After leading the Cerritos College men's soccer team to the CCCAA State Championship, head coach Benny Artiaga was named the West Region Coach of the Year. He's now eligible for the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) National Coach of the Year honor, which will be announced at the national convention in Philadelphia PA in January, 2015.

In addition to Artiaga being honored. sophomore defender Ricardo Covarrubias (Elizabeth Learning Center HS) was named Division III (non-scholarship) 2nd Team All-American and 2nd Team All-West Region.

"I am very honored to received this award", said Artiaga. "This award would never be possible without my great coaching staff, players, and administrative support that I get from this great institution. With so many coaches on the West Coast it's a blessing just to be named in the same category. But to actually be acknowledged by your peers and other coaches or singled out, well I'm truly grateful."

This is the third time Artiaga has been named the Far West Coach of the Year, and he was named the National Coach of the Year in 2006. He has led the Falcons to three state championships (2006, 2008, 2014) during his tenure.

As for Covarrubias, he earned national honors after helping lead the Falcons to the state championship when they defeated rival Mt. San Antonio College, 3-1 in the title game. He was a two-time 1st Team All-South Coast Conference selection and was one of the main reasons the team went 7-0-2 down the stretch.

"I'm hoping Ricardo Covarrubias can make the trip with me after being named 2nd Team All-America, so I can spend a little time with my captain and reminisce about our time together as player and coach," said Artiaga "We can talk about what a long and gruesome year it was for our entire team. But at the end of it all, it was worth it and we brought back the title to Cerritos which is the first and foremost goal."

Added Artiaga, "It will be an honor to go to Philadelphia and represent Cerritos College. This particular year was extra special because we hadn't done it in a while and it's the first time I did it as a father and with a family. But you can never predict those things. The year I thought I had a chance, I didn't get it. The year I thought I had no chance I did receive it, so i'll just take it in stride and enjoy the festivities because this never gets old."