Coaches often implore their players to ‘be smart, and use your head’ when competing. Ryan Donat took that message to heart.

Donat, the Prep2Prep North Coast Section Junior of the Year, scored nine goals in the 2013-14 season and all were headers.

The 6-foot-2, 185 pound junior is counted on to be a threat playing center back for Campolindo.

“Set pieces are the core of our team,” Donat said. “I scored on corner kicks, long throw-ins, and free kicks.”

Campolindo won its first-ever outright Diablo Foothill Athletic League title, going 9-0-3. The Cougars lost in the NCS semifinals to eventual champion Dublin, 2-0.

Donat, who led Campo in scoring, adding four assists along with the nine goals, thought it was key for the Cougars to get going early.

"It's always great to get the team off to a good start," Donat said. "It's much better to play with the lead early on than to play from behind."

Donat plans to play for the De Anza Force Academy beginning this summer and won’t play his senior year for Campolindo. Donat earned MVP honors for the DFAL league and was selected All-East Bay first team by the Contra Costa Times.

The imposing defender plans to work on the technical side of his game this summer.

“I want to improve my ball touches,” Donat said. “A better first touch, and moves with the ball. Those things will really help me improve my game.”

Donat hope to continue his career as the college level.

“I want to play Division I soccer,” Donat said. Cal is my top choice right now, but I will play for whoever wants me.”

Also considered: Jesus Enriquez, MF, Newark Memorial.

NOTE: We would like to thank our readers for all of the nominations you sent in for the season-ending NCS soccer awards. It is a daunting task to narrow down our selections to just the top few as we recognize there are lots of great players who make contributions on the court that are not necessarily well-documented but mean a great deal to the success of their teams. We salute all of the players that have made this a wonderful season of NCS soccer.