Christopher High sophomore Jenna Urrabazo had big shoes to fill in her second high school season, tasked with replacing the scoring production of current Northwestern standout Aurea Martin, who had led the Cougars for the past couple seasons. Urrabazo not only ended up capable of filling those shoes, but embraced the opportunity to lead Christopher to one of the best seasons in school history.

Playing up top for the Cougars, Urrabazo quickly made a name for herself as one of the top scorers in the section, and did so while carrying Christopher to an unbeaten record in the regular season and an outright PCAL-Gabilan title.

“Jenna is pretty shifty up top and can lull defenders to her, and then make a quick break to get loose,” said Christopher coach Matt Oetinger. “She’s also extremely lethal in one-on-one battles with the goalie, and won those battles over and over again all season.”

Urrabazo finished the year with 30 goals and eight assists, distributing more often to her teammates as league play wore on, and for good reason.

“She had a lot of attention from opposing defenses the second time through league play,” Oetinger added. “Everyone knew who she was, and it opened up more opportunities for her to distribute the ball.”

The Cougars scored 52 goals as a team, with Urrabazo taking a primary role on 38 of those occasions. That included most key goals throughout the season.

In a late-season four-game stretch against Christopher’s closest pursuers in the league standings, Urrabazo a goal and an assist during a 2-0 win over San Benito, assisted on the game-winner against eventual CCS Division 4 finalist Salinas, had a goal and an assist during a 2-1 win over Watsonville, and scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Alisal. Urrabazo’s ability to find different ways to attack the net was so surprise to her coaches.

“Jenna is a big-time student of the game, someone who wants to learn, is never satisfied and displays great soccer IQ,” Oetinger said. “She is already working on taking the next step for next season.”

That seems appropriate considering the goals that Urrabazo and her team left on the table for 2021. The Cougars posted an unbeaten record in the regular season, including league play, but despite being the top seed in the CCS Division 1 playoffs, fell to Notre Dame-Belmont in the quarterfinals. With Christopher graduating just six seniors off its roster and returning nearly every key piece offensively and defensively, it’s fair to say the Cougars will be hungry for greater success next season.

For her efforts this season, we are pleased to recognize Christopher’s Jenna Urrabazo as the Prep2Prep Central Coast Section Sophomore of the Year.

Other players considered for this award include Leland’s Ruby Teixeira, Carmel’s Ella Mendoza, Santa Cruz’s Julia Moore, Gunn’s Ana Schremp, Branham’s Lana Hirata, Ann Sobrato’s Greenlee Kauinana and Saint Francis’ Caroline Kane.

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.