Max May continually came up big for the Viera Hawks on the way to their first-ever boys soccer state championship.
And the wins … well … they just keep on coming.
May was voted this year’s Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. Soccer on Thursday by a panel of sports writers and coaches. He had previously been named the Class 6A Player of the Year.
“When the season ended, I figured that was the end of it,” May wrote in a text message. “But winning an award like the Florida Dairy Farmers Player of the year is the cherry on top.
“It’s something I you told me I’d win at the beginning of the season, I simply wouldn’t believe. I’m super grateful for everyone who helped me have an opportunity to achieve that award.”
Viera boys coach Nick Robinson was also recognized for his work this season. Robinson was named the Class 6A Coach of the Year and was the runner-up for the state’s overall top coach award.
May, a junior, scored 20 goals and had 22 assists as the Hawks finished 20-0-1 and beat Fort Myers 4-2 in the Class 6A state championship game at Spec Martin Stadium in DeLand. Viera was the only undefeated team in the state.
While the numbers May put up were impressive, it was when they came that really helped set the junior team captain apart. Here’s a look at what he did in the postseason alone:
* Converted a penalty kick in the district final against Heritage, a game Viera won 1-0 for the Hawks’ third straight title.
* Had a goal and an assist in a 5-1 regional quarterfinal win over Bartow.
* Delivered another penalty kick with 3 ½ minutes remaining in a 1-0 regional semifinal win over Melbourne.
* Scored the game’s first goal, and shifted the momentum Viera’s way, in what would be a 4-0 regional final win over New Smyrna Beach.
* With Viera trailing St. Thomas Aquinas 1-0 in the closing moments of the state semifinal, May assisted on Yordan Torres’ game-tying goal and then scored the game winner – all within 85 seconds – as the Hawk pulled off an incredible comeback to win 2-1.
* Opened the scoring in the state championship game with a goal to put the Hawks up 1-0. Then, with the score tied at 2-2, May delivered a perfect pass into the box that Alex Canlas headed into the net for the go-ahead and eventual game-winning goal.
For all that, May received 117 points in this year’s Mr. Soccer voting, finishing ahead of Mandarin’s Class 7A Player of the Year, Antonio Mancinotti, who had 92.
“Max has been instrumental in the team’s success over this last three-year period,” Robinson said. “It is extremely fulfilling to see someone thoroughly deserving get their individual accolades to go with the great achievements this program has been able to accomplish.”
May is the second Brevard County player to win the Mr. Soccer title. Melbourne’s Ryan Price won it in 2009.
Viera’s Brooke Walsh was named the Class 4A Player of the Year in 2018.
It doesn’t stop there for May, who has also been nominated for the Gatorade Player of the Year award for Florida.
