ALL-CENTRAL COAST SECTION
Player of the Year
EMMA VANE, ARCHBISHOP MITTY
Following the conclusion of the 2018-19 season, Mitty coach JT Hanley laid a challenge at the feet of then-sophomore Emma Vane. Hanley had just witnessed the type of intensity from Vane that his team would need in the coming year, after getting routed by NorCal rival Monte Vista-Danville in the CIF Division 1 regional quarterfinals.
“Everyone could see she took the loss (to Monte Vista) personally,” Hanley said. “She made a statement with her play late in that game, so we challenged her to carry that into every game this year, and she did just that.”
As her junior year progressed, Vane’s play continued to stand out, especially in a 10-match stretch following a loss to Saint Francis. The Monarchs reeled off 10 straight victories, and Vane had either the game-winning goal or assist in nine of those 10 matches. The lone exception was Alexa Arancio’s free kick that served as the game-winner in the CCS Open Division title game.
“Emma looks at every game as a big game,” Hanley added. “Her competitive mentality is as good as any kid I have ever coached at Mitty.”
Having the right mentality was one big asset for Vane, but even then, it is her technical expertise which allows her to stand out against any competition.
“You could know nothing about soccer, and you would still pick her out as the top player on the field, in just a matter of minutes,” Hanley continued. “She is peerless from a technical standpoint. She can dribble through spaces that most players wouldn’t even think of.”
The other thing which is clear about Vane is that she is a winner. With her leading the attack, notching 11 goals and 12 assists, the Monarchs stormed to WCAL and CCS Open Division titles, before eventually reaching the CIF NorCal Division 1 title game. But the soccer pitch is not her only competitive arena.
This past fall, Vane stood out in field hockey for Mitty. Despite being a top player regionally with plenty of college options for soccer, Vane was also a first-team all-league selection in field hockey and scored the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Los Gatos for the CCS championship.
“Emma is such a fun kid, and loved by her teammates, but she is ultra-competitive in everything she does,” Hanley said. “If there is a score being kept, she wants to win. We can’t instill that in someone, we can only cultivate what is already there.”
Hanley knows full well how the competitive juices run in the family, having also coached both of Emma’s sisters. Now, he gets one more year with a player who already led his team to success and earned WCAL Player of the Year honors in the process.
For her efforts this season, we are pleased to recognize Emma Vane as the Prep2Prep Central Coast Section Player of the Year.
Other players considered for this award include Live Oak’s Karlie Lema, Leigh’s Camryn Borg and Christopher’s Jenna Urrabazo.
Coach of the Year
NICK HATZKE, LEIGH
Leigh's Nick Hazke is this year's CCS Girls Soccer Coach of the Year.
From San Jose to Mill Valley, Shingle Springs and Clovis, Leigh High’s girls soccer team traveled far and wide during the CIF NorCal Division 2 regional playoffs, and enjoyed every minute of it as the Longhorns defied odds as the eight seed to reach the regional championship game.
“It was a fun experience, and one where we had a ton of support along the way,” said Leigh coach Nick Hatzke. “Even though we were the eight seed, we really felt like we were better than the teams we played, until we headed down to Clovis for the title game.”
The Longhorns may have been on the road for their entire run in the regional round, but they made themselves right at home in close games. Leigh defeated both NCS Division 2 champion Tamalpais and SJS Division 2 runner-up Ponderosa on penalty kicks, after both matches finished 1-1 after regulation and overtime periods. The Longhorns did this despite a roster which included 14 underclassmen, including the entire back line, which was comprised of all sophomores at the defensive positions and a freshman in goal.
“We really did overachieve a little in the post-season, with so many underclassmen,” Hatzke added. “But after we had played all the teams in our league one time, we knew this was a group which could make a big impact in the post-season.”
After going unbeaten in the BVAL-Mt. Hamilton Division, Leigh headed for the Open Division of the CCS playoffs. The Longhorns dispatched PAL-Bay champion Carlmont in the quarterfinals and led Mitty at the half before ultimately falling 2-1 to a Monarchs’ team which would win the Open Division and reach the CIF NorCal Division 1 final.
“Mitty was better than us, but even then we made it interesting,” Hatzke said. “Despite our youth, we were able to turn back numerous opportunities they created, and then we even created a chance to tie the game late in the match.”
