WATSONVILLE — A string of concussions had kept Matt Olson off the pitch for the last two years.
There was little rust when he finally returned to the game he loved.
Monte Vista Christian’s star striker opened up his senior campaign with a hat trick in an upset win over Aptos, and he closed it out by earning Monterey Bay League Pacific division Most Valuable Player honors.
“Having two years off because of the concussions was rough,” Olson said. “Being able to get back into it, it was fun. It was definitely worth it.”
Olson said he was nearly brought to tears when head coach Mitchell Salerno let him know of the honor at the team’s end-of-season banquet.
“I was shocked,” Olson said. “I definitely didn’t expect that.”
The Mustangs finished the season 4-13-1 overall and won only one league game, yet the coaches from the MBL-Pacific still selected Olson as the league’s top player.
He scored 19 goals — nine coming in league action — over 17 games and made five assists this season.
“Honestly, he earned it,” Salerno said. “I think everyone agreed that he was the best player in the league. He was the most dangerous player on the field… A lot of coaches held their breath whenever he had the ball.”
It took some convincing to get Olson to play for M.V.C., which has not made the Central Coast Section playoffs since 1987 and has struggled to compete in the past. Salerno, the school’s first-year Headmaster, filled the program’s coaching vacancy after the Mustangs had muted interest in the offseason, and immediately began recruiting throughout the school’s campus.
He heard word of Olson’s talents and quickly gave him the sales pitch. Olson was tentative at first, but couldn’t stay away after a couple practices under Salerno, an accomplished soccer coach in the past.
“I think once he came out to the first practice and saw that it was a real thing, he was all for it,” Salerno said.
Olson’s brilliance led the Mustangs to a hot 3-1 start in the preseason, and also helped them improve as their league season progressed. They were blown out 10-0, 5-1, 5-2 and 6-0 by Salinas, Christopher, Gilroy and North Salinas, respectively, in the first round of MBL-Pacific division action, but lost to Salinas, Gilroy and North Salinas by only one goal and beat Christopher 5-1 behind a hat trick from Olson the second time around.
“I’m so proud. This team hadn’t had this mindset before — that we could win,” Olson said. “After this season, people are starting to believe it. I think the change of mindset was huge. Going forward, we have something to lay our foundation on. We have this season.”
Olson said he plans to play soccer at the collegiate level, and is actively looking for the right fit.
Salerno said which ever program he selects is getting a solid all-around forward.
“He’s big, he’s physical and he can play with both feet,” Olson said. “You don’t see guys at the high school level that can manufacture goals like he can.”
Olson was also named to the MBL-Pacific division First Team.
Junior defender Robert Chavez was named to the league’s second team, while sophomore defender Josh Hollingsworth made the Sportsmanship team and the Mustangs won the team Sportsmanship Award.
North Salinas and Salinas shared the league title. Coaches Jesus Gomez (North Salinas) and Jose Montenegro (Salinas) were named the co-Coaches of the Year.
GABILAN
Pajaro Valley’s Juan Roman was named the MBL-Gabilan division Coach of the Year, the league recently announced.
Roman’s youthful Grizzlies finished the year 1-18-2 overall and 0-11-1 in league action while fighting through inexperience and missing several players throughout the season.
Pajaro Valley’s Ricardo Gutierrez earned a spot on the MBL-Gabilan division First Team.
Watsonville senior keeper Isaac Frias, junior defender Angel Quinonez-Figueroa and junior midfielder Ricardo Alvarado, and North Monterey County senior forward Edward Gallardo and junior defender Bryan Ochoa also made the league’s first team.
Watsonville took second in the Gabilan at 6-2-4, and qualified for the prestigious CCS Open Division. The Wildcatz finished 12-5-4 overall.
N.M.C. took fourth in the league at 6-5-1, and tallied an 11-6-2 overall record after winning just four games last season.
Alisal won the MBL-Gabilan division title and finished off its season by capturing the inaugural CIF NorCal Division II championship. Trojans senior midfielder Angel Amezcua was named the league M.V.P.
Six locals made the second team: Alex Gonzalez (Watsonville), Vladimir Mendoza (Watsonville), Oscar Rocha (Watsonville), Alvaro Rocha (N.M.C.), George Aquino (N.M.C.) and Lupe Medina (Pajaro Valley).
Jose Villanueva (Watsonville), Mario Hernandez (N.M.C.) and Kevin Rincon (Pajaro Valley) made the Sportsmanship Team.
