Following a winter sports season that saw playoff success from multiple soccer programs, some of the town’s top players have been honored with Central California Athletic League honors.
Between the Turlock and Pitman high school boys and girls teams, a total of 24 players appeared on this year’s postseason awards list.
Winning special awards for their efforts this season were Bulldogs Eliza Roque and Julian Yanez and the Pride’s Zach Looney.
Roque, the leading scorer for the Turlock girls’ squad that finished third in league (6-4-1) and earned the final spot in the Division I playoff bracket, was named the Best Offensive Player. Aside from her 12 goals, the senior had four assists and was responsible for a total of 28 points on the year.
As for the boys team, they clinched their first league title since the 2019-20 season with a 7-2-1 record. For their efforts, head coach Jose Garcia Alonzo was named Coach of the Year, while senior Julian Yanez was named Best Defensive Player. Though Yanez helped prevent scoring, his best showing came in the quarterfinal round of the Sac-Joaquin Section D-I playoffs, scoring both goals in the Bulldogs’ 2-1 win over Lincoln.
Looney, whose squad won their first boys soccer section title in school history a week ago after earning a 6-3-1 record against conference opponents, was named Best Offensive Player. The senior tallied team-highs in goals and assists with 13 each. His 39 points was the top mark in the league. He showed up in the biggest moments for the Pride, recording a hat trick in their 3-1 overtime win over Woodcreek in the D-II championship game.
Named to the boys' All-CCAL First Team was Turlock’s Matthew Lopez, Manuel Guerrero, Kurtis Silveira, Sebastian Carbajal and Axil Bravo, as well as Pitman’s Davian Lizarraga. The Second Team consisted of the Pride’s Isaac Padilla, Noah Shamoon and Keegan Pires and the Bulldogs’ Fernando Carbajal, Antonio Jimenez and Mario Chavez. Giancarlo Nakamura of Pitman and Pablo Alvarez of Turlock were honorable mentions.
Emma Zamudio of Turlock and Tatiana Rios of Pitman, meanwhile, were named to the girls’ All-CCAL First Team. Turlock’s Isis Cosio and Megan Coelho and Pitman’s Emily Martinez nabbed Second Team honors. The Pride’s Kloey Alcazar and the Bulldogs’ Adalay Valdivia were honorable mentions.
