Boys Soccer All-Area: Sierra Vista’s Michael Flores and Baldwin Park’s Danny Vega share top honors

TEAMTRIBUNEBOYS
TOP ROW (Left to Right): Guy Horcasitas (Diamond Bar), Elmer Jacobs (Sierra Vista), Mario Saenz (Sierra Vista), Manny Medina (Los Altos), Alfredo Navarro (Arroyo), Michael Flores (Sierra Vista), Eduardo Suarez (Baldwin Park), Javier Jasso (Baldwin Park)
BOTTOM ROW (Left to Right): Andre Gamboa (Diamond Bar), Jesse Hernandez (Northview), Isaiah Romero (Los Altos), Danny Vega (Baldwin Park), Andy Castillo (Baldwin Park).

TRIBUNE 2013-14 BOYS SOCCER ALL-AREA TEAM
SOCPLAYERSCO PLAYERS OF THE YEAR: Michael Flores (Sierra Vista); Danny Vega (Baldwin Park)
Both seniors, Sierra Vista’s Michael Flores may go down as the best player in school history while Baldwin Park’s Danny Vega finished off one of the greatest runs in area history to share San Gabriel Valley Tribune player of the year honors.
Flores helped Sierra Vista to one of its best seasons in history, advancing to the CIF-Southern Section Division 4 semifinals before losing its only game of the season, a 2-1 loss to Oak Hills, to finish 23-1-2.
Flores was the midfield general, earning Montview league MVP honors as well as being named to the CIF-SS Division 4 first team after finishing the season with 16 goals and 28 assists.
Vega finished among the section leaders in goals scored, finishing with an area-leading 40 that was topped with a clutch playoff run that resulted in the Braves winning the CIF-Southern Section Division 5 championship in a 5-4 penalty shootout over Marshall after a scoreless regulation and two overtimes.
Vega started the playoffs by scoring all four goals in a 4-0 win over Laguna Beach, while also scoring in wins over Diamond Bar, Estancia and notching the final penalty kick in the shootout to help the Braves raise their second championship trophy in four years. Vega was named the Valle Vista league MVP and also was named to the CIF-SS Division 5 first team.

mIRACOACH OF THE YEAR: Ricardo Mira, Baldwin Park
The longtime Braves coach earned his second coach of the year honor after leading the Braves to the Valle Vista league championship and CIF-Southern Section Division 5 title, beating Marshall 5-4 in penalty kicks after a 0-0 tie in regulation and two overtimes.
It was the second championship in four years for the Braves coach, who also won the Division 5 title in 2011 and advanced to the finals in 2010.

FIRST TEAM
JESSE HERNANDEZ, Northview, Senior, Defender
The Valle Vista League first-team selection helped the Vikings to their best season in history, finishing second in league to eventual Division 5 champion Baldwin Park while advancing to the quarterfinals. Hernandez was the central back given the assignment of marking the opposing teams top players.

ELMER JACOBS, Sierra Vista, Junior, Defender
Arguably the areas best defender the junior was named first team all Montview League and was selected to the CIF-SS Division 4 first team. He was part of a team that lost one game all season, in the Division 4 semifinals to Oak Hills, helping his team finish a remarkable 23-1-2 while leading a defense that only allowed 17 goals all season.

EDUARDO SUAREZ, Baldwin Park, Senior, Defender
The smooth defender/midfielder was named to the Valle Vista first-team and also was selected to the CIF-SS Division 5 first-team as part of the Braves’ championship squad. He was pivotal in the final against Marshall, helping his team pitch a shutout to get to the penalty shootout, which the Braves won 5-4 on PKs.

JAVIER JASSO, Baldwin Park, Senior, Midfielder
The architect on the field was a playmaker and goal scorer for the Braves and turned the volume up in the playoffs, culminating with a Division 5 title and earning Jasso Division 5 player of the year honors. He scored big-time goals in the playoffs and also was named to the Valle Vista League first team after helping the Braves to the league title.

GUY HORCASITAS, Diamond Bar, Junior, Midfielder
The Hacienda League first-team selection finished with 16 goals and five assists for the league co-champion Brahmas, who advanced to the Division 5 quarterfinals before losing a heartbreaking game to eventual champion Baldwin Park, 2-1. The attacking midfielder will be a force in 2014-15 along with scoring partner Andre Gamboa.

FREDDY NAVARRO, Arroyo, Junior, Midfielder.
The Knights’ sturdy playmaker was named co-most valuable player of the Mission Valley League in helping the Knights to a second-place finish along with El Monte, finishing only a half-game back of Mountain View in the highly competitive league.

ANDY CASTILLO, Baldwin Park, Senior, Midfielder
One of four Braves players named to the CIF-Southern Section Division 5 first team and also a Valle Vista league first-team selection for the league champion and CIF championship squad. Castillo worked both sides of the midfield, getting back on defense on counters and working the offensive end on breakaways.

MANNY MEDINA, Los Altos, Senior, Forward
Named the Hacienda League most valuable player after helping the Conquerors share the league title along with Diamond Bar. Medina finished with 13 goals and two assists, including a hat-trick in a 4-2 victory over West Covina.

ANDRE GAMBOA, Diamond Bar, Junior, Forward.
One of the areas best pure goal scorers, Gamboa was named Hacienda League co-most valuable player and finished with 22 goals and 10 assists. He helped the Brahmas to an upset over second-seed Monrovia in the second round of the Division 5 playoffs and helped take eventual champion Baldwin Park to the wire before losing 2-1 in the quarterfinals.

MARIO SAENZ, Sierra Vista, Senior, Forward
One of the areas best goal scorers, Saenz finished with 25 goals and four assists, earning Montview League first-team honors as well as being named to the CIF-SS Division first team. Saenz helped the Dons to one of its best seasons in history, finishing 23-1-2 in advancing to the Division 4 semifinals before losing its only game of the season 2-1 to Oak Hills.

ISAIAH ROMERO, Los Altos, Senior, Goalkeeper
Named the Hacienda League most valuable goalkeeper on the co-league championship team. Romero boasted nine shutouts and allowed just 26 goals all season.

SECOND TEAM
Defender: Garret Souza, Damien, Jr.
Defender: Steve Flores, Charter Oak, Sr.
Defender: Tim Ebiner, Damien, Jr.
Defender: Spencer Brose, Diamond Bar, Sr.
Midfielder: Juan Gonzales, Los Altos, Sr.
Midfielder: Eli Sanchez, Damien, Sr.
Midfielder: Miguel Cruz, El Monte, Sr.
Midfielder: Christian Palacios, Northview, Sr.
Forward: Jacob Bianchessi, Damien, Sr.
Forward: Brandon Arconado, Bishop Amat, Jr.
Goalkeeper: Cesar Rosales, Sierra Vista, Sr.

FINAL TOP TEN
1. Sierra Vista (23-1-2)
2. Baldwin Park (21-5-2)
3. Damien (14-4-4)
4. Northview (17-5-2)
5. Diamond Bar (17-8-3)
6. Los Altos (12-6-6)
7. Bishop Amat (10-7-3)
8. El Monte (12-3-1)
9. Arroyo (12-4-4)
10. Duarte (15-7)

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