VOTE for Who's South Jersey's all-time best men's soccer player

Who is the best men's soccer player from South Jersey?

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As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, USA TODAY Sports will celebrate the 250 greatest American sports figures of all time. Alongside that national recognition, the USA TODAY Network will spotlight the roots of the country’s sports culture: the high school athletes and sports figures who shaped communities and defined their states.

In July, we will showcase our list of the top 250 overall athletes in South Jersey history.

But first we are going to take a look at athletes in their individual sports.

First up, we're honoring the stars of the pitch. Here are our selections for the men's soccer players who defined the South Jersey region. The 10 players (listed in alphabetical order) were all standout players at the high school level before moving on to even greater heights at the collegiate and professional levels.

Medford native Brenden Aaronson has put together a stellar rookie season for the Union. Wednesday he was recalled by the U.S. Men's National Team.

Brenden Aaronson, Shawnee

The “Medford Messi” attended Shawnee High School for a year before moving onto the Philadelphia Union’s YSC Academy. He played 51 games for the Union, scoring seven goals, including his first professional goal in his debut. Aarsonson would play overseas with Red Bull Salzburg and is now with Leeds United. He’s also scored nine goals on the United States national team.

Glenn Carbonara, Vineland

A 1984 graduate of Vineland High, Carbonara tallied a then-New Jersey record 67 goals in his senior season. After a standout career at Rutgers University, he played 15 seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League and National Professional Soccer League, scoring 97 goals in 506 games. Carbonara also played for the United States national futsal team.

Byron Carmichael is a former Rancocas Valley High School soccer player who went on to play for the Kixx.

Byron Carmichael, Rancocas Valley

Carmichael scored a RV-record 35 goals en route to South Jersey player of the Year honors as a senior in 1998. He went on to become Marshall University’s all-time leading scorer with 58 goals and 128 points, earning MAC Player of the Year twice. He went on to play before professional soccer and played eight seasons with the Ocean City Barons/Nor’easters where he tallied 62 goals and 148 points in 102 games – all team records.

Bobby Joe Esposito, Riverside

A three-time All-South Jersey first-team selection with then-Garden State record 150 scholastic goals, Esposito was named the Courier-Post’s Player of the Century in 1999. Esposito scored 42 times in his senior season, which was also a record at the time. After a standout career at Rutgers where he was an All-American in 1986, Esposito played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League, including a stint with the Philadelphia KiXX where he scored 33 goals in 108 career games.

Shawnee's Stephen King, right, and Kearny's Nick Fernandez battle for the ball during a group 4 boys soccer championship game at the College of New Jersey in 2002.

Stephen King, Shawnee

A two-time state champion and two-time South Jersey Player of the Year for the Courier-Post, King led the Renegades to a 99-5-3 mark over his scholastic career. He was the New Jersey Gatorade and NSCAA Player of the Year as a senior when he scored 24 goals and 21 assists. At Maryland, he started 93 games and scored 30 goals, helping to lead the Terrapins to the 2005 NCAA national championship. He went on to play four seasons in professional soccer, logging 77 games with Chicago, Seattle and D.C. United.

Cleve Lewis

Cleve Lewis, John F. Kennedy

While his family is more known for track and field, this Lewis set the standard on the soccer pitch. He scored over 100 goals in high school, including a state-best 36 as a senior and finished with a then-New Jersey record of 87 points that season. He was an All-American at Brandeis University where he led the Judges to the NCAA Division III national championship in 1976 and finished with a program-record 58 career goals. After being drafted in the first round by the Cosmos in the NASL’s college draft in 1978, but would be traded to the Memphis Rogues.

Steve Rammel, West Deptford

Rammel deposited 90 career goals at West Deptford, leading the Eagles to two state championships and three Courier-Post Cups (given to South Jersey’s No. 1 team). Rammel was selected as Parade Magazine’s National Player of the Year in 1986. He would star at Rutgers University (44 career goals) as the Scarlet Knights advanced to the national championship game in 1989. After playing professionally overseas, Rammel would play stateside with the D.C. United and Colorado Rapids.

Delran's Drew Roskos (3) gives instructions as he moves the ball forward against the Cinnaminson defense in their South Jersey Group 2 semifinal at Delran High School on Monday, November 8, 2021.

Drew Roskos, Delran

A two-time New Jersey Player of the Year and three-time United Coaches Association High School All-American, Roskos scored 84 times for Delran, including a school single-season record of 33 in 2021 along with 22 goals in 18 career playoff games. He is currently playing at Bucknell. Roskos was also a standout wrestler, posting a 120-12 career record.

Chad Severs of Ocean City (left) and Rob Krawiec of Cumberland fight for the ball during a boys soccer game in 1999.

Chad Severs, Ocean City

The most prolific goal scorer in South Jersey high school history, the 2000 Ocean City High School graduate led the area in scoring three times and still holds the region’s record for career goals with 159. He helped lead Ocean City to two state championships before going to play at Penn State where he posted 38 goals and 90 points in his collegiate career.

Peter Vermes, Delran

Delivered 109 career goals at Delran High School, his final marker coming in overtime in the state Group 2 final in 1983. Following a season at Loyola College, Vermes shined at Rutgers University, including a senior season when he finished runner-up for the National Player of the Year award. He played 14 seasons of professional soccer and scored 11 goals in 66 games for the United States national team, playing in the 1998 Summer Olympics, 1990 FIFA World Cup and 1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Tom McGurk is a regional sports editor for the Courier-Post, The Daily Journal and Burlington County Times, covering South Jersey sports for over 35 years. If you have a sports story that needs to be told, contact him by emailat tmcgurk@usatodayco.com. Follow him on Twitter at @McGurkSports. Help support local journalism with a digital subscription.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Who's South Jersey's all-time best men's soccer player? VOTE now