Two Robeson County soccer players are being recognized among the best players in the state.

Lumberton’s Hoslerson Joseph and St. Pauls’ Anthony Sosa were each named to the North Carolina Soccer Coaches Association’s All-State team when it was announced last week.

Joseph, an All-State selection in 4A, helped lead the Pirates to a 19-2-1 season and the United-8 Conference championship; the junior forward scored 38 goals with 10 assists. He was named player of the year for both the United-8 and Robeson County.

“It’s a tremendous honor for him,” Lumberton coach Kenny Simmons said. “He had a tremendous, All-State-caliber season for us. Son will be the first to tell you it’s all about the team, but for him to get that accolade is great for him.”

Joseph is Lumberton’s first All-State player since Rene Altamirano in 2017 and the sixth in program history, Simmons said.

“It’s good for the program; anytime you can get a player recognized on that level, it’s good for the program,” Simmons said.

Sosa, picked for the 2A All-State team, scored 28 goals with four assists this season for the Bulldogs, who finished 9-8 overall and reached the second round of the state playoffs.

“If anybody’s been deserving of it I would have to say him. He had the goals, the numbers to be able to put it up, to make it happen, and he’s been committed to the program for three years and he’s gotten better and better.”

The senior forward is St. Pauls’ first All-State honoree in boys soccer.

“To have that caliber of talent definitely helps out on the field,” Martin said. “He was able to decide games this season pretty much singlehandedly by himself. It’s amazing recognition for the school, with people looking our way and seeing what they’re doing, and it lets players know that if they play at St. Pauls High School they have a coach that’ll work to make sure they get recognized, at the local, regional and state level.”

Joseph also earned All-Region honors from the NCSCA in 4A Region 4 and Sosa in 2A Region 5.

In 4A Region 4, Lumberton senior defender/midfielder Jon Carrera, senior defender Julian McGarahan, junior goalkeeper Ben Hunt, junior forward Luis Izeta, senior defender Ashton Sumpter and sophomore forward Angel Robles and Purnell Swett senior striker Cale Harris, senior midfielder/defender Zachary Hunt, senior midfielder Jalen Hunt, senior defender Nehemiah Maynor, sophomore striker/midfielder Kevin Locklear and sophomore goalkeeper Daniel Hunt also earned All-Region selections.

St. Pauls senior midfielder/defenders Jason Zamora and Gustavo Bravo also earned All-Region recognition in 2A Region 5.

Simmons was also named as the 4A Region 4 Coach of the Year.