Wisconsin Soccer Central

The prep boys soccer season ended five months ago, but Muskego's Andrija Novakovich scored once again.

Novakovich, a junior forward who scored 41 goals and added 13 assists last fall, was named the Gatorade Wisconsin Boys Soccer Player of the Year this week. He's the first Muskego player to claim the honor in the award's 28-year history.

The 6-foot-4 striker, who has verbally committed to Marquette for the 2014 season, was a first-team selection on the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association all-state team and an All-Region V pick by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

"He has a special skill set," Madison Memorial coach Ben Voss said of Novakovich in a news release. "Technically, he's very sound and he can create a shot from anywhere. He's big, fast, physical, great in the air, and he has great touch."

The award recognizes not only Novakovich's accomplishments on the field, but also in the classroom and community. He maintains a 3.85 grade-point average, is a talented musician and volunteers at a local food pantry and as a math tutor for elementary school students.

As the state player of the year, Novakovich is now a candidate for the national award, which will be announced in May.

GATORADE WISCONSIN BOYS PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
1986: D Robert Probst, Milwaukee Marquette
1987: M Kris Kelderman, Neenah
1988: M Michael Bell, Madison West
1989: M Scott Kreitmeir, Brookfield Central
1990: M James Danaher, Milwaukee Marquette
1991: D Gary Grzesk, Wauwatosa East
1992: GK Scott Coufal, Brookfield East
1993: M Matt Geske, Brookfield Central
1994: F Drew Watzka, Milwaukee Pius
1995: GK Andrew Kirk, Milwaukee Marquette
1996: GK Andrew Kirk, Milwaukee Marquette (national player of the year)
1997: D Mike Sullivan, Brookfield Central
1998: F Dominic DaPra, Racine St. Catherine's
1999: M Nick Walls, Wauwatosa East
2000: F Cliff Ellsworth, Mequon Homestead
2001: F Brett Wiesner, Brookfield East
2002: GK Eric Mickschl, Glendale Nicolet
2003: M David Peplinski, Milwaukee Marquette
2004: M-F Nick Caronna, Brookfield Central
2005: M Tyler Guse, Middleton
2006: M Billy Von Rueden, Milwaukee Marquette
2007: M Eric Meyer, Madison Memorial
2008: F-M Stuart Grable, Neenah
2009: M Robbie Boyd, Milwaukee Marquette
2010: M David Caban, Kenosha Tremper
2011: M Alex Megna, Milwaukee Marquette
2012: F Patrick Hodan, Milwaukee Marquette
2013: F Andrija Novakovich, Muskego

• Andy Steger, who coached Green Bay Preble from 1996 to 2003 and guided the St. Norbert men's program from 2008 to '11, was named girls coach at De Pere, the Green Bay Press-Gazette reported. Steger's daughters, Dakota and Danyell, play for the Redbirds, who are scheduled to return all but two players from last year's team that lost to Madison West 1-0 in the WIAA Division 1 state final. He succeedsTrisha Rhodes, who stepped down after leading De Pere to four state berths in her 11-year tenure.
• The National Federation of State High School Associations announced seven rules changes for the 2013-14 boys and girls prep soccer seasons last month, including updates to rules concerning fouls that deny obvious goal-scoring opportunities, free kicks and the use of electronic devices on the sideline. Starting in the fall, if a player commits a foul that denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and the goal is scored, the player will be issued a yellow card. If the goal is not scored, the player will receive a red card – and in either case, serious foul play will result in a red card. "The committee doesn’t want to penalize a team twice for the same play by having the goal scored against them, then to lose a player. On the other hand, when a red card is issued when the shot is missed, the team is still suffering just a single blow," Mark Koski, NFHS director of sports and events and liaison to the Soccer Rules Committee, said in a news release. Free kicks, meanwhile, must be kicked and move to be considered "in play," meaning simply touching the top of the ball on an indirect free kick will no longer be sufficient. Additionally, coaches and players will be allowed to use electronic devices while on the sideline, as long as they do not use them to communicate with players on the field. Under current rules, any use of a communication device on the sideline can result in a yellow card. Catch up on all the rule changes