Patrick PezoulasBoys soccer

Robert D. Edgren, Japan

Last week: Scored four goals, giving him a team-leading 12 this season, to boost the Eagles to 5-2-2, the team’s best start since it began playing in 1999. Edgren also made school history in two Japan Soccer League games at home against Yokota.

Pezoulas, a senior, scored once as the Eagles tied the Panthers 2-2 on Friday, the first time Edgren had not lost a regular-season match to Yokota. On Saturday, Pezoulas scored three goals, all in the second half, powering Edgren to its first regular-season victory over the Panthers 3-2.

“He works really hard out there, in practice and in games,” first-year Eagles coach Robert Victoria said. “He has a great attitude. He helps out the other kids, always brings them up and never has a word of criticism, which is why he’s one of the team’s captains. He’s the kind of guy a coach wants 10 of on his team.”

Jennifer AbelGirls soccer

Kadena, Okinawa

Last week: Racked up 10 goals and assisted on four, giving her a team-leading 15 goals plus six assists, as the two-time defending Far East Class AA champion Panthers improved to 6-0.

Abel, a junior who’s lived in the shadow of her record-setting senior sister Dianne, scored four goals on Wednesday as Kadena beat Kubasaki by the most lopsided margin in their rivalry’s history, 9-1. On Saturday, Abel added four goals and an assist as Kadena pounded Hentona 8-0, then had two goals and three assists in a 7-0 victory over Naha Shogyo.

“She’s always a team player, a strong player,” said coach Hoa Nguyen, who has used Jennifer at sweeper, stopper and midfield in past years before moving her to right forward this season. “She always looks after the young players, teaching them that to play good offense, you have to play good defense. She’s an exceptional leader on this team.”

— Selected by Stars and Stripes staff

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