El Capitan star named CCC’s MVP after finishing 8th in state for goals scored
It was a historic season for the El Capitan High girls soccer team.
The Gauchos won their first Central California Conference championship and advanced to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III semifinals.
Leading the way was sophomore Anaya Shelton.
Shelton finished tied eighth in the state with 49 goals, which was the top mark in the Sac-Joaquin Section according to MaxPreps. She also finished with nine assists.
The CCC coaches selected Shelton as the conference MVP.
“She’s resilient,” said El Capitan coach Jose Duran, who was also chosen as the CCC Coach of the Year. “She doesn’t give up. She applies intense pressure and she does it despite being always marked by two different defenders.
“She just keeps going and going and going.”
Shelton’s tag team partner on the pitch was junior Haley Espinoza, who finished with 14 goals and six assists. Espinoza was named the CCC Offensive Player of the Year.
“Haley controlled the middle of the field for us,” Duran said. “If it wasn’t for her... she was our quarterback. She sets up the plays, distributes the ball. We were lucky to have both of them. They’re only going to get better next year.”
Golden Valley junior Jadyn Gong was named the CCC Goalie of the Year for the third consecutive year. In 12 CCC matches, Gong recorded 10 shutouts and only surrendered four goals during CCC play.
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Atwater junior Brianda Arteaga earned the other top award handed out by the CCC coaches. Arteaga was named the CCC Defensive Player of the Year.
Earning all-CCC first-team honors were Atwater’s Eliza Barocio, Buhach Colony’s Juliana Beltran and Alexie Ochoa, Central Valley’s Citlaly Salinas, El Capitan’s Alondra Higareda, Cassidy Spiva and Stacey Olivares, Golden Valley’s Haylee Heffner and Cynthia Gutierrez, Merced’s DeAnna Govea and Patterson’s Arionna Imhoff.
The second team was comprised of Atwater’s Ilene Moreno, Buhach Colony’s Stephanie Alvarez and Sarah Barragan, Central Valley’s Anusha Kumar, El Capitan’s Jolessa Cortez and Vinchenza Pia, Golden Valley’s Yanell Ramirez and Kayla Perez, Merced’s Mayeli Soltero and Vanessa Perez and Patterson’s Viridiana Murillo.
The sportsmanship award winners were Atwater’s Gabriella Gamble, Buhach Colony’s Desiree Steffon, Central Valley’s Yaira Contreras, El Capitan’s Mia Lopez, Golden Valley’s Emily Villegas, Merced’s Jocelyn Mejia and Patterson’s Yessica Maldonado.
Boys Soccer
After leading Central Valley to the CCC championship, Hawks senior striker Isaac Juarez was named the conference MVP by the CCC coaches.
Central Valley teammate Jorge Iniguez was named the Defensive Player of the Year.
El Capitan’s Diego Hernandez was named the Offensive Player of the Year. The Gauchos senior scored 24 goals this season.
Patterson’s Miguel Cortez was named the Goalie of the Year and Patterson’s Luis Torres was named the Coach of the Year.
The all-CCC first-team members included Atwater’s Alfonso Torres and Alex Pena, Buhach Colony’s Adiran Bracamontes, Central Valley’s Erick Martinez, Sebastian Castillo and Jesus Yepez, El Capitan’s Gustavo Gonzalez, Golden Valley’s Carlos Morales, Merced’s Miachelston Ortez and Patterson’s Ricardo Jimenez and Jonathan Gallardo.
Second-team selections were Atwater’s Alfredo Rodriguez, Aziel Gutierrez, Buhach Colony’s Zack Karastathus, Central Valley’s Cesar Grajaeda Burgos and Marcos Covarrubius, El Capitan’s Ryan Fischer and Adrian Aguilar, Golden Valley’s Evan Rodriguez, Merced’s Lorenzo Jorgenson and Patterson’s Adrian Melesio.
The sportsmanship award winners were Atwater’s Matthew Brewer, Karastathus, Central Valley’s Alejandro Gonzalez, El Capitan’s Jordan Figueroa, Golden Valley’s Jacob Robles, Merced’s Jose Gamino and Melesio.
This story was originally published March 13, 2020 at 4:30 PM.
