Players who led their team to a CIF titles
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California wrapped up its high school soccer season on Saturday with its regional state championships. Ten teams claimed NorCal and SoCal titles. BOYS Division I Servite, the top-ranked team in California, topped San Pasqual 2-1 to finish off an incredible…
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Continue ReadingCalifornia wrapped up its high school soccer season on Saturday with its regional state championships. Ten teams claimed NorCal and SoCal titles.
BOYS
Division I
Servite, the top-ranked team in California, topped San Pasqual 2-1 to finish off an incredible season and win the SoCal title with Kevin Sanchez and Daniel Gutierrez scoring goals. Keeper Merrick Cook Merrick Cook M CA , center back JT Danks and the always-consistent attacking midfielder Eddie Villeda stood out.
Whitney topped Watsonville 3-1 to win the NorCal title, building a 2-0 halftime lead and adding a third before Watsonville scored. The Wildcats opened the scoring when Gonzaga-bound senior Robbie Mora Arias intercepted a failed clearance, beat a Watsonville defender and scored from 15 yards out. It was Mora Arias fifth goal of the NorCals.
Three minutes later, senior Jackson Garza received the ball on the right flank before driving to the endline and sliding the ball across into space where senior Brayden Goularte’s first time shot was stopped by the Watsonville keeper. In the 38th minute, junior Darius Dukes Darius Dukes M CA received the ball on the left flank after making the overlapping run and drove the ball deep before playing the ball diagonally back to St. Mary’s-bound senior Hector Serrano Martin to slot the ball into the side netting to extend the lead to 2-0 heading into halftime.
In the 52nd minute, Serrano Martin took advantage of a miscommunication by the Watsonville goalkeeper and center back to intercept a pass played back before walking into the net to complete his brace. Watsonville would get one back in the 59th minute when they played a ball into the box and after a deflected clearance fell to one of their attackers, they scored the goal from five yards out. Watsonville almost came up with a second goal, but senior keeper Andrew Vanden Akker came through with the diving, extended save to his right to use a strong hand to parry the shot wide.
Division II
Torrey Pines claimed the SoCal, topping Redondo Union 2-0 as Andrew Mitchell Andrew Mitchell F CA and Elijah Zelkind Elijah Zelkind D CA scored goals. The Falcons defense kept yet another clean sheet, their 13th of the season.
Marin Academy scored a goal in the second minute of overtime, topping Archie Williams 3-2 in a rematch of the North Coast Section DIII final. Marin Academy built leads of 1-0 and 2-1, with Archie pegging back both times including a 79th minute goal to force OT.
Malcolm Zalayet Malcolm Zalayet F #142 Nation CA scored twice for the Wildcats, including the title winner with Tyler Huck Tyler Huck M CA adding a goal in between. Owen Benson Owen Benson F CA and Zach Lillington scored for the Falcons.
Division III
Garces Memorial completed a tremendous season, going 21-1-1 after a 1-0 win over top-seeded Francis Parker. The lone goal came from the Bank brothers, Palmer Bank Palmer Bank D Garces Memorial | 2022 CA found Fletcher Bank Fletcher Bank M Garces Memorial | 2022 CA with a long throw and the latter buried a convincing header at the far post. This was the last game at Garces for the twins, who head off to Stanford.
Keeper Joseph Gutierrez stood out as well with his 15th clean sheet, while Matthew Mendoza had the best performance of his season, working tirelessly up and down the pitch. Benjamin Jimenez Benjamin Jimenez M CA , Nick Iturriria and Christian Chase played big roles as well.
Patterson claimed the NorCal throne, topping Aragon 3-0. The Tigers had the bulk of possession, played well on the defensive end and got bookend goals from Jonathan Gallardo, with a goal from Johan Mendoza sandwiched in-between. Mendoza assisted on Gallardo’s first goal while Luis Maravilla and Antonio Gallegos had goals as well.
Division IV
Steele Canyon got past King/Drew on a cold, rainy and very windy night, winning in PK’s after a 1-1 draw in the SoCal final. The Cougars scored the equalizer with just seconds left in stoppage time to ultimately get to penalties, as sophomore Erik Rosales scored. Rosales starred again during kicks, burying his penalty for the win. Rosales can thank senior keeper Alex Shields who saved the third PK with a tremendous stop, helping give Steele Canyon its first State title after winnings its first ever San Diego Section title.
Vintage topped Sacred Heart Prep 2-1 to win the NorCal final, bouncing back after conceding a very early goal. A defensive mistake led to a goal three minutes in, and the score stayed that way into the second half. After some adjustments, the Crushers came out and equalized just two minutes into the second half on a goal from Iztili Garcia, who flicked the ball over the keeper. The goal came after Gustavo Avina was in 1v1 and his shot was saved, but Garcia took the rebound and cooly scored.