In his third year at the helm of the Leigh program, Hatzke has proven more than capable of continuing the winning tradition at the school. The Longhorns reached the CCS Division 1 semifinals in his first season and the Division 2 title game last year, but this year marked the first time since 2017 that Leigh was placed in the Open Division. Unlike the Longhorns’ previous two trips to the Open Division, however, this foray into the bracket opened with a victory, which also resulted in the program’s first-ever NorCal berth.
What also made this year’s team different was the fact that on the surface it could have looked like a rebuilding year, with only one senior filling a key spot on the field.
“The girls understand that I don’t play any favorites. The best players in practice got on the field for us,” Hatzke said. “We also have some high-level club players and that helped us a lot. Now, we really only graduate (Prep2Prep CCS Senior of the Year) Camryn (Borg), so there is a lot to look forward to.”
Though losing the UC Davis-bound Borg will create a void in the middle of the field, the team does return its top defenders and Oregon commit Alice Barbieri, who provides creativity on the offensive end. All signs point to another strong run in the Mt. Hamilton and potentially some designs on going even further in the section playoffs.
For his efforts this past season, we are pleased to recognize Leigh’s Nick Hatzke as the Prep2Prep Central Coast Section Coach of the Year.
Other coaches considered for this award include Mitty’s JT Hanley, Saint Francis’ Dawn Hill, Christopher’s Matt Oetinger and Santa Cruz’s Jay Gomez.
FIRST TEAM ALL-CCS
Emma Vane, Archbishop Mitty
Position: Forward
Year: Junior
The WCAL Player of the Year was the top producer for the Monarchs with 11 goals and 12 assists, including a pair of game-winners in the post-season. Her goal against Leigh in the Open Division semifinals capped a second-half comeback for the win, and she had the only goal in a 1-0 NorCal quarterfinal win over Berkeley.
Svea Neunfinger, Archbishop Mitty
Position: Midfielder
Year: Senior
The Army commit was a versatile mid for the Monarchs, earning first-team all-WCAL honors after helping them to the CCS Open Division title. Neunfinger had 10 goals and six assists for the season, and came up big in the NorCal playoffs, assisting on the game-winning goal against Berkeley in the quarterfinals and scoring in the semifinal win over Monte Vista.
Fabiola Zamora, Homestead
Position: Midfielder
Year: Senior
The Hawaii commit was named MVP of the SCVAL-De Anza after serving as the controlling force for the Mustangs in the midfield. Her ability to control the game led to Homestead’s best showing in the De Anza Division in the last 15 years, plus a CCS Division 2 semifinal berth.
Camryn Borg, Leigh
Position: Midfielder
Year: Senior
The UC Davis-bound Borg earned Senior of the Year honors in the BVAL-Mt. Hamilton, and led the Longhorns to not only an unbeaten mark in league play, but also into the CCS Open Division semifinals and then the NorCal Division 2 title match.
Lauren Zontos, Presentation
Position: Goalkeeper
Year: Junior
The Goalkeeper of the Year in the WCAL, Zontos recorded more than 50 saves while facing the top attacks in the section. Her efforts got the Panthers into the Division 2 playoff bracket despite an offense which scored just 13 goals during league play.
SECOND TEAM ALL-CCS
Ruby Teixeira, Leland
Position: Forward
Year: Sophomore
The Sophomore of the Year in the Mt. Hamilton, Teixeira scored 40 percent of Leland’s goals, finding the back of the net on 10 occasions. In a pair of 1-1 draws with Live Oak, she had a goal and an assist, and also provided the game-winner against Westmont and a key goal to tie Mitty during the regular season.
Emily Nedom, Los Gatos
Position: Forward
Year: Junior
The first-team SCVAL-De Anza selection had 23 goals and 16 assists for the Wildcats, including the team’s only tally in a NorCal loss to Maria Carrillo and a hat trick during Los Gatos’ Open Division quarterfinal win over Live Oak.
Brynn Mitchell, Aptos
Position: Midfielder
Year: Senior
Mitchell was the MVP of the SCCAL, leading the Mariners to the regular season league title and then the tournament crown, notching a goal and an assist in the championship game win over Santa Cruz. The Saint Mary’s College commit had 17 goals and eight assists for the season.
Sophie Bloyd, Saint Francis
Position: Midfielder
Year: Senior
On a team which was as balanced as any in the region, the first-team all-WCAL selection was a key figure during the Lancers’ run to the Open Division title game, scoring both goals in a quarterfinal win over Woodside, including the double-overtime golden goal, and another during the 2-1 semifinal win over Los Gatos.
