W. Soccer: Celeste Dominguez named the conference's Defensive Player of the Year

Celeste Dominguez was named the conference's Defensive Player of the Year
Celeste Dominguez was named the conference's Defensive Player of the Year

In a season where all but two returning red-shirts comprised the Cerritos College women's soccer roster, seven players earned All-South Coast Conference South Division honors. Leading that group was freshman center back Celeste Dominguez (Downey HS), who was named the division's Defensive Player of the Year. Even as the team got off to an 0-5-0 start to the season, Dominguez was easily the best player on the field and over the course of the season, she was the primary reason that countless goals were kept off the board.

Also earning 1st Team recognition were freshman midfielder Jaque Adame (North Torrance HS), as well as freshman defender Nadiah Palomares (East Los Angeles Performing Arts Magnet HS) and sophomore defender Vanessa Quintanar (California HS). Adame, posted a pair of goals and added an assist, while she led the team with 22 shots, with 13 of them on goal. She displayed her strong leg on corner kicks and set pieces and scored the lone goal in a 1-0 win over Compton College. Palomares, who was a red-shirt in 2019, suffered through an injury during the season, but was a strong compliment to Dominguez in the backfield and also added a goal and assist. Quintanar was another piece to the Falcon defense and got better as the season progressed and was effective at bringing the ball out the defensive zone and getting the offense started.

A trio of players were voted onto the 2nd Team and included freshmen Victoria Adame (North Torrance HS), as well as Mary Morales (Santa Ana HS) and Meghan Legayada (Sunny Hills HS). Adame, whose cousin Jaque was a 1st Team selection, was tied for second on the team with three goals, which included a pair against East Los Angeles College. Morales, yet another piece to the defense, displayed her speed by covering a lot of ground and was instrumental in the team's overall progress. Sharing the second most goals of the season with three, Legayada scored the lone goal in a 1-1 tie against Los Angeles Harbor College and scored the game-winner in a 2-1 victory over Pasadena City College.