Amar Culov’s father wakes him up at 6:30 a.m. every day to prepare for school at East Aurora. On Tuesday morning, Culov’s mother and father woke him up, and his mother showed him an email that set the tone for her son’s day.
It was an email notifying the family that Culov had been selected to the United Soccer Coaches All-America team, which recognizes 80 boys soccer players from across the country.
“This means a lot,” Culov said Tuesday afternoon. “Just thinking about it now, I’m so thankful and need a couple of days to process it all.”
In his senior year, the captain led East Aurora in goals (33) and assists (18). In the team’s Far West Regional game against Hornell, Culov had a hat trick. Culov had 12 goals and seven assists in the playoffs.
Lewiston-Porter’s Drew Leardini also was honored. He was named to the All-America team for the second consecutive year.
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He had 32 goals and eight assists last season and is second in school history for career goals with 90. His father, Andy, holds the school record with 139, the second most in Section VI history.
Leardini led Lewiston-Porter to consecutive Section VI Class A2 sectional championships and will be continuing his career at St. Bonaventure. Leardini joins his father as the only Section VI boys soccer players to be named an All-American twice.
Culov’s recognition is the latest in an onslaught of praise and accolades for the Blue Devils after winning the New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s Class B boys soccer state championship.
Coach Kevin Beale was named the Small School Regional Coach of the Year and is in contention for the national honor, and teammates Culov, Chuck Meyer, and Sam Evans were named to the small school’s all-state team.
“Winning a state championship was the goal, and my parents and coach surprised me with this,” Culov said. “I can’t even describe it because coming from a place like Western New York, you don’t expect to get recognition like that. Western New York’s history in soccer isn’t that high. There’s only been four state championship teams.”
Culov and Leardini have been invited to the United Soccer Coaches All-America ceremony and reception Jan. 13 in Anaheim, Calif.
He’s the third Blue Devil to be named to the All-America team.
“Just a tremendous honor that Amar has earned,” Beale said. “Obviously a culmination of our great season as he was a huge part of teams success. Together with Sam Evans up, it has been so much fun watching those two combine and break back lines to make so much happen for our team. Just so happy for Amar and his family being honored on the All-America team.”
The United Soccer Coaches also announced the large and small school all-state teams. The teams were not selected by first team, second team, etc., as they have been in the past.
Leardini, Clarence’s Ryan Ameis and Evan Webster, St. Joseph’s Matteo Molinaro, Lancaster’s Luciano Gallo, Williamsville South’s Logan Diebold and Williamsville North’s Chase Dade made the large schools team.
The small school all-state team is highlighted by Culov, Evans and Meyer from EA, Lafayette’s Chaku Lubanda, Southwestern’s Connor Young, Lackawanna’s Hailan Mohsin, and Ellicottville’s Sam Edwards.