If there was one junior in the Central Coast Section who entered this year with a target on his jersey, it was certainly Ricardo Tovar Herrera, who had already scored 18 goals in each of his first two high school seasons. Those two years would end up paling in comparison with his junior year, however, as he far surpassed the production of his earlier seasons and lifted his team to great heights in the process.

Tovar Herrera started his season with a bang, notching a hat trick and an assist during a 4-0 win over San Jose. It was the first of 11 multi-goal efforts for the junior, who led Mt. Pleasant to a first-place tie with Evergreen Valley in the Santa Teresa Division. After seeing his Cardinals team receive the six seed in the CCS Division 2 bracket, Tovar Herrera went to work. He assisted on a goal in a 2-0 win over Carlmont in the quarterfinals, and then had a role in all three goals during a 3-1 semifinal win over Leigh, scoring twice and assisting on the third.

The efforts of the junior captain lifted Mt. Pleasant all the way into the section title game for the second time in three years. Unfortunately for Tovar Herrera and the Cardinals, they were unable to get past former league rival Branham in a defensive stalemate which ended in penalty kicks, but the turnaround from a sub.-500 record the previous season was complete nonetheless.

The season totals were staggering. Tovar Herrera ended the year with 30 goals and nine assists, without ever padding those numbers against inferior competition. In fact, many of his goals were key goals to the end result. Examples include scoring the only goal in a 1-1 draw with Leland, both goals in a 2-2 draw with Latino Prep, and both goals in a 2-2 draw with Yerba Buena.

Mt. Pleasant lost just once during the regular season – to co-champion Evergreen Valley – and in that 2-1 loss, it was Tovar Herrera who put the Cardinals on the board. In two matches against third-place Andrew Hill, it was the lethal scoring ability of the talented striker which carried the Cardinals to a pair of victories to secure their place in the league standings, notching three goals and two assists in the two wins over the Falcons.

For his efforts throughout this season, we are pleased to recognize Mt. Pleasant’s Ricardo Tovar Herrera as the Prep2Prep Central Coast Section Junior of the Year.

Other players considered include Bellarmine’s Tate Hackett, Watsonville’s Jeal Leal and Mitty’s Noah Robertson.

NOTE: We would like to thank our media partners, coaches, parents, players and fans for contributing photos for our all-section features. We salute all of the players that have made this a wonderful season of CCS soccer.