M. Soccer: Luis Garcia named All-American

Luis Garcia was named All-American
Luis Garcia was named All-American

Leading the Cerritos College men's soccer team to the CCCAA Final Four after helping them win their second straight South Coast Conference South Division title, sophomore Luis Garcia (La Habra HS) was named 1st Team All-American by the United Soccer Coaches. Garcia, was the team's leader in goals (16), second in assists (7) and leader in total points (39), as the Falcons completed their first-ever unbeaten season, going 17-0-7. They lost on PK's to Taft College in the CCCAA Semifinals and concluded the season ranked #3 in the country among Division III (non-scholarship) schools by the United Soccer Coaches.

Joining Garcia on receiving post-season awards, freshman defender Eric Payeras (Connections Academy HS) was named 2nd Team All-Far West, with Garcia earning 1st Team recognition. The duo were also named 1st Team All-State and 1st Team All-Region, as well as recipients of the conference's Offensive Player of the Year (Garcia) and Defensive Player of the Year (Payers). Payeras helped Cerritos with the state's best defense (0.45 GAA), while they limited their opponents to a state-low 11 goals all season and posted 13 shutouts. As a team, the Falcons shut out their first eight opponents to start the season.

Freshman goalkeeper Jordan Aldama (North Torrance HS), who was 12-0-7 as the team's goalkeeper and posted an 0.57 goals against average, was also named All-Region. He recorded nine shutouts on the year and finished with 69 saves. Head coach Benny Artiaga, who led the team to within one win of the state championship game, was voted as the Southern California Coash of the Year.

Also earning 1st Team all-conference recognition were two-time selections Guy Carven (National Haitian Student Alliance) and Jose Ponce (San Pedro HS), Aldama and sophomore Adrian Becerra (Morningside HS) receiving 1st Team honors. Becerra was a 2nd Team selection his freshman season. Freshmen Esteban Camacho (Mayfair HS), Luis Lira (La Puente HS) and Christian Perez (Paramount HS), along with sophomore Andrew Perez (Gardena HS), were voted as 2nd Team selections.

Ponce, who was a 2nd Team All-West Region pick his freshman year, was instrumental in the team's defensive success. Carven had three goals and three assists, but was most effective as a midfielder with his aggressive style of play and ability to gain possession of the ball, which started the team's offense. Becerra recorded three goals and led the team with nine assists, as he used his speed on the outside to give the Falcons scoring options. He had a pair of assists in three separate games and recorded five of his assists over a three-game period.

Camacho, Lira and Andrew Perez were all great additions to the team's defensive approach to the game, which is why the team had the best defense in the state. The were some of the most consistent players all season and used their size to their advantage when taking on opposing players. Christian Perez, who finished second on the team with 10 goals, also added five assists. He had a four-game stretch where to posted five goals, including the lone goal in a win over rival Mt. San Antonio College and also scored the game-winning goal against Santa Monica College in the Southern California Regional Playoffs.

NAME AWARD
Benny Artiaga Southern California Coach of the Year
Luis Garcia 1st Team All-American
  1st Team All-Far West
  1st Team All-State
  1st Team All-Region
  SCC Offensive Player of the Year
  1st Team All-South Coast Conference
Eric Payeras 2nd Team All-Far West
  1st Team All-State
  1st Team All-Region
  SCC Defensive Player of the Year
  1st Team All-South Coast Conference
Jordan Aldama 1st Team All-Region
  1st Team All-South Coast Conference
Guy Carven 1st Team All-South Coast Conference
Jose Ponce 1st Team All-South Coast Conference
Adrian Becerra 1st Team All-South Coast Conference
Esteban Camacho 2nd Team All-South Coast Conference
Luis Lira 2nd Team All-South Coast Conference
Christian Perez 2nd Team All-South Coast Conference
Andrew Perez 2nd Team All-South Coast Conference