ORANGE – Seven different members of the Orange Empire Conference champion Golden West College Rustlers earned all-conference honors last week, as voted on by the head coaches of each team.
After earning the OEC title and snapping Santa Ana's 18-year stranglehold of the conference's top spot, the Rustlers had four first-team selections and three second-team selections.
In addition, sophomore defender Max Talbert was named the Orange Empire Conference MVP for his fine two-way play. His strong leadership helped anchor a Rustler defense that allowed only 10 goals all season long and four in OEC play, leading the Rustlers to a 16-1-3 overall record, a No. 1 seed and a first-round bye in the 2012 Southern California Regional Playoffs.
Freshman forward Victor Velazquez (seven goals, three assists, 17 points), freshman midfielder Jaime Rios (five goals, one assist, 11 points), sophomore defender Steve Gonzalez and sophomore midfielder Cesar Cruz earned first-team honors for the Rustlers, while sophomore goalkeepers Diego Chacon (0.92 goals against average) and Antonio Flores (0.24 GAA in 1,125 minutes played) were second-team choices . Head coach Alex Gimenez was named the OEC Coach of the Year.
Santa Ana College's Damian Marquez (13 goals, five assists, 31 points) and Ivan Orozco (12 goals, five assists, 29 points) highlighted the Dons' six-member contingent that included three first-team and three second-team selections.
Orange Coast College, which finished in third place and earned a playoff berth for the first time since 2006, had five all-conference selections, including sophomore midfielder Brandon Bauman, who led the OEC in scoring with 38 points (eight goals, 22 assists) and freshman forward Jorge Sanchez, who led the OEC in total goals (15) and tied Marquez for conference goals (10).
In all, 36 players earned a spot on this year's All-Orange Empire Conference first and second teams with representatives from all eight teams on each list.
2012 Men's Soccer All-Orange Empire Conference
Most Valuable Player – Max Talbert, Golden West, Defender, Sophomore
Coach of the Year – Alex Gimenez, Golden West
FIRST TEAM
|
Name |
School |
Position |
Year |
|
Cesar Cruz |
Golden West |
Midfielder |
Sophomore |
|
Steve Gonzalez |
Golden West |
Defender |
Sophomore |
|
Victor Velazquez |
Golden West |
Forward |
Freshman |
|
Jaime Rios |
Golden West |
Midfielder |
Freshman |
|
Damian Marquez |
Santa Ana |
Forward |
Freshman |
|
Manuel Gomez |
Santa Ana |
Defender |
Freshman |
|
Ivan Orozco |
Santa Ana |
Forward |
Freshman |
|
Brandon Bauman |
Orange Coast |
Midfielder |
Sophomore |
|
Jorge Sanchez |
Orange Coast |
Forward |
Freshman |
|
Jake Little |
Orange Coast |
Defender |
Sophomore |
|
Francisco Villaruel |
Fullerton |
Defender |
Sophomore |
|
Jesse Sandoval |
Fullerton |
Defender |
Sophomore |
|
Javier Prieto |
Norco |
Defender |
Sophomore |
|
Antonio Castro |
Norco |
Midfielder |
Freshman |
|
Milan Johannsen |
Cypress |
Midfielder |
Freshman |
|
Lasse Horn |
Cypress |
Defender |
Freshman |
|
Guillermo Garcia |
Irvine Valley |
Midfielder |
Freshman |
|
Ramon Sanchez |
Santiago Canyon |
Defender |
Freshman |
SECOND TEAM
|
Name |
School |
Position |
Year |
|
Diego Chacon |
Golden West |
Goalkeeper |
Sophomore |
|
Antonio Flores |
Golden West |
Goalkeeper |
Sophomore |
|
Fernando Perez |
Golden West |
Defender |
Freshman |
|
Gerardo Hidalgo |
Santa Ana |
Defender |
Sophomore |
|
Ricardo Gonzalez |
Santa Ana |
Midfielder |
Freshman |
|
Jean Marco Vargas |
Santa Ana |
Midfielder |
Freshman |
|
Bajj Chela |
Orange Coast |
Forward |
Sophomore |
|
Frankie Munoz |
Orange Coast |
Midfielder |
Freshman |
|
Joe Araiza |
Fullerton |
Midfielder |
Freshman |
|
Miguel Samayoa |
Fullerton |
Midfielder |
Sophomore |
|
Ramon Hernandez |
Norco |
Midfielder |
Freshman |
|
Dorian Escamilla |
Norco |
Defender |
Freshman |
|
Luis Garcia |
Cypress |
Midfielder |
Freshman |
|
Khristian Puente |
Cypress |
Midfielder |
Freshman |
|
Joshua Davis |
Irvine Valley |
Defender |
Freshman |
|
Connor Mazolewski |
Irvine Valley |
Defender |
Freshman |
|
Jose Barajas |
Santiago Canyon |
Defender |
Freshman |