Atwater soccer racks up CCC honors

Mario Chavez had a very different approach to his junior and senior seasons.

Coach Jimmy Brewer said the Atwater High School goalkeeper was the one keeping things light with one-liners a season ago. Chavez was a little more serious this season.

“He really took on a leadership role this season,” Brewer said. “I think a big reason for it was competition. We brought up a sophomore (Andrew Ulloa) who was gunning for his job.

“It really pushed him every day. A year ago, Mario would have been the one making jokes at practice. This season, he was the one keeping everyone focused.”

It showed on the field as Chavez produced 12 shutouts and helped the Falcons capture the Central California Conference title and the top seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoffs. The rest of the CCC took note, naming Chavez the Goalkeeper of the Year.

It was part of a big haul for the Falcons, who took three of the league’s four major soccer awards. Junior sweeper Alex Rios was named Defensive Player of the Year, and Brewer was named Coach of the Year. Merced senior Eric Figueroa was voted Offensive Player of the Year.

“It’s nice to get some individual recognition,” Brewer said. “Historically, that’s what happens when a team does well, so hopefully, it motivates everyone going into next season.

“We’ve got most of the team back, including Alex. He’s been our starting sweeper since he was a freshman, which is very rare. He’s got the technical skill, but what really impresses me is his ability to read the play and angles and the way he anticipates.”

Figueroa was a big part of Merced’s run to the Division II title game, leading the Bears with 17 goals and 12 assists, including the winner in a quarterfinal victory over Napa.

“He really stepped up this year,” Merced coach Bart McAfee said. “He filled the shoes of Meng (Moua), who our offense basically ran through last year. He’s got an endless motor on him, and that really wears defenses down.”

Atwater and Merced turned the CCC into a two-team race and were rewarded with the most all-conference nods.

Eduardo Cebrero, Ezequiel Padilla and Juan Tinoco also were named to the first team for Atwater. Omar Cortez and Jose Alvarado joined Figueroa on the first team for the Bears.

Golden Valley’s Eric Vazquez and Buhach Colony’s Leo Del Toro also received first-team honors.

Luis Lopez and Rodrigo Aguila of Atwater, Francisco Rodriguez and Juan Pineda of Merced, Alexis Orozco and Alfredo Arroyo of Golden Valley, and Salvador Davalos and Jose Ramirez of Buhach Colony were named to the second team.

This story was originally published December 1, 2014 at 8:48 PM with the headline "Atwater soccer racks up CCC honors."