The winner came when Noel Lopez sent a free kick into the box and Anthony Stainer was able to recover, control a loose ball and with his back to goal he was able to adjust and get off a side volley that found the net and eventually won the game.
Division V
Temple City exacted revenge from a 3-2 loss in the Southern Section Division V title game, topping Los Altos 2-0 in the SoCal final. Henry Hoang scored the first goal while Ryan Ching erased any doubt with a 79th minute goal to secure the win.
King City traveled all the way to Wheatland and won the NorCal crown, winning 2-1 on an overtime winner from Victor Narez. Narez scored both goals, scoring the first on an assist from his younger brother, Diego Narez.
GIRLS
Division I
The Temecula Valley girls team had quite the season, securing four championships, including the SoCal DI title after a 4-1 win over San Marcos. They won the Southern Section title, the Southwestern League title and were the winners in the Best of the West’s elite bracket.
Temecula Valley was led this season by Natalie Mitchell Natalie Mitchell M CA who had 35 goals and 17 assists and is heading to East Carolina to play, and Kate Jacobsen who had 23 goals and 20 assists. Zoe Willis led the back line and was the team’s best defensive player while Ellie Ludwig elevated her game during the post-season, making huge saves and playing with confidence. Peyton Bundy stood out in the playoffs and is heading to play at Colorado Mesa.
“I am so proud of my entire team including the coaching staff,” Temecula Valley coach Jennifer Guinn said. “Collectively as a group we accomplished everything we went after. Goals were set and they pushed through. The senior class was persistent. They led with passion, compassion, and true leadership. They were legacy setters and accomplished the highest achievement possible in high school soccer. It does not get better than that.”
In the NorCal bracket, Oak Ridge topped Buchanan in penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw. The match was marred, unfortunately, with heckling of the Buchanan players that went over the line.
Division II
After beating Oaks Christian 3-0 in the Southern Section final, Redondo Union beat Los Osos 2-1 to win the SoCal title as well. Redondo Union was led by Mia Minestrella Mia Minestrella F Redondo Union (CA) | 2023 State #12 Nation CA who scored 33 goals. Keeper Jenna Anglin allowed only two goals in seven playoff matches and Alysa Whelchel Alysa Whelchel M CA led the midfield all season long, and scored the game-winning goal against Los Osos with a header from a Eissa Quinones corner kick.
America Frias America Frias F CA scored the loan goal as the UCLA-bound player scored in the 5th minute as Leigh topped Granite Bay 1-0 to wi the NorCal title.
Division III
West High of Torrance claimed the SoCal title as the second-seeded Warriors topped No. 1 seed El Segundo 2-1. Makena Irvine Makena Irvine M CA scored the first goal on an assist from Hannah Nagashima Hannah Nagashima M West (CA) | 2024 CA and Lindsey Park scored the game-winner on an assist from Annie Ball. Amaya Sanles had three saves.
Chico claimed the NorCal title, traveling to Marin Academy to win in penalties after a 1-1 draw. Priscilla Ward Priscilla Ward F CA scored the Panthers goal during the run of play and buried the title-winning penalty. Becca Sherry had the Marin Academy goal, an early strike for a 1-0 lead.
Division IV
St. Joseph of Lakewood won the SoCal title as the Jesters topped Hemet 3-2. They found themselves down 2-0 at halftime, but scored the next three goals, including the winner in the 91st minute. Mia Escandon scored the game-winner in overtime, Phoenix Tucker and Rachel Farragher scored the first two goals to force overtime. Bridget Arnold and Tyariz Hernandez scored the goals for Hemet.
The Christopher High girls claimed the NorCal title, scoring the lone goal in the 75th minute for the title winner over Pioneer. Jenna Urrabazo scored the goal, while Kaiya Stewart Kaiya Stewart F CA and Taylor Mejia stood out for the Cougars.
Division V
Kimball traveled to Sutter and topped Sutter Union 1-0 as the Jaguars claimed the NorCal title. Mia Leval scored the lone goal, getting on the end of a Jordan Sawyer cross for the winner. Leval and Mariya Hinojosa continued to put pressure on the Sutter back line for the entire match as Hinojosa was elusive and crafty with the ball and was hard to contain. Charlize Castro was also a threat on the outside and was able to be dangerous in the middle, and nearly scored twice.
Sawyer and Brooklyn Vanderlip were highly effective in the back, marking well, cutting out passes and starting counterattacks while center backs Allyson Thompson Allyson Thompson D Kimball | 2022 CA and Yesenia Contreras were strong defensively. Thompson was particularly good in making tackles and thwarting attacks.
Emily Chacon and Priscilla Gonzalez were solid in the midfield, passing well and tracking back to defend while Jordan Claire was outstanding as the keeper, saving 10 shots by Sutter, including a point-blank shot just after Kimball had scored.
The Webb Schools topped Arrowhead Christian 3-2 in the SoCal final.