Central California Boys All-Area Team
Two of the top teams in the State reside in the large area that is Central California, as the team is littered with Clovis North and Alisal players. And for good reason. Clovis North had a special season, finishing ranked…
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Continue ReadingTwo of the top teams in the State reside in the large area that is Central California, as the team is littered with Clovis North and Alisal players. And for good reason. Clovis North had a special season, finishing ranked No. 3 in the State while Alisal finished ranked in the Top 15. Seven players between these two squads comprise the Top XI in the area.
KEEPER: Lucas Tabangcura of Clovis North was selected as the Co-Defensive MVP of the Tri-River Athletic Conference, an award that usually goes to a defender, so to win it as a keeper says a lot. He is going to be playing at UC Merced. He kept 17 clean sheets and allowed less than half a goal a match.
DEFENDERS: Josh Gault, a sophomore from Clovis North, makes the team and for good reason. He is a stud defender who played MLS Next for Sacramento Republic. Gault is joined by Oscar Villagrana of Ridgeview-Bakersfield, the Defender of the Year in Bakersfield, as per the Bakersfield Californian, as well as Ronaldo Corona from Alisal who was a first-team All-Pacific Coast Athletic League selection.
MIDFIELDERS: Yoni Avelar of Alisal was the MVP of the PCAL MVP and the heartbeat for the Trojans. Brandon Lopez of Clovis North joins him as he was second on his team with 11 assists and was first-team All-TRAC. The Offensive MVP of the TRAC, Kobe Iracheta of Clovis High, joins the team as well Alan Copado of Salinas High.
FORWARDS: Bryan Lopez highlights this group of forwards as he had what can only be called a phenomenal season. He had 29 goals and 26 assists, winning the MVP of the TRAC. He and his brother Brandon are listed as uncommitted below because they will be playing next year, and are narrowing down their choices, and a choice could be coming any day. Nathan Saldana was the leading scorer for Alisal and was first-team All-PCAL and Josh Bryant of Ridgeview was the Forward of the Year as selected by the Bakersfield Californian.
Position | Name | School | Grade | Commitment |
GK | Lucas Tabangcura | Clovis North | Senior | UC Merced |
D | Oscar Villagrana | Ridgeview-Bakersfield | Senior | Bakersfield College |
D | Ronaldo Corona | Alisal | Junior | |
D | Josh Gault | Clovis North | Sophomore | |
M | Yoni Avelar | Alisal | Senior | |
M | Brandon Lopez | Clovis North | Senior | Uncommitted |
M | Kobe Iracheta | Clovis | Senior | |
M | Alan Copado | Salinas | Senior | |
F | Josh Bryant | Ridgeview-Bakersfield | Senior | |
F | Nathan Saldana | Alisal | Senior | |
F | Bryan Lopez | Clovis North | Senior | Uncommitted |