Soccer is considered worldwide as “the beautiful game.”

Last Sunday night at the Northampton Community Center, soccer was the main attraction, albeit off of the field.

Male and female Lehigh Valley high school scholar athletes were recognized, with a male and two females taking home the honors of the scholarship award.

When longtime Catasauqua Area High School head coach Trajano Bastidas was inducted into the Lehigh Valley Soccer Hall of Fame, he talked about his passion for the sport, and how he grew up around the game and gave the love of it to his three sons.

“Soccer is a great game, and one that you can play until you’re 40 or 50 years old,” Bastidas said. “I grew up not having enough money for even cleats, but I loved to play the game and was passionate about it, and I passed that down to my sons and every player I ever coached.”

Bastidas told the student-athletes in attendance to carry on the tradition of passion of the game even after their high school careers are over.

And there was even something new that happened in the 30th annual Lehigh Valley Soccer Scholar Banquet.

Out of the 42 schools represented, Moravian Academy’s Jonathan Painter took home the Frank D. Olszewski Memorial Scholarship award, and two females tied in voting, won the Gary F. Toth Scholarship award. Annika Sundlof of Saucon Valley and Southern Lehigh’s Bridgett Cerciello were named the winners.

The Scholar-Athlete awards banquet was initiated in 1975 by the Lehigh Valley Soccer League, but featured only a boys award until girls varsity came into existence in 1992.

The nominees are selected jointly by their coaches and the school administration. The criteria utilized is 40-percent academic achievement, 40-percent athletic ability, and 20-percent extracurricular activities. Each candidates’ credentials are then submitted to the Soccer Scholar Athlete Committee who decides the overall winner.

Painter helped lead a Lions team that finished the year with a 19-4-1 record and a District 11 A title.

“My parents have been a big part of my success,” Painted stated. “Growing up they let me and my brother form a mini soccer field in the living room. They’ve just always been there and supported me.”

Sundlof was a part of a Panthers team that went 15-3-1.

“Bridgett [Cerciello] and I actually played club soccer together, so it is really cool to share this award with her,” Sundlof said. “It’s an amazing honor to receive this award with how hard I’ve worked this year.”

Cerciello’s Spartans were 18-6 on the year.

“I really did not expect this,” noted Cerciello. “There are so many great and deserving student-athletes out here, and to win this award is something I will never forget.”

Lehigh Valley Press nominees were: Northampton - Lauren Sterner, Thomas Reinhard; Catasauqua - Noelle Nalbandian, Nathan Pontician; Whitehall - Jillian Kreglow, Javaughn Hussett; Becahi - Rachel Willis , Matthew O. Shaffer; Freedom - Alex S. Thomas; Liberty - Michael P. Visperas and Cailey A. Sanchez.