Alice Barbieri, Leigh
Position: Midfielder
Year: Junior
The Oregon commit was the best attacking player for a Longhorns’ team which went unbeaten in the BVAL-Mt. Hamilton and ultimately reached the CIF NorCal Division 2 title game. She was a first-team Mt. Hamilton selection, contributing 10 goals for Leigh despite missing some time with injury.
Courtney Koch, Burlingame
Position: Defender
Year: Senior
The Defender of the Year in the PAL-Bay, Koch led a back line for the Panthers which allowed just 20 goals in 25 matches, including a stretch of five clean sheets in six post-season matches for the CCS Division 3 champions and CIF NorCal Division 3 finalists.
THIRD TEAM ALL-CCS
Position: Forwards
Jacky Vazquez (Seaside), Ana Schremp (Gunn), Abby Chang (Aragon), Kyla Orthbandt (Carlmont), Makena Conneely (Notre Dame-Belmont), Elyanna Magdaleno (Watsonville), Maddie Eastus (Gilroy), Jasmin Castillo (Pajaro Valley), Jazmine Castaneda (Aptos), Courtney Martinez (Branham), Xitlali Venegas (Overfelt)
Position: Midfielders
Ella Mendoza (Carmel), Samantha Phan (Carlmont), Isabella Jordan (Sacred Heart Prep), Caroline Callagy (Mercy-Burlingame), Megha Salvi (Harker), Julia Moore (Santa Cruz), Teresa Garcia (Mitty), Caroline Kane (Saint Francis)
Position: Defenders
Natalia Jimenez-Ortiz (Pacific Collegiate), Ella Fenstermaker (Carmel), Viva Vorzimmer (Notre Dame-Belmont), Mattie Menchaca (Scotts Valley)
Position: Goalkeepers
Lita Billman (Sequoia), Lindsay Crocker (Santa Clara), Lily Mudarri-Spencer (Branham), Adrienne Chan (Saratoga)
HONORABLE MENTION:
ALISAL:
Miriam Hernandez, Andrea Cornelio
ALVAREZ:
Kenia Caballero, Katya Cervantes
ANDREW HILL:
Daniella Zambrano
ANZAR:
Ebony Telford
APTOS:
Aubrey Westjohn, Susana Estrada
ARAGON:
Kaelyn Luebke
ARCHBISHOP MITTY:
Kylie McHale
BRANHAM:
Cate Bennett, Lana Hirata, Emily Murphy
BURLINGAME:
Sophia Young
CAPUCHINO:
Catherine Bussani, Konstantina Konidaris
CARLMONT:
Sonali Kanaya, Madeleine Cunningham
CARMEL:
Nikki Benak, Cosima Cristofalo
CASTILLEJA:
Amand Khu
CEIBA PREP:
Nellie Rubio
CHRISTOPHER:
Taylor Mejia, Jordan Anaya
CRYSTAL SPRINGS UPLANDS:
Elaine Chen, Camille Lu
CUPERTINO:
Kaylie Clark, Lyric Rosa-O’Hayer
DEL MAR:
Mia Lew, Jackie Michel
EASTSIDE COLLEGE PREP:
Alondra Zamora
EL CAMINO:
Rachelle Vargas, Andrea Moreno
EVERGREEN VALLEY:
Melina Ibanez, Neena McDermott
FREMONT:
Sophia Ling, Andee Quintana
GILROY:
Tatianna Cardoza, Olivia Bozzo
GONZALES:
Susana Tejada
GREENFIELD:
Abigail Rebolledo
GUNN:
Emersen Sweeney, Haley Parrett
HALF MOON BAY:
Rachel Rodrigues
HARBOR:
Eva Behrens, Maddie Park
HARKER:
Sarah Baicher, Emma Boyce, Aria Wong
HILLSDALE:
Paige Hardman, Nina Schmier
HOMESTEAD:
Alexa Maletis, Elizabeth Hwang
JAMES LICK:
Camila Abrego
KING CITY:
Citialy Andrade
LEIGH:
