W. Soccer: Trio of players receive their All-American awards

Although they weren't able to win their sixth straight CCCAA State Championship, three members of the Cerritos College women's soccer team were lauded for their performances this season. Attending the United Soccer Coaches Convention in Philadelphia over the weekend, the trio of Mia Ramirez, Itzel Ballesteros and Brianna Yepez were named All-Americans. Ballesteros and Ramirez were selected to the 1st Team, while Yepez earned 2nd Team recognition.

Ballesteros, who was named 2nd Team All-West Region, All-Southern Region and was voted the South Coast Conference South Division Offensive Player of the Year her freshman year, tied for the state lead with 23 assists to go along with her 12 goals this season. Most of her passes led to goals by Ramirez, who finished second in the state with 26 goals and 67 points, also added 15 assists. In consecutive games, Ballesteros had three goals and four assists against Compton, followed by a six-assist game against Los Angeles Harbor College. She also had a seven-game stretch where she posted at least one assist.

As for Ramirez, an All-Region selection, who was named the South Coast Conference South Division Offensive Player of the Year, she started her collegiate career with three goals and two assists against Oxnard College, while posting a five-goal game against Compton. Ramirez also recorded seven multiple-goal games and five matches where she had a pair of assists.

Yepez, who was also named 1st Team All-State and All-Region, was named the division's Defensive Player of the Year. She scored four goals from her defensive position, and helped the Falcons post the sixth best goals against average (0.43) in the state with 15 shutouts.

The Falcons have now had All-American selections for the last seven seasons and the three this year upped their all-time total to 23 since 2006. Below is the list of Cerritos College women's soccer All-Americans.