W. Soccer: Falcons sweep conference awards

Itzel Ballesteros named the division's Offensive Player of the Year
Itzel Ballesteros named the division's Offensive Player of the Year

For the second time in the last three years, the Cerritos College women's soccer team swept the South Coast Conference awards. The Falcons, who have won the last 11 conference championships, captured the three top awards in the South Division, as well as earning four First Team and four Second Team selections.

Leading the list was freshman Itzel Ballesteros (Maywood Academy HS), who was named the division's Offensive Player of the Year, while sophomore Dana Jacobs (Yorba Linda HS/San Francisco State University) was voted the Defensive Player of the Year. Head coach Ruben Gonzalez was selected the Coach of the Year for the eighth time in his career and second season in a row.

Those named to the 1st Team were freshman Maria Hernandez (Sierra Vista HS), along with sophomores Carolina Jaramillo (Cetis 54, Tijuana HS), Ashli Villalobos (Mayfair HS/Cal State Los Angeles) and Amber Whitmore (Los Alamitos HS). Voted to the 2nd Team were sophomores Natalie de Leon (St. Joseph HS), Cheyenne De Los Reyes (Santa Monica HS/Santa Monica College), Jill Messersmith (Newport Beach HS) and Ruby Nichols (Bishop Amat HS).

Ballesteros leads the Falcons in goals (21) and points (56) on a team that leads the state with 113 goals on the year, while Jacobs has anchored a defense that has allowed just eight goals all season. Hernandez has posted seven goals and 10 assists on the season, with Jaramillo accounting for 13 goals and 14 assists in just nine games. Villalobos is tied for fifth on the team with 11 goals, with Whitmore third on the Falcons with 15 goals.

Second on the team in goals (17) and points (44) is de Leon, while De Los Reyes has come off the bench to account for 11 goals. Messersmith is tied for second in the state with 17 assists to go with her four goals, while Nichols is undefeated in the net (14-0-0). She missed six games due to an injury and is currently sixth in the state with a 0.44 goals against average and tied for eighth with nine shutouts.