ALL-CENTRAL COAST SECTION
Player of the Year CAMILLE LAFAIX, ARCHBISHOP MITTY
By NATE SMITH Prep2Prep
An early February loss to St. Ignatius erased Mitty’s chances at another West Catholic Athletic League crown. The Monarchs, however, defied all doubters with three consecutive wins to capture another CCS Open Division title, a run sparked by senior leader Camille Lafaix.
Late in the season, despite battling injury, Lafaix jump-started Mitty’s run towards the post-season with a pair of outstanding performances to finish the regular season, notching a goal and two assists during a win over Sacred Heart Cathedral and then adding another two goals in a regular-season concluding victory over Valley Christian.
All the while, it was Lafaix’s creativity which constantly stood out for the Monarchs, exhibiting dribbling and passing skills which seemed to have no equal anywhere in the section. Those elements continued throughout the post-season, despite the Cal Poly commit playing the final six weeks of the season with a high ankle sprain that had been suffered midway through WCAL play.
“People don’t realize how tough she is,” commented Mitty coach JT Hanley. “She was also the most creative player on the field at all times, which resulted in her leading the league in goals, assists and match-winners.”
Nothing less should be expected from a student-athlete who grew up modeling her game after her favorite player, three-time FIFA World Player of the Year Zinedine Zidane. Having grown up in a French culture, Lafaix patterned her game after the former French star. She wears his former number and, like Zidane, excels as an attacking midfielder. In fact, Hanley even referred to her as ‘Le petit Zizou,’ referring to Zidane’s nickname.
The end result to having a leader and skilled player such as Lafaix was that Mitty could lean on its star player in the attacking half, and her ability to possess the ball was key in three straight 1-0 victories, as the Monarchs took down Los Gatos, Leland and St. Ignatius in succession to capture their second straight Open Division title.
For the year, Lafaix finished with 10 goals and eight assists. She led her team to big wins throughout the season, and not just in the playoffs. That included a Tri-Valley Classic win over eventual CIF Division II North champion St. Francis-Sacramento and a non-league win over eventual NCS Division IV champion Cardinal Newman, a match in which Lafaix had both a goal and an assist. Her efforts and obvious skill throughout the year resulted in her earning a share of the WCAL Player of the Year award.
“She was peerless in the midfield this year,” Hanley added. “She is just a great kid and an amazing footballer.”
For her efforts throughout the season, we are pleased to recognize Camille Lafaix as the Prep2Prep Central Coast Section Player of the Year.
Other players considered for this award include Christopher’s Aurea Martin, St. Ignatius’ Lauren Frohan, Mountain View’s Allie Montoya and Presentation’s Lauren Zontos.
Coach of the Year STEPHANIE BLOOM, LELAND
Stephanie Bloom is this year's CCS Girls Soccer Coach of the Year.
By NATE SMITH Prep2Prep
Despite staying consistently in the Mount Hamilton Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League, the Leland girls soccer program had done nothing extremely noteworthy over the past decade-plus, aside from a second-place league finish back in 2013. That all changed in the 2018-19 season, and it changed with the arrival of Stephanie Bloom as the head coach.
A mid-December victory over Menlo-Atherton gave a glimpse into the potential of the Chargers’ squad this season, but a draw with Live Oak to start league play was followed by a loss to Leigh. It would be, however, the only time during the league slate that Leland would taste defeat.
As the next five matches completed the first time through the league circuit, the only further blemish on the Chargers’ results was a draw with Ann Sobrato. When Leland beat Live Oak in the second meeting, it set up a late January showdown with Leigh, who had yet to lose a Mount Hamilton match at that point. This time, the Chargers bolted to an early lead, using first-half goals from freshman Ruby Teixeira and sophomore Shelby Scott to earn a 2-0 victory and gain the upper hand in the race for the league title.
The Chargers passed the rest of their regular season tests with flying colors, winning another five in a row to head into the post-season on a 12-game unbeaten streak. When Leigh tied and lost to Live Oak in those two meetings, it also meant that Leland was the outright league champion, earning a berth into the CCS Open Division playoff bracket.
With a chance to extend their season, the Chargers knocked off Menlo-Atherton again in the Open quarterfinals, clinching a CIF NorCal berth in the process, for the first time in program history. And though the season would then end with a pair of losses, neither impacts the break-through nature of this year for Leland. In fact, those losses came 1-0 in the Open semifinals to eventual CCS champion Mitty, and then a 2-0 defeat to eventual CIF NorCal Division II champion St. Francis-Sacramento.
A quick look at the roster also makes it clear that this should not be a one-and-done run of success for the Chargers and Bloom. Teixeira was the team’s leading scorer in her freshman campaign, followed by sophomores Rebecca Womer and Scott. And after finishing the year with an overall record of 16-4-3, including an 11-1-2 mark in league play, the bar will be set higher than ever for the Leland program.
