Forward Natan Rosen, a senior, won the Washington Post’s Player of the Year award for boys soccer, the first time since 2000 that a Whitman soccer player has earned the title. Four boys soccer players and two girls soccer players also earned All-Met awards for the fall 2018 seasons.

Seniors Sam Nordheimer and Katie Stender-Moore, both goalkeepers, earned First Team, midfielder Ian Poe, a junior, and defender Morgan Wiese, a senior, took Second Team, while midfielder Thomas Mande and forward Ryan Machado-Jones, both seniors, received Honorable Mentions.

Rosen scored 17 goals and had 11 assists this season—similar stats to last season—but he said what distinguished him from other players was his contribution to the team’s state championship.

“Last year, I really wanted to get All-Met, and I only got honorable mention, so that was one of my goals this year,” he said. “So it was really nice having it happen.”

Nordheimer allowed seven goals this season, guiding the team toward its 13 shutout wins, which included an 11-game shutout streak. Stender-Moore only gave up 11 goals this season.

“I’m super excited to end my high school career with this honor,” Stender-Moore said. “But it doesn’t quite feel right that I got it because it truly is a whole team effort to keep the ball out of the net.”

Wiese led the girls’ back line this year, contributing to the team’s overall defensive success. Her four-year varsity experience and two years as a captain helped to keep her teammates calm in high pressure situations.

“I think the biggest thing for being successful this year was Morgan in the back because of her experience and leadership,” girls soccer coach Greg Herbert said. “She’s obviously a gifted player, but I think on top of that, her leadership allowed us to have confidence in our abilities and helped us stay organized.”

After deep playoff runs for both teams, the awards highlight the immense talent that brought them to the state finals, Poe said

“It’s a big source of pride for our team having so many players being honored.” he said. “I feel like we have a lot of great players who all deserve to be on there. In fact, I think more of our team should have been on there, but it is good to see our players get on the list.”