P2P NCS Boys Soccer Honors
Marin Academy's Stefan Jung is the Prep2Prep NCS Boys Soccer Player of the Year.

ALL-NORTH COAST SECTION

Player of the Year
STEFAN JUNG, MARIN ACADEMY




With a target on his back for most of the season, Marin Academy senior Stefan Jung produced at a high rate all year long, with the Cal-bound attacker leading the Wildcats to a North Coast Section title and getting selected for the Division I bracket of the first-ever CIF NorCal playoffs.

Jung wasted no time in making an impact on the 2017-2018 season, especially with a loaded early season schedule at Marin Academy. In an early December match against eventual CCS and NorCal champion St. Ignatius, Jung tallied a pair of goals to earn a draw in the elite inter-sectional matchup. A week later, he notched a goal and an assist as the Wildcats took down state-ranked and eventual SJS Delta Valley champion Jesuit, 2-0.

As the new year chimed, January was just as nice to Jung and Marin Academy. The Wildcats earned a draw with eventual NCS Division II champion Montgomery, with the senior standout providing the only goal for the MA side. The next key victory came a couple weeks later, as Marin Academy surged past Ygnacio Valley, and once again, Jung provided the highlights with another brace in the 3-2 victory.

As improbable as it seemed, however, his best play was still on the horizon, saved for the Wildcats’ run through the NCS playoffs. Jung scored twice in a quarterfinal win over Cardinal Newman, and then tallied a hat trick in a 4-2 semifinal win over Branson. In the title game against Saint Mary’s, he controlled the attack and possession for the Wildcats, leading them to a 2-0 victory and back-to-back section titles, after winning the Division III crown a year earlier.

Due to their success throughout the season, the Division IV Wildcats were selected for the Division I bracket at the NorCal level, in the competitive equity alignment. Marin Academy’s season ended in a rematch against eventual champion St. Ignatius, falling 1-0, but it remained clear that the best player on the field played for the team from north of San Francisco.

For the year, Jung finished with 18 goals and eight assists, and heads to Berkeley having tallied 38 goals and 22 assists during his high school career.

For his efforts throughout the season, we are pleased to recognize Stefan Jung as our North Coast Section Player of the Year.

Other players considered include Montgomery’s Carson Wyatt, Bishop O’Dowd’s Ryan Allen, De La Salle’s Luke Giusto, and Redwood’s Eamon Rogan.


Coach of the Year
JONATHAN SCHWAN, MONTGOMERY





The last four seasons had been filled with post-season heart-break for Montgomery, winners of four previous North Coast Section titles in the fall campaign. Having joined the winter season beginning in 2015-2016, the Vikings had come tantalizingly close to a title in 2017, falling short by a goal to Acalanes in the section final. But in 2018, after dominating the North Bay League, Montgomery would ensure there was no falling short this time around, dominating the opposition en route to the NCS Division II crown and a run to the title game in the first-ever CIF NorCal Division I playoffs.

Returning multi-year standouts such as Carson Wyatt, Alan Soto, Bryan Rosales, Ben Cawood, and Jay Schlesinger, coach Jonathan Schwan’s group was primed and ready for a run with a cohesive unit. Featuring an offense which distributed the ball between elite attackers, and a defense led by Cawood which allowed few opportunities, the Vikings challenged themselves with elite competition in non-league play.

After opening the season with a one-goal loss to eventual MCAL champion Redwood, Montgomery won won five in a row, including a victory over Napa, a win which would prove key later for CIF placement and seedings. After a loss to Southern Section Pac-8 champion San Luis Obispo, the Vikings would not taste defeat again until the NorCal final. In fact, after a draw against eventual NCS Division IV champion Marin Academy on January 4, Montgomery reeled off 16 straight victories and completed a 14-0 campaign in league play.

Following the regular season, the Vikings were an easy choice for the top seed in the NCS Division II bracket, where they lived up to billing. Montgomery outscored three opponents 8-2 in the section playoffs, including a 2-1 win over perennial power Richmond for the section crown, the fifth in program history and first since 2011.

With that early win over Napa, who had beaten NCS Division I champion De La Salle in non-league play, the Vikings were moved up to Division I for the CIF NorCal playoffs, where they received the two seed. Again, they lived up to billing, defeating McClatchy-Sacramento and Burlingame to reach the final against CCS Open Division St. Ignatius. In a thrilling championship match, the Vikings fell just short in their final game, losing 3-2 in overtime, but it takes little away from the amazing accomplishments from this group which established itself as the top program in the North Coast Section.

For his efforts guiding Montgomery to these great heights, we are pleased to recognize Jonathan Schwan as our North Coast Section Coach of the Year.