For her efforts throughout the season, we are pleased to recognize Stephanie Bloom as the Prep2Prep Central Coast Section Coach of the Year.
Other coaches considered include Mitty’s JT Hanley, St. Ignatius’ Tracy Hamm, Mountain View’s Ivan Bandov, Menlo’s Ross Ireland and Los Gatos’ Daisy Vasquez.
FIRST TEAM ALL-CCS
Lauren Frohan, St.Ignatius
Position: Forward
Year: Senior
The Striker of the Year in the WCAL, Frohan led the way offensively for a defensive-minded Wildcats’ team which went unbeaten in league play. She had nine goals and one assist, all of which served to either win or tie games. In five of SI’s 10 victories, she was the only player to score, and the same held true in two different draws.
Sarah Canavan, Soquel
Position: Forward
Year: Sophomore
The MVP of the SCCAL, Canavan racked up 29 goals and seven assists this season. That included a brace during a Division I quarterfinal win over Presentation and a big two-goal, two-assist performance in a non-league win over San Benito.
Sasha Pickard, Saratoga
Position: Defender
Year: Senior
Pickard was named Defensive Player of the Year in the SCVAL-De Anza, and for good reason, after anchoring a Falcons’ defense which allowed just 16 goals all year and only one in the last seven regular-season games, which included a win over Mountain View.
Lexie Lotti, St. Ignatius
Position: Defender
Year: Senior
The Wildcats were no doubt a defensive-minded team, allowing just 15 goals in 23 matches and going unbeaten in WCAL play as a result. Lotti was a first-team All-WCAL selection, and her effort was critical all season long, especially since SI only scored 23 goals of its own.
Lauren Zontos, Presentation
Position: Goalkeeper
Year: Sophomore
Zontos was named co-Player of the Year in the WCAL, after posting eight clean sheets, including a pair of impressive performances where she turned away numerous shots against Saint Francis and Mitty to lead the Panthers to victory in both matches. All but two of Presentation’s wins came by shutout, as Zontos led the Panthers to the Division I playoffs.
SECOND TEAM ALL-CCS
Carly Lowi, San Benito
Position: Forward
Year: Senior
Lowi was named co-MVP of the PCAL-Gabilan, leading the Balers towards the top of the league standings and a berth in the Division III playoffs. She had a hat trick during a key regular-season victory over Christopher.
Adrienne Chan, Saratoga
Position: Goalkeeper
Year: Junior
Chan was named Keeper of the Year in the SCVAL-De Anza after posting nine clean sheets, including impressive shutout victories over Mountain View and Palo Alto. She allowed just two goals in the last month of the year, and just one in the last seven regular-season games.
THIRD TEAM ALL-CCS
Position: Forwards
Pricilla Yanez (Latino College Prep), Brenda Castillo (Homestead), Emely Ramirez (Piedmont Hills), Elyanna Magdaleno (Watsonville), Amaya Gray (Priory), Amy Lynn (Prospect), Rhea Chan (Sacred Heart Cathedral), Kelli Keady (Los Gatos)
Position: Midfielders
Morgan Day (Half Moon Bay), Camryn Borg (Leigh), Alexa Roskowski (Westmont), Katrina Avila (St. Ignatius), Claire Pare (Mountain View)
Position: Defenders
K Kayla Nanez (Valley Christian), Hanna Crawford (Christopher), Sophie Bessa (Monte Vista Christian), Sasha Bellack (Sacred Heart Prep), Erica Curtis (Leland), Mackenzie Rastatter (Soquel), Haley Dyer (Terra Nova)
HONORABLE MENTION:
ALISAL:
Gloria Alcantar
ALVAREZ:
Ency Soto
ANDREW HILL:
Diana Angel, Jennifer Limon
ANZAR:
Ebony Telford
APTOS:
Caroline Miller, Olivia Meier
ARAGON:
Jayla Stokesberry, Dianna Hagaki
