SBVC’s Sanchez earns national honor

The celebration hasn’t stopped for the state champion San Bernardino Valley College women’s soccer team.

The latest honor goes to sophomore forward Araceli Sanchez, who’s been named the 2010 Division III Junior College National Player of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).

Sanchez, 19, will be among the athletes honored at the annual All-America Luncheon to be held in Baltimore, Md., Jan. 15 as part of the 2011 NSCAA Convention.

SBVC coach Kristin Hauge will accompany her on that trip and be recognized for her selection earlier this month as the West Region Coach of the Year.

“It’s nice recognition for our program, and lets the four-year schools out there know that we play pretty good soccer,” Hauge said. “It lets them know they can come to us and find quality players.”

Sanchez and Hauge led the Wolverines to their first 20-win season and state title in school history. It was just the second state title in any women’s sport at the school, the first coming in 1974 in archery, which was discontinued four years later.

The Wolverines notched playoff wins over Bakersfield, Cypress and Ventura and followed with victories over Fresno City and Santa Rosa in the state tournament held at College of the Canyons.

“It really was the perfect season,” Sanchez said. “We did everything we set out to do, and our hard work paid off.”

Sanchez, a graduate of Moreno Valley High School, was earlier recognized as the Foothill Conference Player of the Year. She also earned first-team All-Southern California and all-state honors.

She had 12 goals and six assists in the regular season, and added three goals and two assists in the playoffs.

The next task for Sanchez is to decide on a four-year school. Hauge said that 30 to 40 are interested in Sanchez, who hopes to become a border patrol agent.

“I really haven’t narrowed it down yet, but I would like to go out of state,” she said. “It will be whatever school is the best for me athletically and academically.”

Sanchez is pleased to be part of a group of players that have boosted the program into elite company.

“We had a great run,” she said.

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Cal Poly Pomona basketball players honored

Cal Poly Pomona claimed both CCAA Basketball Player of the week honors with senior guard Reyana Colson chosen the top player on the women’s side and junior forward Dwayne Fells selected on the men’s side.

Colson was named tournament Most Valuable Player after leading the Broncos (6-0) to a 2-0 record at the GNAC/CCAA Challenge. She averaged 25.5 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals in leading Cal Poly Pomona to wins over Western Oregon and Northwest Nazarene.

It is the second time this season she has been so honored.

Fells helped the Broncos (3-3) to a split of their games at the Grand Canyon Christmas Classic. He averaged 19 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2 blocks in a loss to Montana State-Billings and a win over Simon Fraser. He shot 64 percent from the field (16-for-25).

Both teams return to action on Dec. 29, hosting San Francisco State as the teams resume CCAA play.

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Broncos turn in better effort in latest win

The Cal Poly Pomona Broncos must have embarrassed by their performance on Friday against Montana State Billings because they came out 24 hours later like they had a point to prove.

The Broncos followed up that abysmal performance with an 80-58 win over Simon Fraser on Saturday at Grand Canyon University. They were far from perfect but they played hard and it was a much-improved showing.
To put the win in perspective, San Francisco State also played Simon Fraser earlier this season. The Gators have traditionally been a middle tier team in the CCAA and they beat Simon Fraser 95-50. So the Broncos needed to win. And win big.
The Broncos (2-5) still have yet to beat a team with a winning record. But they did maintain one streak and hold yet another opponent to under 60 points which they have done in every game thus far.
Dwayne Fells continued his stellar play with 20 point, eight rebounds and two blocks. Kevin Menner also had 20 and Mitchel Anderson 17.
This team’s biggest weakness is the lack of a true point guard. The Clan applied some defensive pressure early and when it did the Broncos had trouble getting the ball up court at times. Terrence Drisdom is that but he is a true freshman and needs time to develop before being thrown into the mix as a starter.
The Broncos also need their seniors to step up as leaders. Donnelle Booker should be that guy. He has been a starter since his freshman year and been through more key games than any other player on the roster.
If those two factors are addressed there is no reason the Broncos can’t be in the mix again. But the CCAA is tough from top to bottom. There are no breathers.

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