Other coaches considered include Marin Academy’s Josh Kalkstein, De La Salle’s Derricke Brown, and Bishop O’Dowd’s Marco Plascencia.



FIRST TEAM ALL-NCS

Stefan Jung, Marin Academy
Position: Forward
Year: Senior

The Cal-bound Jung led the Wildcats with 18 goals and eight assists, including a dominant stretch in the NCS playoffs, when he scored twice against Cardinal Newman in the quarterfinals and then added a hat trick during a 4-2 semifinal win over Branson.


Luke Giusto, De La Salle
Position: Forward
Year: Senior

The MVP of the East Bay Athletic League was the primary scoring threat for the Spartans, and he was at his best when it mattered most, scoring an early goal in a Division I semifinal win over Pittsburg, and then dominating with two goals and an assist in the section title game win over Monte Vista.


Alan Soto, Montgomery
Position: Forward
Year: Junior

The first-team All-NBL selection was the primary scoring threat for the NCS Division II champion Vikings, finishing the year with 19 goals and 14 assists, including both goals in the NorCal first-round win over McClatchy, and a key assist in the NorCal semifinal win over Burlingame.


Eamon Rogan, Redwood
Position: Forward
Year: Senior

The MCAL Player of the Year, Rogan tallied 13 goals and two assists for the Giants, and also hit one of the key penalty kicks to beat Marin Catholic in the league title game.


Samuel Kanghere, Newark Memorial
Position: Foward
Year: Junior

The MVP of the MVAL, Kanghere led the Cougars with 25 goals and eight assists, as Newark went unbeaten in league play to capture a title and then advanced to the Division II quarterfinals before falling to Richmond.


Carson Wyatt, Montgomery
Position: Midfielder
Year: Senior

The MVP of the NBL, Wyatt scored the game-winning goal in the NCS Division II championship game, and added key goals throughout the year, including another in the NorCal Division I semifinal victory over Burlingame. He finished the season with 17 goals scored.


Jack Singer, Branson
Position: Midfielder
Year: Senior

The Cal commit was a first-team All-MCAL selection, scoring nine goals to go with four assists, along with controlling play in the middle of the field for the Bulls. He put his offensive arsenal on full display late in the season, scoring the team’s only goal in a MCAL semifinal loss to Redwood, then adding a brace during an NCS quarterfinal win over Marin Catholic, and finishing the year with one of Branson’s two goals in a semifinal loss to Marin Academy.


James Person, De La Salle
Position: Midfielder
Year: Senior

Coming back from an off-season injury, Person provided a huge spark for the Spartans in the midfield, earning first-team All-EBAL honors in the process. With the senior controlling the tempo, De La Salle was once again stingy to the opposition, riding that formula all the way to a NCS Division I title.


Kellen Dresdow, Clayton Valley
Position: Defender
Year: Senior

The Eagles were downright tough to score on this season, allowing just 19 goals in 23 matches, and the MVP of the DAL-Foothill was the primary reason, leading his squad to a league title in the process.


Tim Weidinger, Las Lomas
Position: Defender
Year: Junior

The dual-sport standout was named Defensive Player of the Year in the DAL-Foothill, anchoring a back line which thrived down the stretch, allowing just two goals in four matches prior to a loss against Ygnacio Valley in the Division II quarterfinals. He is also one of the top 200-400 meter runners in the section.


Sam Pinto, Miramonte
Position: Defender
Year: Senior

The Matadors allowed just 17 goals in 24 matches this season, and the DAL-Valley co-MVP was a huge reason why. The 6-foot-1 team captain not only played tenacious defense, but got active on the offensive end a bit as well, adding five goals and five assists for the year, as Miramonte reached the NCS Division III final and then advanced to the NorCal Division III semifinals before falling to West Campus-Sacramento on penalty kicks after a scoreless match in which Pinto was responsible for turning back numerous Warriors’ opportunities.


Ryan Allen, Bishop O’Dowd
Position: Goalkeeper
Year: Senior

In 25 matches this season, the Dragons allowed just eight goals, thanks to the outstanding play of Allen, who was selected as the Player of the Year in the WACC-Foothill. With Allen in goal, O’Dowd captured the outright Foothill Division title, then allowed just one goal in four matches to capture the NCS Division III title. He finished the year with a ridiculous 0.263 goals against average for the year.



SECOND TEAM ALL-NCS

Andres Perez, Pittsburg
Position: Forward
Year: Senior

The MVP of the Bay Valley Athletic League, Perez had 12 goals and seven assists for the Pirates, and was especially hot late in the season. The MSU-Billings commit scored goals in the last five matches of the year, including all three in a win over Deer Valley and single goals in playoff matches against Dougherty Valley, Berkeley, and De La Salle. His two assists gave him a hand in all three goals during the win over Berkeley.