ARCHBISHOP MITTY:
Shannon Coyle, Svea Neunfinger, Emma Vane
BRANHAM:
Jackie Gonzalez
BURLINGAME:
Sofie Rodriguez, Sophie Young
CAPUCHINO:
Yasmin Esquivel, Aliza Perez
CARLMONT:
Chiara Rigatvson
CARMEL:
Dillon Chiewpanich
CASTILLEJA:
Amanda Khu
CHRISTOPHER:
Alessandra Echauri, Taylor Mejia, Jenna Urrabazo
CRYSTAL SPRINGS UPLANDS:
Jayla Aldridge, Elaine Chen
CUPERTINO:
Anjali Sankar
DESIGN TECH:
Megan Reiterman
EASTSIDE COLLEGE PREP:
Ariana Aranda
EL CAMINO:
Noe Diep
FREMONT:
Katherine Davis
GONZALES:
Athena Landeros
GREENFIELD:
Julia Carrasco
GUNDERSON:
Evelyn Gonzalez, Marina Alvarez
GUNN:
Emersen Sweeney
HALF MOON BAY:
Rachel Rodrigues, Brianna Freitas
HARKER:
Julia Amick
HILLSDALE:
Aaliyah Schinaman, Kurumi Kaneko
HOMESTEAD:
Eden Politt, Fabio Suciu Zamora
JAMES LICK:
Belen Sanchez
KING CITY:
Jatziri Gaxiola, Leslie Medina
LATINO COLLEGE PREP:
Katherine Landaverde
LEIGH:
Kyana Elder, Josie Kim
LELAND:
Becca Womer, Alex Sochocki, Sofia Scola
LINCOLN:
Ana Medina-Suazo
LIVE OAK:
Bethany Urrabazo, Audrey Reed
LOS ALTOS:
Sarah Stoops, Zoe La Poll
LOS GATOS:
Caroline Demore, Emily Neddom
LYNBROOK:
Rei Trujillo
MARINA:
Kayleekai Aten
MENLO:
Katie Aufricht, Alexa Thomases, Catie Cassani
MENLO-ATHERTON:
Chase Wagner, Lizzie Young
MERCY-BURLINGAME:
Giana Zamagni
MERCY-SAN FRANCISCO:
Danielle Maguire
MILLS:
Nicole Bole, Sofia Skyriotis
MILPITAS:
Jessica Shin
MONTE VISTA CHRISTIAN:
Caroline Sullivan, Kailey Morrell
MONTEREY:
Arislady Cruz
MOUNTAIN VIEW:
Charis Toney, Sarah Davenport
NORTH MONTEREY COUNTY:
Maria Ramirez, Nathalie Maravillo
NORTH SALINAS:
Sofia Camacho
NOTRE DAME-BELMONT:
Ava Cholakian, Mariah Diaz
NOTRE DAME-SALINAS:
Presley Garcia
NOTRE DAME-SAN JOSE:
Haley Corneliso
NUEVA:
Sophia Yang, Gaelen Clayton
OAK GROVE:
Samantha Romero
OAKWOOD:
Emily Moya
OCEANA:
Carmella Baldasarre, Simone Ocampo
OVERFELT:
Kenya Rodriguez, Xitlali Venegas
PACIFIC COLLEGIATE:
Roxana Jimenez-Ortiz
PACIFIC GROVE:
Gaby Giraldo
PAJARO VALLEY:
Jasmine Castillo
PALO ALTO:
Khadija Abid, Leela Srinvasan
PIEDMONT HILLS:
Daphine Alcaraz
PINEWOOD:
Sam King
PIONEER:
Danelle Dunn
PRESENTATION:
Ciara Mahoney, Megan Lore
PROSPECT:
Rosa Sorbello, Kate Hickman
SACRED HEART CATHEDRAL:
Sophia Rodil, Evelani Dudum
SACRED HEART PREP:
Juliana Rosen
SALINAS:
Taylor Freitas
SAN BENITO:
Mayvene Molina, Jada Taylor
SAN JOSE:
Julia Aquino-Hernandez, Esmeralda Molina
SAN LORENZO VALLEY:
Tiana Bumbaca-Kuehl
SAN MATEO:
Jenna Vath
SANTA CATALINA:
Leoan Lind-Aunan, Niamh Burke
SANTA CLARA:
Jenna Pooler, Analicia Bonelli
SANTA CRUZ:
Maya Moore, Summer Laskey
SANTA TERESA:
Ariel Thongkham
SARATOGA:
Ananya Kriscnan
SCOTTS VALLEY:
Mattie Menchaca
SEASIDE:
Meleseni Moala
SEQUOIA:
Jennifer Billman, Heather Benway
SILVER CREEK:
Alyssa Tinoco
SOBRATO:
Olivia Adatas
SOLEDAD:
Delilah Martinez
SOQUEL:
Emily Poole, Grace Bailey
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO:
Leilani Jara, Alexandra Arouxet Jara
STEVENSON:
Helen Yang
ST. FRANCIS:
Nicola Lebakos, Riley Burrill
ST. FRANCIS- WATSONVILLE:
Riley Croghan, Makenna Bedolla
ST. IGNATIUS:
Elle Van Giesen, Olivia Carroll, Audrey Schaffer
TERRA NOVA:
Marina Bucini
THE KING'S ACADEMY:
Sydney Aguinaga
VALLEY CHRISTIAN:
Faye Karoglou, Katherine Kooiman
WATSONVILLE:
Brianna Guerrero, Ashley Haduca
WESTMONT:
Anika Roskowski, Sara Prough
WESTMOOR:
Alaa Hammed, Johanna DeSouza
WILLOW GLEN:
Lia Mowery, Sydney Imokawa
WOODSIDE:
Ella Driscoll, Brynn McClymond
WOODSIDE PRIORY:
Anysa Gray, Vivian Wang
YERBA BUENA:
Jackie Castillo
YORK:
Cynthia Ortiz-Naranjo
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