By MICHAEL KELLY

For the Express

BROADALBIN — The best season in Broadalbin-Perth Patriots soccer history got a little bit richer this as of Sunday, Dec. 11.

At that weekend’s Section II soccer banquet, a trio of Patriots were recognized for their stellar performances this past season, which ended just under a month ago in a New York State Class B championship.

Dom Kwiatkowski was named the Section II Small School Player of the Year, Madison Wilcox was named the keeper of the year and head coach Brian Henry earned the nod top coach.

Both Kwiatkowski and Wilcox said their awards were well-appreciated, but secondary to the state title achieved by their team.

“It’s great to be recognized,” said Wilcox. “It’s definitely second to winning the state title, but I’ll take it. It’s great to be recognized for all the hard work we put into our season and during our lives.

“Every now and then, I still wake up and am like, ‘Wow! We won states!’ and that’s always pretty awesome,” continued Wilcox. “That’s seriously happened like 10 times.”

“I still haven’t really grasped it yet,” added Kwiatkowski. “It still feels awesome every time (I think about it). I’m still on cloud nine from it.”

Kwiatkowski’s play was equally lofty all season, as the leading goal scorer for the Patriots raced his way to 36 goals. Besides the Section II honor, the senior also was previously named the Foothills Council Co-Player of the Year, was named the most valuable player of the state tournament, and was the only Section II player named to the All-State First Team.

“Especially being first-team All-State meant a lot,” said Kwiatkowski. “Madison (Wilcox) making one of the teams, too, made it even better.”

Wilcox was named to the state’s fourth team.

Henry credited the duo for his Section II award, as well as the rest of his Patriots.

“It’s nice to be recognized as the coach of the year, but I’ve got to give all the credit to the guys,” he said. “They have all the tools to be successful and it’s just my job to make sure they use them. I’m more of a facilitator and they’re a really fun group to work with.”

In addition to the individual awards received at the banquet, all the Patriots were invited to the ceremony because of the team’s state championship; typically, only the players who were named to their leagues’ all-star teams are invited. As the night’s honored guests, the undefeated Patriots were treated to a highlight video of their season and each were given state championship trophies, Henry said.

“It was fantastic,” the coach said. “It was really nice because the entire Section II community really received us well.”

The Patriots return multiple key contributors for next year from this past season’s championship squad, but Henry said filling the cleats of Kwiatkowski and Wilcox will not be easy.

“We wouldn’t have been where we are right now without those two,” said Henry. “I can’t imagine our season being as successful without those two on the field.”