Asib Khamush, Dublin
Position: Forward
Year: Senior

The first-team All-EBAL selection carried the Gaels into the post-season with his 19 goals and seven assists this season.


Mariano AlaTorre, San Lorenzo
Position: Forward
Year: Senior

The Player of the Year in the WACC-Shoreline, AlaTorre led the Rebels with 25 goals and 18 assists this season, including one of each in an NCS playoff win over De Anza and another goal in a playoff loss to Acalanes.


Roberto Barahona, Concord
Position: Forward
Year: Senior

The co-MVP of the DAL-Valley Division, Barahona scored 18 goals to go with 10 assists. That included a rare goal against Bishop O’Dowd, and two goals in a non-league win over Campolindo. He also scored in the Minutemen’s playoff loss to Santa Rosa.


Bryan Rosales, Montgomery
Position: Midfielder
Year: Senior

The first-team All-NBL selection helped lead the Vikings to a section title and a berth in the NorCal title game, coming up with a clutch goal in a semifinal victory over Burlingame, which was his 10th goal of the year.


Max Edelstein, University
Position: Midfielder
Year: Junior

The Red Devils’ standout had a phenomenal season with 15 goals and eight assists, including a goal in their NCS Division IV quarterfinal win over Piedmont. His best play may have come against out-of-section powers Jesuit and Napa, scoring a hat trick in a win over the state-ranked Marauders and adding a goal and an assist in the win over Napa.


Jairo Ramirez, Ygnacio Valley
Position: Midfielder
Year: Senior

Named the Offensive Player of the Year in the DAL-Foothill, Ramirez was a consistent offensive threat for the Warriors, leading them past Alameda and Las Lomas in the Division II playoffs before falling to Montgomery in the semifinals. In the win over Alameda, he led the way with a goal and an assist, and then sparked the overtime victory against the Knights.


Max Pollak, Saint Mary’s
Position: Midfielder
Year: Senior

The first-team TCAL-Rock selection led the Panthers to the NCS Division IV title game with his 13 goals and 10 assists, numbers which included a one-goal, three-assist performance in a semifinal victory over University. His play throughout the year also led Saint Mary’s to the regular season TCAL-Rock title.


Francisco Ayala-Cruz, Richmond
Position: Defender
Year: Senior

After going unbeaten in league play, the Oilers beat Saint Mary’s to capture the TCAL-Rock tournament title with a shutout performance, and then allowed just three goals in the NCS playoffs, falling to Montgomery in the section championship game. The defense came up big again in the NorCal playoffs, pitching a shutout against Bellarmine in the semifinals to reach the CIF Division II title game. At the heart of that stingy Richmond defense was Ayala-Cruz, who was also named the Defensive Player of the Year for the TCAL-Rock.


Jackson Walsh, De La Salle
Position: Defender
Year: Senior

The All-EBAL first-team selection was easily one of the best in the section at clearing balls off the back line, using his leg strength to get threats away from the Spartans’ goal, and a primary reason why De La Salle allowed just 18 goals all season long.


Miguel Romo, Pittsburg
Position: Defender
Year: Senior

The first-team All-BVAL defender missed the first seven matches of the year due to an extended football season, one which ended in an injury and delayed the start to his soccer season. Once healthy, though, he thrived at clearing the back line for the Pirates, and was crucial during a late season nine-game winning streak which clinched a league title and propelled Pittsburg into the NCS Division I semifinals.


Israel Mendoza, California
Position: Goalkeeper
Year: Senior

The Grizzlies may not have had a hugely successful season on the field, but Mendoza certainly kept them in every match, as the first-team All-EBAL keeper did not allow a regulation goal in the playoffs, posted nine clean sheets, and allowed just 13 goals all year.



THIRD TEAM ALL-NCS

FORWARDS

Anthony Torres (San Ramon Valley), Javier Guerra (Granada), Cole Heinbaugh (Dublin), Emmanuel Doherty (De Anza), Josh Santillan (Newark Memorial), Alec Seivers (Branson), Rudy Saucedo (Deer Valley), Alex Topping (Acalanes)


MIDFIELDERS

Adrian Fontanelli (Rancho Cotate), London Lombana (Newark Memorial), Elias Orocio (Heritage), Payton Henry (Amador Valley), Ryan Anderson (Bishop O’Dowd)


DEFENDERS

Jake Burton (San Ramon Valley), Andrew McGinty (Amador Valley), Ben Cawood (Montgomery), Brian Fabela (Pittsburg), Owen Schwartz (Tamalpais), Andres Baldwin (Berkeley)


