MVP Kretschmer among 5 on All-Arrowhead Conference men’s soccer team for champion Chargers

GALESBURG — Valentin Kretschmer was voted the Arrowhead Conference’s Most Valuable Player to lead five selections for the Sandburg men’s soccer team on this year’s all-conference squad.

 

The Chargers, who repeated as Arrowhead champions with a 3-0 league record, made up nearly half of the 11-player all-conference team. Kretschmer was joined on the first team by Luis Garcia and Alberto Fernandez Do Carmo. Ramon Ponga and Mateo Figueroa were second-team picks for Sandburg. It’s the second year in a row Sandburg has produced the conference MVP and five All-Arrowhead picks.

 

In three conference matches, Kretschmer totaled a team-leading seven points (three goals and one assist). The sophomore striker had six shot attempts, with three going on net. Kretschmer scored the Chargers’ first two goals in their 3-2 win Oct. 8 against Black Hawk.

 

Garcia, last year’s conference MVP, earned first-team honors for the second year in a row. The sophomore striker matched Kretschmer for the team lead with three goals in conference play. Garcia tallied 11 shot attempts and put seven on goal. He scored the opening goal in the Chargers’ Oct. 14 win over Illinois Valley and had two goals in their Oct. 17 victory over Kishwaukee to clinch the conference title.

 

Fernandez Do Carmo had two goals and an assist in conference play. The center midfielder delivered Sandburg’s most dramatic score of the season as he converted a penalty kick in the 90th minute in the team’s win over Black Hawk.

 

Ponga, a freshman striker, had a goal and two assists in three conference matches. Three of his points came in the win over Kishwaukee, as he had a goal and an assist.

 

Figueroa, a freshman striker, played in all three Arrowhead contests. He collected two assists in the Chargers’ victory against Illinois Valley. 

 

2025 ALL-ARROWHEAD CONFERENCE MEN’S SOCCER TEAM
First team
Most Valuable Player — Valentin Kretschmer (sophomore striker, Sandburg)
Xander Oswin-Roe (freshman goalkeeper, Black Hawk)
Luis Garcia (sophomore striker, Sandburg)
Jabulile Mooketsi (sophomore goalkeeper, Illinois Valley)
Alberto Fernandez Do Carmo (sophomore center midfielder, Sandburg)
Second team
Ayman Farah (sophomore midfielder, Kishwaukee)
Ramon Ponga (freshman striker, Sandburg)
Mateo Figueroa (freshman striker, Sandburg)
Javier Flores (freshman striker, Black Hawk)
Luis Vazquez (sophomore defender, Kishwaukee)
Deontae Nache (sophomore center back, Black Hawk)