division.

Von Stockhausen was picked the MVP and Gall was named the Sophomore of the Year for the Mustangs. Gharapentian was the Senior of the Year and Leland's Dave Gold was picked the Coach of the Year.

Goalkeeper Tony Mello of Santa Teresa was the Sophomore of the Year and Mt. Pleasant's Cesar Pinal was the Freshman of the Year in the division.

Mt. Hamilton girls

Piedmont's Osborne was picked the Mt. Hamilton Division's MVP even though Leland and Pioneer shared the league championship.

Leland's Stephanie Kato was named the division's Sophomore of the Year and her teammate, Danielle Spencer, was tabbed the Freshman of the Year. Amy Cusick of Pioneer was the Junior of the Year and Lisa Smith was picked the Coach of the Year after leading the Mustangs to a co-championship.

Erica Ng-Pinkerton of Santa Teresa was picked the Senior of the Year in the division.

Named to the all-league first team was senior striker Meghan Dunagan of Prospect; senior forward Megan Finney, senior defender Kellie Greed and sophomore defender Stephanie Kato of Leland; senior forward Kristin Krale of Independence; junior defender Angelique Roman, sophomore keeper Kalia DeMarquez and freshman midfielder Stephanie Righetti of Pioneer; senior midfielder Ashley Decena and junior midfielder Jasmine Stephany of Santa Teresa; senior midfielder Amy Paige and junior midfielder Melina Triantos of Leigh; and sophomore defender Kristen Orlando of Piedmont Hills.

Earning a second team spot was Lizzie Innes of Prospect.

Santa Teresa girls

Branham's Allison and Evergreen's Herrera shared the MVP award in the Santa Teresa Division.

Westmont's Denise Picard was the Senior of the Year, Branham's Amanda Drasny the Junior of the Year, Westmont's Perrin Pearson the Freshman of the Year and Branham's Ron Smare the Coach of the Year.

Named to the all-league first team were Carlie Peck, Lauren Jenness and Jenna Saenz of Branham; Danielle Silva, Vanessa Tapia and Pearson of Westmont; Laura Baker and Leah Larot of Evergreen; Veronica Vasquez and Veronica Tovar of Overfelt; Monica Agustinez and Marisol Agustinez of Lincoln; and Kristin Mills of Oak Grove.

Players on the second team included Michelle McCellen and Amanda Unfeil-Somers of Westmont.

Santa Teresa boys

Jacquez, Westmont's senior goalie, was named the Santa Teresa Division's MVP with William Pena of Lincoln the Senior of the Year, Jeff Lewis of Independence the Junior of the Year, Jason Tom of Willow Glen the Sophomore of the Year and Ricky Dorrego of Lincoln the Freshman of the Year. Westmont's Liz Bricmont was tabbed the Coach of the Year after leading the Warriors to the division title.

Claiming all-league first-team honors were Matt Schembri, Jason Varr and Justin Mitchell of Westmont.

Claiming spots on the second team were Miguel Flores, Reishi Nakata and Mark Ng-Parish of Westmont.

West Valley boys

Prospect's Atlaw was the MVP in the West Valley Division with awards going to Jose Yerena of Silver Creek as the Senior of the Year, Francisco Gonzalez of San Jose as the Junior of the Year and James Lick's Marcos Mexicano as Sophomore of the Year and Gerry Alvarez as Freshman of the Year. Prospect's Robert Almasin was picked the Coach of the Year in the division.

Prospect's Atlaw, Ben Hines, Zuatan Sahmanovic and Ferid Celosmmanovic were picked to the all-league first team along with Raul Romero and Abraham Castillo of Silver Creek; Bartoz Wozniak, Mexicano, Alvarez and Rogelio Gonzalez of Lick; and Gonzalez, Ever Ayala and Huga Meza of San Jose.

Gacileo Jaruas, Hector Rivera, Shaw Wakayama and Muharem Harmhc of Prospect were named to the second team.