GOALKEEPERS

Pedro Garcia (Ygnacio Valley), Owen Camp (Foothill), Cole Kelez (Miramonte)




HONORABLE MENTION:

ACALANES: Travis Stevenson, Chris Rogers
ALAMEDA: Lucas John, Fernando Juarez-Giron
ALBANY: Ian Daly, Caleb Foster
ALHAMBRA: Nick Silva
AMADOR VALLEY: Nick Mann, Ben Blackfield, Zion Kiehle
AMERICAN: Ashish Chatta
ANTIOCH: Josue Lopez
ARROYO: Andres Hernandez, Rodrigo Vasquez
BEREAN CHRISTIAN: Damon Amerine, Jack Sodergren
BERKELEY: Paul Joseph, Jason Vilchez Alvarado, Kalani Kossa-Rienzi
BISHOP O'DOWD: Harrison Kepp, Josh Redfield, Daniel Kjeldsen
BRANSON: Callan Capitolo, Brooks Hoffmann
CALIFORNIA: Blake Hazelton, Jacob Edwards
CAMPOLINDO: Jose Carra Hernandez, Seppi Ortman
CARDINAL NEWMAN: Matthew Nielson, Ben Montalbano
CASTRO VALLEY: Aaron Cheung, Miles Sowunmi Ogle
CLAYTON VALLEY: Paris Ruiz, Tyler Hansen, Hasib Miry
COLLEGE PARK: Kris King
CONCORD: Enrique Guzman, Bryan Rodriguez
DE LA SALLE: Yianni Reynolds, Chris Falco
DEER VALLEY: Luke Fernandes
DOUGHERTY VALLEY: Jayson Ho, Mitchel Bryson
DRAKE: Bennett Fries
DUBLIN: Matthew Pang
EL CERRITO: Adonis Diaz, Joseph Gatrol
ENCINAL: Luca Altaffer
FOOTHILL: Josh Prieto, Braeden Mass
FREEDOM: Alberto Padilla, Jorge Rondan
GRANADA: Bryan Garcia, Adrien Rooney
HAYWARD: Ramses Perez, Jose Pineda, Diego Zavala
HERITAGE: Zack Henry, Ruben Huerta
IRVINGTON: Armon Olaee, Oliver Sullivan
JAMES LOGAN: Jonathan Argueta, Miwoned Siraj
JUSTIN-SIENA: Eric Guzman
KENNEDY-FREMONT: Jesus Lioza, Liam Kilgariff
KENNEDY-RICHMOND: Krisna Esquivel, Jarrett Silva
LAS LOMAS: Harry Gardner, Zach Wilson
LIBERTY: Andrew Thomason
LIVERMORE: Ian Slominski, Sohayl Sayfurahman
MARIA CARILLO: Ryan Dieter, Ricky Hernandez
MARIN CATHOLIC: Miguel Maldonado, Max Glasser
MIRAMONTE: Ben Andrews, Owen Reed
MONTE VISTA: Kyle Wooten, Connor Marohn, Spencer Brown
MONTGOMERY: Jay Schlesinger
MT. DIABLO: Anival Montes
MT. EDEN: Caesar Aleman, Lauro Correa
NEWARK MEMORIAL: Jesse Esparza, Cesar Arroyo
NORTHGATE: Andrew Rinella, Joe Besagno
NOVATO: Dennis Hernandez
PIEDMONT: Will Kalmbach, Ben Marshburn
PINOLE VALLEY: Jose Duran, Matt Etcheverry
PITTSBURG: Juan Solano, Kevin Paz
RANCHO COTATE: Alex Sandoval, Martin Flores
REDWOOD: Matthew Johnson, Aaron Schten, Carson Gilley
RICHMOND: Santos Argueta, Pedro Garcia
SAINT MARY'S: Finn Rudy, Diogo Villas-Boas
SALESIAN: Aldo Ariza, Fernando Monjaraz
SAN LEANDRO: Jesse Reynoso
SAN LORENZO: Andres Maciel, Jose Tovar, Jose Vasquez
SAN MARIN: Kevin Briggs
SAN RAFAEL: Randy Beltran
SAN RAMON VALLEY: Brandon Zabaneh, Nic McCambridge
SANTA ROSA: Brian Sanchez, Anthony Lopez
TENNYSON: Erick Gonzalez
TERRA LINDA: Andres Gramajo, Jorge Aldana, Joe Archer
UKIAH: Ivan Mosqueda
WASHINGTON: Max Robles
WINDSOR: Eric Arroyo, Paul Brussard
YGNACIO VALLEY: Oscar Mendez, Erick Ochoa