Meet the 2023 All-Metro boys soccer teams, the Twin Cities' best

After considering the regular season and hearing from coaches, we present the metro's top two dozen players.

October 31, 2023 at 11:24AM
Apple Valley senior Victor Espinoza Lopez, who opposing coaches regarded as a special talent, made the Star Tribune All-Metro first team. (Paul Allen, Allen Photo Works/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

2023 BOYS SOCCER ALL-METRO FIRST TEAM

FORWARDS/MIDFIELDERS

Jake Bettin, Southwest Christian, senior: Class 1A Mr. Soccer award finalist. Helped the Stars to an undefeated Wright County Conference regular season.

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Emmett Brown, Minneapolis Washburn, senior: Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year and Class 3A Mr. Soccer award winner excelled as a striker this season. Led Class 3A with 28 goals.

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Jacob Dinzeo, Hill-Murray, senior: Tallied 20 goals and 14 assists for the Class 2A semifinals-bound Pioneers. First-team All-State selection.

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Victor Espinoza Lopez, Apple Valley, senior: Drew respect from opposing coaches as a special talent. Reads the game well and becomes instantly dangerous on the ball.

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Thomas Laaksonen, Holy Family, senior: Top goal-scorer (22) and voted No. 1 player in Wright County Conference. Played through injury and juggled multiple positions to help team.

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Griffin Price, Hopkins, senior: Tallied five multigoal games en route to season totals of 17 goals and 10 assists for the Royals.

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Colin Vilme, Stillwater, senior: Deposited 16 goals for a Ponies team that fell in overtime to Woodbury in the Section 4 title game. First-team Class 3A All-State selection.

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DEFENDERS

Everett Hoeppner, Holy Angels, senior: Won Class 2A Mr. Soccer award. Did a little bit of everything for the Stars, who were undefeated until the Section 3 championship game.

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Cole Pitzner, Heritage Christian Academy, senior: Scored eight goals as a defender. Class 1A Mr. Soccer finalist.

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Rhys Tidwell, St. Paul Central, senior: Great motor resulted in four goals and nine assists. Named Class 3A first-team All-State.

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GOALKEEPER

Beckett Carlson, Maple Grove, senior: The undefeated Crimson (18-0-1) are bound for the Class 3A semifinals. Carlson has conceded only four goals — and scored six of his own.

SECOND TEAM

Forwards/midfielders: Cris Corrales-Castro, Chaska, senior; Carson Dederichs, Edina, senior; Jake Hennen, Minnetonka, senior; Anson Karn, Maple Grove, senior; Marius Keita, Blaine, junior; Charlie Piller, Wayzata, senior; Antwane Ruiz, Richfield, senior.

Defenders: Diego Connell, Champlin Park, senior; Brady Dagon, East Ridge, senior; Dane Paul, Hill-Murray, junior; Jackson Widman, Wayzata, senior.

Goalkeepers: Eli Lewis, Rosemount, senior; Cooper Olson, St. Paul Academy.

How they were selected

The Star Tribune's All-Metro teams and Metro Players of the Year were chosen based on nominations from metro-area coaches, conversations with coaches and staff observations.

Jake Bettin of Southwest Christian
Jake Bettin of Southwest Christian (PT_Jeffery Stone/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Emmett Brown of Minneapolis Washburn
Emmett Brown of Minneapolis Washburn (Alex Kormann/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Jacob Dinzeo of Hill-Murray
Jacob Dinzeo of Hill-Murray ([TeMo Photo] temorris@temophoto.com/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Victor Espinoza Lopez of Apple Valley
Victor Espinoza Lopez of Apple Valley (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Thomas Laaksonen of Holy Family
Thomas Laaksonen of Holy Family (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Griffin Price of Wayzata
Griffin Price of Wayzata (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Colin Vilme of Stillwater
Colin Vilme of Stillwater (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Everett Hoeppner of Holy Angels
Everett Hoeppner of Holy Angels (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Cole Pitzner of Heritage Christian Academy
Cole Pitzner of Heritage Christian Academy (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Rhys Tidwell of St. Paul Central
Rhys Tidwell of St. Paul Central (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Beckett Carlson of Maple Grove
Beckett Carlson of Maple Grove (Rich Moll/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

about the writer

David La Vaque

Reporter

David La Vaque is a high school sports reporter who has been the lead high school hockey writer for the Star Tribune since 2010. He is co-author of “Tourney Time,” a book about the history of Minnesota’s boys hockey state tournament published in 2020 and updated in 2024.

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