Nashua South's Santi Somorrostro was named the New Hampshire Boys Soccer Gatorade Player of the Year for 2022-23 on Friday. (Telegraph file photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – The 2023 high school soccer season is only about two months away, but before it begins Nashua South’s Santi Somorrostro is still being honored for what he did during his team’s 2022 state championship campaign.

Somorrostro, who was a junior last fall, was named on Friday the New Hampshire Boys Soccer Gatorade Player of the Year.

The honor makes him a finalist for the national Gatorade POY, which will be named sometime this month.

Somorrostro had 16 goals and 18 assists last fall, as Nashua move through the tournament beating Spaulding, Manchesters Memorial and Central, and then Hanover for the second straight year in the finals. At 5-foot-10, 165 pounds he not only was a proven scorer with a rocket for a shot but also a quarterback on the field. He had four goals and three assists in the tournament, was the Telegraph Player of the Year as well as a First Team All-State selection. South finished 17-3 and Somorrostro’s return for his senior season will no doubt make the Panthers contenders again.

Community work is also a factor in the selection, and Somorrostro has volunteered at the Humane Society, Salvation Army and took part in the Nashua South Mentor Program. He has a weighted 4.65 GPA.

“He’s a gamer,” Bellen said. “Listen, he’s a high level player. He’s a very good athlete, a very good tennis player (although he didn’t play this spring to focus more on soccer). The kid just knows how to win.”

And the opponents know it.

“During our match, Santi commanded the middle of the pitch,” Alvirne coach Joe Ducharme said. “He was very impressive, calm with the ball and a fantastic communicator.”

And a fantastic enough player to be the best in New Hampshire.