A total of eight Dawson County High School soccer players earned spots on their respective All-Region lists — six coming from the girls team and two from the boys team.
(Story continues below)
Heading up the list on the Region 7-3A First Team were goalkeeper Bryce Beach, freshman scoring machine Harper Dussouy, and fellow first-year star Cayden Townley.
Beach, a junior on the boys team, improved his already impressive goalkeeping resume by accumulating 81 saves during the 2023 season while also helping direct a new-look defensive back line.
His quick instincts and calm demeanor proved important in tight games that the Tigers faced this past season, including against Lumpkin, White, and Pickens.
Dussouy served as a creative force for the resurgent Lady Tigers, scoring 18 goals and providing 12 assists to help the team return to the state playoffs.
Townley’s role was also critically important, but in a less conspicuous way.
She was a defensive enforcer, keeping the team’s shape in the back while making key long passes to jumpstart offensive possessions.
The All-Region Second Team included Townley’s defensive partner Corbi Hicks, whose energy and willingness to engage in tackles set a new standard for the Lady Tigers defense.
Midfielder Elena Nelson also received a Second Team honor after becoming one of the team’s most competitive and physical players.
Nelson wasn’t only a scrappy player, though, she had the skills to help break the opponent’s offensive flow and create scoring opportunities for her team — even knocking in five goals along the way.
For the boys team, sophomore Hector Tenorio was the second All-Region selection, earning a place on the Second Team after expanding on his exciting freshman season.
Whether playing on the wing or through the middle, Tenorio adjusted well to frequent formation changes and provided excitement for a team often plagued with injuries.
Two other members of the girls team were All-Region honorable mentions — Hayden Hand and Melodie Martin.
Both players, along with Dussouy, were frequent choices as the front three in the team’s formation.
Martin, a sophomore who made a big impression in her freshman campaign, contributed nine goals and seven assists. Notably, her hold-up play from the striker position allowed her to provide those assists and give the team multiple scoring chances.
Hand, another one of the team’s talented freshmen, scored 10 goals and used her quick pace to surprise opponents on the counterattack.
All eight players will return to their squads next season.