TIM WEIGHT/For The Express Bellefonte’s Andy Gerasenko set the Bellefonte single-season scoring record this year on his way to being The Express Player of the Year.

When Bellefonte needed someone to step up, just about every time it came from senior Andy Gerasenko. The Raider showed why he was one of the league’s top players game in and game out, and was always a threat to score.

It comes as no surprise then that Gerasenko set the single-season scoring record at Bellefonte this year, tying it and breaking it in the District 6 championship game with a 3-2 win against Hollidaysburg. That outstanding season, and performance in the district championship game, helped Gerasenko earn Express Boys Soccer Most Valuable Player for 2024.

The right-footed forward was always a menace for opposing defenses to attempt to contain and slow down, and usually got past even the Laurel Highlands top defenders to get into scoring position. Gerasenko helped Bellefonte finish the year 15-4-3 en route to capturing the district title and advancing to the PIAA Class AAA tournament, which ended in an unfortunate 6-0 loss.

For the last five years, the single-season scoring record at Bellefonte has belonged to former standout Evan Nyquist, who scored 30 in 2018. But this year, it ended up being broken by Gerasenko. The Raider would tie Nyqist’s mark in the District 6 playoffs and would end up setting it at 32 in the District 6 championship game.

Gerasenko had a monster season that a lot of players would dream of and went out his senior year making history and claiming district gold in the process. Not a bad way to wrap up your varsity career.

EXPRESS BOYS ALL-STARS

Connor Maney,

Bald Eagle Area, forward

The junior Eagle was a huge reason the Bald Eagle Areas saw success offensively this year. Maney led Bald Eagle Area in both goals (nine) and assists (eight), accounting for 17 of the team’s 25 goals scored this year. Maney consistently got into the scoring third against teams and defenders knew coming into games that Maney was a player that needed to be marked if they wanted to beat Bald Eagle Area.

Cole Cooper,

Central Mountain, forward

Cooper played well all season long for Central Mountain and while the team fell in the first round of the District 6 Class AAA playoffs, Cooper helped the team get to where they did. Cooper earned second-team Heartland Athletic Conference-II honors as a midfielder. Cooper had a team-high eight goals and dished out two assists.

Jack Briening,

Jersey Shore, forward

Breining was a huge part of Shore’s team scoring goals this year, and he capped his senior season by earning Heartland Athletic Conference-II second-team honors as a forward. Breining ended the year scoring a team-high 14 goals while dishing out five assists. He averaged nearly a goal per game (0.8) and was a player defenses had to key on.

Seth Caton,

Bellefonte, forward

While Andy Gerasenko had an unbelievable season and scored at will, it opened up the offense for his teammates when Gerasenko was double-teamed and marked. Enter Caton. The Raider was able to get into position to score and dish assists, and did just that to help Bellefonte’s offense excel.

Griffin Confer,

Central Mountain, midfield

Confer, a junior, helped the Wildcats in any way he could, be it scoring or playing defensively in the midfield. He was named a Heartland Athletic Conference-II all-star as a third-team midfielder in a tough league. Confer ended the year with a team-high five assists while also scoring three goals himself.

Connelle Stabinger,

Bellefonte, midfield

Stabinger was a solid player all year for Bellefonte. If he wasn’t scoring or dishing assists, he was helping play a defensive role for the Raiders. Stabinger was a key peice to the Raiders’ 15-win team which claimed the District 6 championship this fall.

Kayson Tice,

Bald Eagle Area, midfield

Tice helped control the midfield for Bald Eagle Area and when he wasn’t tightening things on the defensive end, he was scoring and dishing out assists. Tice, a junior, ended the year with five goals and eight assists for 13 points, second on the team behind only Maney’s 26. Bald Eagle Area may have only earned five wins, but players like Tice are a reason they battled to the end of each game they were in and never quit.

Tate Tooker,

Bellefonte, defender

The Raiders played 22 games this year and allowed just 29 goals all season. On the back line, Tooker was a part of that success. In Bellefonte’s 18 games which ended in either a win or tie, just three teams managed to score multiple goals against the Raiders. That’s a huge credit to Tooker’s defensive efforts.

Austin Smith,

Bellefonte, defender

Just like his teammate Tate Tooker, Austin Smith came up big defensively when needed throughout the year and helped limit opposing forwards and midfielders from scoring. Bellefonte went 15-4-3 this year and Smith helped the team post six shutouts. In the postseason, Bellefonte beat Tyrone 3-1 and Hollidaysburg 3-2 to win the district final. Smith and Tooker were key components in that defense preventing either opponent from rallying late.

Isaiah Brinker,

Central Mountain, defender

Brinker was one of two Central Mountain players this year to earn Heartland Athletic Conference-II second-team all-star honors, doing so as a senior defender. Brinker played a key role in the Wildcats’ defense this year. Brinker helped Central Mountain post four shutouts this season and helped the team come up with a huge 3-2 overtime win over a talented Jersey Shore team in overtime late in the regular season, not allowing the Bulldogs to win it in overtime.

Jaggar Pardoe,

Central Mountain, goalie

Pardoe played well in goal all season for Central Mountain and recorded 1,340 minutes between the pipes in 17 games. The junior keeper recorded 110 saves, allowing just 27 goals all year, while he posted four shutouts. He averaged 6.5 saves per game and kept Central Mountain in numerous games. Expect Pardoe to get even better next fall.

SECOND TEAM

F–Lincoln Breon, Central Mountain

F–Isaiah Brinker, Central Mountain

F–Dylan Hensler, Jersey Shore

M–John Servant, Bellefonte

M–Dylan Bechdel, Central Mountain

M–Gabe Killinger, Central Mountain

D–Austin Larson, Bellefonte

D–Nolan Cross, Central Mountain

D–Alton Counsil, Central Mountain

GK–Henry Bacon, Bald Eagle Area and Eli Davis, Bellefonte