WATSONVILLE — Watsonville High was in a rut.
The Wildcatz had just dropped back-to-back league games and were sitting in second-to-last place of the Monterey Bay League Gabilan division.
Time was running out on their playoff hopes.
Francisco Gonzales knew he had to do something.
So he did.
The senior Wildcat gave up scoring goals and moved to defense to fill the void left by Martin Lopez’s early-season injury.
The result? Eight straight victories, leading Watsonville to a second-place finish in the MBL-G and a spot in the program’s fourth straight Central Coast Section championship game.
“I saw how much we were struggling back there so I just told the coach that I’d sacrifice playing forward to play defense and to help the team,” Gonzales said.
Selfless, strong and motivated, Gonzales helped the Wildcatz rebound from a rough start to continue the program’s historic 41-year CCS playoff appearance streak. For all of those reasons, the Pajaronian is naming Gonzales our Player of the Year for boy’s soccer.
Moved up to the varsity level as a sophomore, the speedy do-it-all soccer player quickly caught on to the Wildcatz’s touch-touch style of play that had led them to 11 section titles and numerous league championships. He started as a sophomore and junior on defense, helping Watsonville to a CCS Division I runner-up finish in 2015 and a CCS Open Division co-championship last season.
This season, Gonzales got off to a hot start as the team’s top forward, leading Watsonville to a 5-0 record behind his seven goals. But when the Wildcatz began to struggle in the middle of the season, he made his move into the back line.
Watsonville was never the same.
With his speed, control and experience aiding a youthful defense, the Wildcatz allowed only 0.55 goals per game over their last nine contests.
He was named to the MBL-G First Team for helping his team scrounge together enough points to finish second behind league champion Alisal High. A 1-0 revenge win over San Benito High to close out the league season clinched the second-place finish and home field advantage throughout their CCS run, which ended with them losing in the D-I championship game to Lincoln High.
Gonzales was still shaking his head and struggling to find answers as to how the Wildcatz recovered after a 1-6-3 stretch during the middle of the season.
“I’m still kind of shocked because there were so many people thinking that we weren’t going to make it,” Gonzales said. “Honestly, some of us thought we weren’t going to make it either. We were all down and then we all came together and started winning and made it to the finals. It’s a good memory for all of us.”
One of several Gonzales had during his three years playing under head coach Roland Hedgpeth. The memory that rises above the rest, Gonzales said, is last year’s CCS semifinal victory over longtime rival Bellarmine.
“I was just happy,” Gonzales said. “I really wanted to beat that team.”
Gonzales said he started playing soccer at the age of 4 and has never stopped kicking the ball around since. He was pushed onto the pitch by several of his family members, including his uncle Emilio Hurtado, who was on the verge of playing professional soccer with the San Jose Earthquakes before suffering a knee injury. Gonzales said he had three uncles play for Hedgpeth at Watsonville over the years. His time with the Wildcatz lived up to the hype.
“It was a good experience,” Gonzales said. “I think I got better playing here. As a player, I learned how competitive it is.”
Gonzales said he has hopes of playing at the next level and has a few programs showing interest, including Division II Sonoma State. Wherever he ends up, Gonzales said he’d like to pursue a career in business administration after being inspired by his teachers in Watsonville’s Business and Technology Academy.
COACH OF THE YEAR
• Roland Hedgpeth, Watsonville – Watsonville’s legendary head coach Roland Hedgpeth has had the magic touch over the years and it has been on full display with the Wildcatz as of recent. This year’s CCS championship appearance was not only the program’s fourth straight but their sixth over the last eight years.
Several teams would have given up after a 1-6-3 stretch during the heart of their season but Hedgpeth was able to keep the Wildcatz focused enough to make one final push into the CCS playoffs.
“He’s a very good coach,” Gonzales said. “He laughs with us, he plays around with us. We always call him grandpa Hedg because he always watched over us and makes sure our grades are good.”
Under Hedgpeth, Watsonville finished 14-7-3 overall and 6-3-3 in MBL-G play.
THE TEAM
Watsonville’s duo of speedy senior forwards Armando Ferro and Augustin Sorroza made the Wildcatz go. Ferro scored in every CCS playoff game leading up to the final, including the game-winner against Menlo-Atherton in the semifinals. Sorroza had the assist on the score.
Sorroza was named to the MBL-G First Team and Ferro made the Second Team.
Pajaro Valley High’s seniors Alexis Rincon and Abraham Cruz led the team from the middle of the field, controlling the pace of games and setting up teammates with solid scoring opportunities. Rincon was an MBL-G First-Team selection and Cruz made the league’s Second Team.
Aptos High senior Kieran Woodley was in the running for the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League’s Most Valuable Player award but had his season cut short due to injury. Still, he impressively finished with 11 goals and six assists and earned an SCCAL First Team selection.
Watsonville junior Oscar Rocha, who started all 22 games, was part of the Wildcatz’s strong and youthful midfield that allowed them to dictate the flow of the contest. He was named to the MBL-G’s Second Team.
Watsonville’s defensive pair of senior Noe Robledo and junior Erik Herrera helped save the Wildcatz’s season over the last nine games. Robledo earned an All-MBL-G First Team selection.
Pajaro Valley junior Jairo Membrano was an All-MBL-G First Team selection and was the enforcer for the Grizzlies in the back line.
Watsonville junior goal keeper Isaac Frias made several fantastic saves throughout the Wildcatz’s CCS playoff run but none bigger than his one-handed rejection against Menlo-Atherton in the semifinals.
•••
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Francisco Gonzales >> Watsonville, Senior, defender
COACH OF THE YEAR
Roland Hedgpeth >> Watsonville
THE TEAM
Forwards
>> Armando Ferro; Watsonville, Senior
>> Agustin Sorroza; Watsonville, Senior
Midfielders
>> Alexis Rincon; Pajaro Valley, Senior
>> Kieran Woodley; Aptos, Senior
>> Oscar Rocha, Watsonville; Junior
>> Abraham Cruz; Pajaro Valley
, Senior
Defenders
>> Francisco Gonzales; Watsonville, Senior
>> Noe Robledo; Watsonville, Senior
>> Jairo Membreno; Pajaro Valley, Junior
>> Erik Herrera; Watsonville, Junior
Goal keeper
>> Isaac Frias; Watsonville, Junior
