Five impactful area soccer players earned the respect of coaches statewide and were named to the Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association All-Ohio teams.

Salem junior Maxwell Zacharias, Beaver Local senior Brayden Hall, United senior Joshua Hawkins, West Branch junior Ellie Tucker and United sophomore Ellie Powers were awarded these distinctions.

Zacharias, awarded in Div. III, rose to prominence after being asked to switch positions this season.

“Max had an incredible season this year,” Salem coach Vince Myers said. ” In my first season as head coach, I asked Max to play a different position than he had before. In the past he was always a midfielder or a defender, but I believed he could be a quality striker as he has a powerful shot and unmatched speed. Max took that challenge head on and finished the season with a remarkable 31 goals and 10 assists. He was just three goals shy of tying the single-season goal record for Salem.”

Myers said Zacharias’ speed and shooting ability made a difference.

“He has the ability to completely take over games because of these attributes,” Myers said. “I am expecting another stellar season out of him next year as a senior.”

Hall, awarded in Div. IV, has been a fixture on the Beaver backline for four years.

I have known and coached Brayden Hall since he was about 10 years old and even at that age you could tell he was a special player,” Beaver Local coach Joe Zirillo said. “Ever since joining the high school team, Brayden has been a staple in our backline. As a freshman, he earned a starting position and never looked back.”

Among Hall’s career accomplishments were leading the Beavers to undefeated regular season,two OVAC championships, two Buckeye 8 titles and a district championship. This season with Hall’s help the Beavers only allowed 18 goals. The Beavers finished 11-6-2 this season and were district runner-ups.

“Brayden finished the 2025 season with one goal, but personal stats were never his focus,” Zirillo said. “His mindset was always about team success and doing whatever was needed to help us win. He consistently worked on his own development while pushing his teammates to do the same, ensuring we were prepared to compete every single game.”

The coach noted that Hall played the end of last season with two torn labrums in his hips because he wanted to finish what he started.

“As a coach, it gave me great confidence each season knowing I could rely on Brayden’s heart and skill to lead our defense,” Zirillo said. “Fearless in the air, strong in one-on-one tackles and always ready to make a game-saving play, he embodied everything we want our program to represent. Brayden has been one of the best players I’ve had the privilege to coach–always coachable, always team-first–and he’s played a huge role in helping our program grow into a consistent district contender.”

Hawkins, who did not play in 2024, stepped up a key offensive player for the Eagles in their pursuit of a Div. V district championship.

“I have had the privilege to get to coach Hawkins for around 8 years, watching him develop from a reserved youth player in our FC United youth program to the confident leader he was this season,” United coach Curtis Jones said. “Joshua had a break out year this season serving as our team’s main offensive threat. He scored in 15 of our games with six hat tricks for a total of 29 goals along with seven assists this season.”

Hawkins, a team captain, finished his career with 33 goals and 20 assists

“He was a dangerous striker with great ball control, exceptional footskills and a clinical finish,” Jones said. “He was able to function as a lone hold up striker, work in tandem with another striker or play as our attacking midfielder. He was a well-rounded player who could fill the tactical and positional need of the team in any given game. He also served as an example of hard work for his teammates. There was never a game in his high school career where I doubted the level of effort he put into the game. He always gave his team 100 plus percent effort and played the beautiful game with genuine love and passion. He has a work ethic that as a coach I wish I could bottle up.”

Tucker, awarded in Div. IV, earned her second straight All-Ohio designation. She had eight goals and six assists for the Warriors who went 15-1-2 and won the Eastern Buckeye Conference.

“Ellie is a valuable member of the team,” West Branch coach Zachary Dean said. “This year, we challenged Ellie to play more in the midfield. Ellie’s work in the middle contributed significantly to the team’s success. Ellie has been a leader and has been picked as a captain by her teammates the previous two seasons. She does an excellent job defending in one-on-one scenarios. She has excellent vision and can dribble through the lines to aid in the attack. Her poise on the ball is outstanding. She is also very precise with her distribution. She embodies a strong competitive spirit and sets an example through her dedication to hard work.”

Powers, awarded in Div. V, was an emerging threat for the Eagles who went 9-8-2 on the season. The sophomore had 21 goals and six assists.

“Elli’s ability to play anywhere on the field showcases not only her skill and strength but also her deep understanding of the game,” United coach Niki Blazer said. “She is a smart, coachable athlete who brings intensity and focus to every training session and match. As her head coach, I have had the privilege of watching her develop into one of the most dominant and versatile players on our team.”