Player of the Year: Gabe Voumard, St. Augustine

St. Augustine Prep coach J.C. Valore raves about Voumard's "transformation" during the athlete's career at the private school in Richland, Atlantic County.

"He went from a young player who was one-dimensional in 2007 to a true leader who could do it all on the field his senior year," Valore said.

Voumard, the Player of the Year in South Jersey, collected 47 goals and 21 assists as St. Augustine Prep went 19-3, handily defeated South Jersey rivals Shawnee and Moorestown, and advanced to the state finals for the first time in the program's history.

Voumard said the season was a success, up until that 7-6 loss to St. Joseph's of Metuchen in the state final.

"I would have liked to win that last game," the 6-foot-2, 205-pounder said. "But it was a good season. We pretty much had the year we wanted to have."

Voumard, who plans to attend Naval Academy Prep School for a year before enrolling in the Naval Academy, worked hard to improve his game during his career. He set out before this season to develop a lefthanded shot.

"Teams always would say, 'Force him left,' " Voumard said. "I worked all summer and all the last year to get it down. This year, I was able to shoot both ways."

Valore said Voumard's work ethic was the best part of his game.

"He always is among the last players to leave the field at the end of the day," Valore said. "He is the kind of kid you want all your players to imitate."

   - Phil Anastasia