Bruins soccer coach, Perez brothers honored by Region 7-4A coaches

Published 7:30 am Thursday, May 31, 2012

Northwest Whitfield’s boys soccer team played in the region that produced this season’s Class 4A state champion, but Bruins coach Ryan Scoggins still got a favorable nod from his peers.

In a vote by Region 7-4A’s 11 coaches, Scoggins was selected as the region’s coach of the year.

Northwest finished the season 14-6 and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Class 4A state playoffs. It was by far the deepest postseason run in program history for the Bruins, who had only made the state playoffs once previously, losing in the opening round in 2007. They also set a program record for most wins in a season.

Scoggins was humble about his part in winning the respect of the region’s coaches.

“It seems sort of silly to even mention (me winning the award), but I do take it as a reflection of the great year that my guys had on the field,” Scoggins wrote in an email to The Daily Citizen.

Northwest placed third in the region, ahead of South Forsyth but behind runner-up Chattahoochee and region champion Lambert, which finished the season 23-0 and beat Greenbrier 5-0 to win the state title.

The Bruins spent their entire state run on the road. They beat Flowery Branch 1-0 in the first round, survived a penalty kick shootout at Houston County in the second round and lost 3-2 to Starr’s Mill in the quarterfinals.

“Without great players it is tough to be recognized as a good coach,” Scoggins continued in the email. “I am very humbled though, especially since Lambert went 23-0 and won the state championship, yet they thought enough of our playoff run to give the coach’s award to (me).”

Other Bruins also received recognition from region coaches, with four either making the All-Region 7-4A team or receiving honorable mention.

Bruins brothers Mario and David Perez made the first team. Mario Perez, a senior, was a starting midfielder and recorded seven goals and dished out 14 assists. David Perez, a junior forward, scored 16 goals and had nine assists.

Scoggins said as far as he knew, the Perezes were the only brothers to make the team.

“I’m very proud of these guys,” Scoggins said in a phone interview on Wednesday. “Mario has been getting it done for us the last three years, and he made the (all-region) second team last year, so it isn’t that big of a shock.

“David has had a great year this year and he played in the midfield last year on the JV team, and as a varsity sub he never subbed in as a striker.

“At the start of the season we put him up there and he’s done great. He’s found his niche as a goal scorer.”

Giovanni Aguero and Jose Delcid received honorable mention. Aguero, a junior forward, recorded 20 goals to break the program’s single-season scoring record. Delcid, a senior midfielder, recorded 15 goals and eight assists.

All four Northwest players were nominated by Scoggins for The Daily Citizen’s All-Area Boys Soccer Team, which will be published Sunday.