Most matches, Cameron Cox probably wasn’t going to populate the scorer’s book with a lot of goals and assists.
The Owl junior midfielder recorded just three goals and an assist through 14 games this year, but all of this season’s Seymour boys soccer goals this ran through Cox at some point.
Seymour coach Matt Dennis referred to Cox as an 80-minute player and played his No. 10 role at a high level working from box to box.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
His hard work and dedication to the team is what helped make him the 2019 Jackson County Boys Soccer Player of the Year.
He also said Cox meant a lot to the team in more ways than just success on the field.
Cox, an attacking midfielder, did more than just facilitate the offense, Dennis said. When the Owls were on their back foot, it was Cox who was the first line of defense.
“He was a solid captain,” Dennis said of Cox at the team’s awards banquet. “All play went through him.”
In addition to being named the county’s player of the year, Cox was named the Owls’ outstanding midfielder and was selected to the all-Hoosier Hills Conference first team.
He also was named to the Indiana Soccer Coaches Association’s academic all-state team.
Though Dennis called the Owls’ record disappointing, it’s important to realize just how tough their schedule is.
Their schedule included three sectional winners and four teams that were ranked in the ISCA’s poll at some point in the season.
“For all of our losses, there was a ton of growth,” Dennis said. “We faced three teams that were sectional champions.”
It was Cox’s great job against the high-quality opponents that made the choice to be the top player in the county easy.
Cox also was awarded the team’s highest honor, most valuable player, at their awards banquet.
His captaincy is especially impressive considering how many quality seniors the Owls had this season.
They will graduate seven seniors, including the team’s leading goal scorer in Simon Akers, as well as many of their defenders.
There will be plenty of talent to fill in those roles next year with Cox being chief among them.
Joining Cox on this year’s all-county team are many of his Owl teammates: Carter Hendrix, Isaac Schafer, Owen Chandler, Akers and keeper Will Smith.
Schafer and Akers were the top goal scorers for Seymour this fall, netting five apiece.
Hendrix added three goals this year for the Owls, and Chandler held down the backline at his centerback spot.
Smith, a freshman, faced stiff competition in his inaugural varsity campaign with 68 saves and a goals against average of just over two.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”All-County team” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Player of the Year
Cameron Cox, Seymour, M — Seymour most valuable player, Seymour midfielder of the year, all-Hoosier Hills Conference first team, academic all-state
All-county selections
Carter Hendrix, Seymour, M — all-Hoosier Hills Conference first team, academic all-state
Isaac Schafer, Seymour, M — all-Hoosier Hills Conference honorable mention, academic all-state
Owen Chandler, Seymour, D — all-Hoosier Hills Conference honorable mention, academic all-state
Simon Akers, Seymour, F — Seymour attacker of the year, academic all-state
William Smith, Seymour, G — Seymour defender of the year, two goals against average
[sc:pullout-text-end]