After leading Soquel to a Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League title and the top seed in the Central Coast Section Division II playoffs, it was no surprise that junior Ryan Jordan was named the Forward of the Year in the SCCAL for the second consecutive season.

This year, Jordan led a defensive-minded Knights team with 22 goals and 11 assists, eclipsing his totals of 17 goals and seven assists from his sophomore campaign. While Soquel rarely allowed goals, the Knights were also plenty reliant on Jordan for his offensive production. Of the 17 victories that Soquel posted during the season, Jordan tallied goals in 14 of the wins.

Jordan’s production continued not only throughout the regular season, but into the post-season as well. Facing Pacific Collegiate in the first round of the section playoffs, Jordan had a hand in all four goals, notching two goals and a pair of assists in a 4-0 victory. The Knights were eliminated by eventual finalist Mt. Pleasant in the quarterfinals, but once again Jordan found the back of the net, scoring Soquel’s only goal in a 2-1 defeat.

Unlike the playoff win over Pacific Collegiate, Jordan also found a way to get the job done for the Knights in the close victories. The junior standout notched the only goal in 1-0 victories over Santa Cruz and Scotts Valley, and had a goal and an assist in a 2-1 win over Harbor. In a 2-0 non-league win over King City, it was Jordan’s brace which accounted for both goals.

For his efforts throughout the season, we are pleased to recognize Ryan Jordan as our Central Coast Section Junior of the Year.

Other players considered include Sequoia’s Jonathan Avina, Bellarmine’s Jake Rhodes, and Lincoln’s Abel Flores.

NOTE: We would like to thank our media partners, coaches, parents, players and fans for contributing photos for our all-section features. We salute all of the players that have made this a wonderful season of CCS soccer.