In a year when the Cerritos College women's soccer team repeated as the NSCAA National Champions and CCCAA State Champions, it has been announced at the team has swept both national awards. First, it was head coach Ruben Gonzalez, who was named the National Coach of the Year for the second season in a row. And now, sophomore midfielder Claudia Lopez (Downey HS) has just been named the National Player of the Year among Division III (non-scholarship) schools.
"This is a really great honor that I didn't expect," said Lopez, who is considering several colleges that she's interested in transferring. "We had a great team and none of this would have been possible without their hard work everyday in practice and in the games."
On the year, Lopez led the Falcons with 27 goals, including two in the state championship game, and 16 assists. Her 70 points are the third most in school history behind Monique Cisneros, who had 82 in 2008 and Corina Villegas, who had 81 points in 2007. The 27 goals are the fourth most in a season Falcon history, while her 16 assists are tied for the seventh most. It was Villegas, in 2008, who became the first Cerritos player to be named the National Player of the Year.
"Last year Claudia struggled a little bit with injuries and was limited to 12 goals," said Gonzalez, who will travel to Philadelphia next month with his three All-American players to receive their national awards. "She has a drive in her that makes her very competitive and she has a strong desire to score. She showed it from the start of the season all the way to the championship game, when she scored twice. It was the same for Corina, who scored three times in the championship game the year she won the award."
Lopez is considering several colleges, including UC Irvine, Regis (CO) College, University of Texas-San Antonio, Louisiana Tech University, Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State Los Angeles. She plans to major in either nursing or science and health.
Lopez opened the year by scoring five times in the team's two games in Florida and added another three goals in a win over Los Angeles Harbor College. She posted a pair of goals in six other games, and accounted for seven goals in five playoff games.
March 11, 2014
W. Soccer: Team announces six signings
January 21, 2014
W. Soccer: National awards received
December 19, 2013
W. Soccer: Claudia Lopez named National Player of the Year
December 18, 2013
W. Soccer: Ruben Gonzalez named National Coach of the Year
December 12, 2013
W. Soccer: Three players receive national honors
December 10, 2013
W. Soccer: Falcons officially ranked #1 in the country
December 8, 2013
W. Soccer: Falcons win second straight state title
December 6, 2013
W. Soccer: Big win advances Falcons to finals
December 2, 2013
W. Soccer: Team opens Final Four with familiar opponent
November 30, 2013
W. Soccer: Overtime win sends Falcons back to Final Four
November 26, 2013
W. Soccer: Win over Cypress sends team to 3rd Round
November 23, 2013
W. Soccer: Three second half goals propel Falcons
November 19, 2013
W. Soccer: Top-ranked Falcons host first round game
November 15, 2013
W. Soccer: Falcons finish regular season unbeaten
November 12, 2013
W. Soccer: Six-goal second half gives Falcons win
November 8, 2013
W. Soccer: Falcons post 4-0 shutout over LB City
November 5, 2013
W. Soccer: Team scores four first half goals in win
November 1, 2013
W. Soccer: Falcons post shutout over El Camino
October 29, 2013
W. Soccer: Team scores 17 goals in win
October 25, 2013
W. Soccer: Falcons rebound after early deficit to win, 3-1
October 22, 2013
W. Soccer: Extra time penalty kick results in 2-2 tie
October 18, 2013
W. Soccer: Strong second half leads team to 5-0 win
October 15, 2013
W. Soccer: Cerritos takes control of first place with win
October 11, 2013
W. Soccer: Fifth straight shutout keeps team perfect
October 8, 2013
W. Soccer: Falcons post fourth straight shutout win
October 4, 2013
W. Soccer: First half output enough for Falcons in win
October 1, 2013
W. Soccer: Falcons score at will against LA Harbor
September 20, 2013
W. Soccer: Falcons post convincing win
September 15, 2013
W. Soccer: Second half goal gives Falcons a win
September 13, 2013
W. Soccer: Cerritos posts shutout win over Foothill
September 6, 2013
W. Soccer: Pair of first half goals enough for win
September 1, 2013
W. Soccer: Cerritos finishes road trip with convincing win
August 30, 2013
W. Soccer: Fast start propels team to 6-1 win