Nella Khacian, Lexy Thompson
LELAND:
Erica Curtis, Rebecca Womer
LINCOLN:
Kailee Kaui, Karen Romo
LIVE OAK:
Audrey Reed, Bella Fiorenfino
LOS ALTOS:
Michelle Odnert, Tessa Meyn
LOS GATOS:
Nikki Krockenboma, Lainey Engles
LYNBROOK:
Ashlee Liu
MARINA:
Isabella Barrera, Kayleekai Aten
MENLO:
Sidney Pena, Caroline Espinosa, Gabby Kogler
MENLO-ATHERTON:
Lexi Quinn
MERCY-BURLINGAME:
Isabel Bojorquez
MERCY-SAN FRANCISCO:
Caroline Cooper
MILLS:
Marina Wong
MILPITAS:
Gabriella Trejo, Bridget Morgan
MONTA VISTA:
Kira Israni, Jamie Chan
MONTE VISTA CHRISTIAN:
Sophie Bessa, Caroline Sullivan
MONTEREY:
Marci Ramirez
MOUNTAIN VIEW:
Janvi Subramanyan, Maru Lasala
NORTH MONTEREY COUNTY:
Sophia Cori
NORTH SALINAS:
Sofia Camacho
NOTRE DAME-BELMONT:
Catherine McGuire, Julia Roche
NOTRE DAME-SALINAS:
Nora Rawson, Sophia Silva
NOTRE DAME-SAN JOSE:
Bella Hernandez, Kaia Pang
OAK GROVE:
Sarah Lopez, Arlene Benitez
OAKWOOD:
Hannah Chin
OCEANA:
Camella Baldasarre, Isabella Balmas-Garcia
OVERFELT:
Antonia Santana, Gisselle Ponce
PACIFIC COLLEGIATE:
Elizabeth Armstrong, Valentina Vanos
PACIFIC GROVE:
Mikayla Gamboa, Alexis Ackerman
PAJARO VALLEY:
Gail Carillo, Jocelyn Herrera
PALO ALTO:
Marian Kessinger, Katherine Thomsen
PIEDMONT HILLS:
Daphine Alcaraz
PINEWOOD:
Olivia Pase
PIONEER:
Danielle Dunn, Lauren Martinez
PRESENTATION:
Ciara Mahoney, Megan Lore
PROSPECT:
Rosa Sorbello, Iliana Jasso
RANCHO SAN JUAN:
Lupita Delgado
SACRED HEART CATHEDRAL:
Sophie Simpson, Megan McHugh
SACRED HEART PREP:
Ellie Brew, Hadley Twichell
SALINAS:
Laryssa Venegas, Taylor Freitas, Camryn Garcia
SAN BENITO:
Ryen Ortiz, Maya Peterson
SAN JOSE:
Trinidad Quiroz
SAN LORENZO VALLEY:
Kiana Gilbert
SAN MATEO:
Romy Alberts
SANTA CATALINA:
Portia Randall
SANTA CLARA:
Logan Morris
SANTA CRUZ:
Summer Laskey, Isla Hawkins
SARATOGA:
Lauren Yarrington
SCOTTS VALLEY:
Avery Gonzalez
SEASIDE:
Cindy Quiroz, Kathryne Custodio
SEQUOIA:
Jules Kuramoto
SILVER CREEK:
Stephanie Montes, Elizabeth Carrera
SOBRATO:
Hailey Freeman, Tea Reyes
SOLEDAD:
Kiara Hernandez, Delilah Martinez
SOQUEL:
Bella Medina, Eva Claussen, Sarah Canavan
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO:
Leilani Jara, Iliana Sanchez
STEVENSON:
Helen Yang
ST. FRANCIS:
Skylar Blaise, Kelly Schultz
ST. FRANCIS- WATSONVILLE:
Emma Fitzpatrick
ST. IGNATIUS:
Caeley Goldstein, Katrina Avila
TERRA NOVA:
Layti Monzon
THE KING'S ACADEMY:
Gitika Chaudhry
TRINITY CHRISTIAN:
Sequoia Ayers
VALLEY CHRISTIAN:
Emily Hidalgo
WATSONVILLE:
Ebony Pina
WESTMONT:
Kelsea Dizon
WILCOX:
Olivia Gentry
WILLOW GLEN:
Abby Cadile, Kendall Miller
WOODSIDE:
Natalie Navarro, Angeni Garcia
WOODSIDE PRIORY:
Vivian Wang
YERBA BUENA:
Ana Centeno, Angie Gonzalez
YORK:
Cynthia Ortiz-Naranjo
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