OBSERVER Photo by Scott Reagle Maple Grove’s Eli Moore scored 30 goals and chipped in 10 assists this season for the Red Dragons.

Ever since Eli Moore stepped on the pitch for the Maple Grove Red Dragons he has been one of the premier players in Section VI.

In his junior season, Moore set the bar to a new height when he led Maple Grove all the way to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class C final four on the heels of 29 goals and 13 assists. With the way Moore performed he was most deserving of the 2021 Post-Journal/OBSERVER Boys Soccer Player of the Year.

After such an impressive junior season, the expectations on then Maple Grove senior were monumental. But if there is someone up to the task of exceeding expectations, it is Eli Moore.

Despite losing a veteran core that included 2021 Post-Journal/OBSERVER All-Stars Sam Eimiller at defender, Alex MacCallum and RJ Helt both in the midfield, Moore managed to surpass his goal total from last year in less games with 30 and he added 10 assists which led the Red Dragons. Overall, Moore was involved with 57% of the goals scored by Maple Grove this season.

With the departure of such a talented core in important positions, it was up to Moore to step up this season and lead the future of Maple Grove.

“Eli Moore is an outstanding player,” Maple Grove head coach Eric Daigler said earlier this season. “Every time he steps on the field he boosts everybody. This year I’m proud of him for setting the goal record, but also proud of the way he’s stepped up as a vocal leader on this team. He has really gone to extra lengths to make sure he is maximizing his influence on this team and it’s very positive.”

Powered by Moore, Maple Grove was flawless in the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Central Division with a 10-0-0 record. While last year the Red Dragons lost a game, this year on the perfect run they outscored opponents 52-5 and Moore found the back of the net in every game. His efforts made him the obvious choice for Player of the Year in the league.

“Eli’s performance speaks for itself,” Maple Grove assistant coach Cara Abbey said after a win earlier this season. “He’s dominant on the field, this is his fourth year playing and second year as a captain. His experience is so obvious when he has seven guys on him and he can still dribble through them.”

Prior to his senior season, Moore had already established himself as one of the all-time greats in Maple Grove High School athletics, but on Sept. 19 he cemented himself in the record books as the boys soccer team’s all-time leading scorer.

Moore needed two goals to surpass the previous mark and with him it wasn’t a question of if he could, but rather of how long it would take him. It took just 12:42 into the game for him to score his second goal which was his fourth point after he collected two assists.

“It’s an awesome feeling,” Moore said about passing the record after the game. “I can’t say this was a goal of mine, but as the years went on I realized I was getting closer and closer. I thank my teammates so much, it wouldn’t be possible without the countless assists.”

Moore leaves the school record at 83 goals, wrapping up his final two games with hat tricks. The Red Dragons’ season came to a shocking end with an upset loss to Ellicottville in the Section VI Class D final 4-3, but that does not mean Moore and Maple Grove went down without a valiant effort.

In his final high school game, Moore and the Red Dragons quickly found themselves down 2-0 to Ellicottville in the sectional final. After waiting two weeks between its games, Maple Grove was not off to a great start, but then Moore turned things around in the 37th minute by scoring his first goal of the contest.

Moore’s first goal gave the Red Dragons much needed life before halftime and something to build on in the second half. It did not take long for Moore to thrust Maple Grove into the lead as he scored twice in 20 minutes for a hat trick and the lead. Unfortunately, Moore did not just face a push back from the Eagles, but he also had to battle injury in the match.

He came in and out of the match to deal with a leg injury and even with all of that he still managed some terrific scoring opportunities late in the game and overtime, but just ran into a hot goalie.

Eli Moore’s season may have not ended the way he would have hoped for, but there is no doubt for all of the reasons above that he is the 2022 Post-Journal/OBSERVER Boys Soccer Player of the Year.