The Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League girls soccer season was so jam-packed with talent this past winter campaign that coaches had no choice but to hand out two awards for the league’s top player.
Aptos High senior Alexa Castañeda and Santa Cruz senior Lia Guilarte were named the SCCAL’s co-Players of the Year during last month’s end-of-the-season meeting.
Castañeda, who was named the league’s POY as a sophomore in 2023-24, tallied 16 goals and eight assists in the 2025-26 season.
“I’m very grateful for the coaches voting for me and [Guilarte],” Castañeda said in a previous interview with The Pajaronian. “Everybody that won an award is obviously deserving for putting their time and work into the sport. It was definitely a reflection of my hard work.”
Aptos junior Bella Hartnett took home the Attacker of the Year award, and teammate senior Maddie Redding was named the Midfielder of the Year.
Soquel senior Hailey Betterman was awarded the SCCAL’s Defensive Player of the Year, while Santa Cruz junior Ari Flores earned Goalkeeper of the Year honors.
Hartnett used her blazing speed to get past defenders and attack the net, finishing with 22 goals and eight assists.
“[Hartnett’s] been nominated every year, I think she deserved it every year if you lead the league in goals,” said Aptos head coach Gina Castañeda in a previous interview with The Pajaronian.
Redding contributed six assists as the Mariners’ main defensive midfielder, controlling the tempo of the game while being the first to support the defensive line and transition into attack mode.
“We tried different players in that position,” Gina Castañeda said. “[Redding] accepted the responsibility and her hard work paid off.”
Gina Castañeda won her second Coach of the Year award after she led the Mariners to a fourth consecutive SCCAL title, and 16th overall since 1985-86.
Aptos seniors Izzie Schenone and Anahi Najera along with sophomore Emily Santiago each earned All-SCCAL First Team honors. Teammates Aubrie Ford, Tayanna Bonilla and Kenzi Culberson were recognized on the all-league second team.
The Central Coast Section Division III champion Mariners conceded just four goals and recorded six shutouts in SCCAL play this season, finishing undefeated at 10-0 for the first time since going 12-0 in 2016-17.
“You’re talking four months of dedicated work to these young ladies to get them to win a CCS championship,” Castañeda said. “It’s not just about training a team and having the best staff that’s at your side. It’s all the other stuff that goes into it, the pasta nights, film, PowerPoints, empowering them to make decisions on the field.”
Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League All-League Girls Soccer Teams
Individual Awards
Co-Players of the Year: Alexa Castaneda (Sr.), Aptos and Lia Guilarte (Sr.), Santa Cruz
Attacker of the Year: Isabella Hartnett (Jr.), Aptos
Midfielder of the Year: Maddison Redding (Sr.), Aptos
Defensive Player of the Year: Hailey Betterman (Sr.), Soquel
Goalkeeper of the Year: Ari Flores (Jr.) – Santa Cruz
Coach of the Year: Gina Castaneda, Aptos
First Team
Izzie Schenone (Sr.), Aptos
Anahi Najera (Sr.), Aptos
Emily Santiago (So.), Aptos
Savannah Henry (Jr.), Santa Cruz
Hayden Kriege (Sr.), Santa Cruz
Lianna Cerdas (So.), Santa Cruz
Ella Ireland (Sr.), Scotts Valley
Isabella Agnone (Jr.), Scotts Valley
Caitlyn Grey (Jr.), Soquel
Caitlin Curly (Jr.), Soquel
Simone Mugnier (Sr.), SLV
Athena Forbus (Jr.), Harbor
Second Team
Aubrie Ford (Jr.) – Aptos
Tayanna Bonilla (So.) – Aptos
Kenzi Culterson (Jr.) – Aptos
Cary Baron (So.) – Santa Cruz
Madeline Gibson (So.) – Santa Cruz
Sienna Cook (So.) – Santa Cruz
Ximena Madrigal (Jr.) – Harbor
Samantha Lyons (Jr.) – SLV
Zoe Plotsky (Fr.) – Soquel
Marissa Garcia (Jr.) – Soquel
Isabella Moriarty (Sr.) – Scotts Valley
Taylor Ericson (Jr.) – Scotts Valley
Honorable Mention
Kate Deteso (Fr.), Aptos
Mata Overby (Jr.), Aptos
Aria Slawinski (Fr.), Aptos
Tamar Deutsch (Sr.), Santa Cruz
Dahlia Montesinos (Sr.), Santa Cruz
Allie Rodriguez (Sr.), Santa Cruz
Dahlia Cardenas (So.), SLV
Danielle Stiles (Jr.),SLV
Evelyn Bird (Fr.), SLV)
Maya Teves (Sr.), Scotts Valley
Campbell Flores (Jr.), Scotts Valley
Jazzelyn Phillips (Sr.), Scotts Valley
Marina Tucker (Sr.), Harbor
Kenzie Simon (So.), Harbor
Sophia Forbus (Fr.), Harbor
Laela Bennet (Fr.), Soquel
Lani Gilbert (Jr.), Soquel
