Aptos High senior Eddie Alvarez wanted to prove this past season he was still the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League’s best returning soccer player in 2023-24.
Last year’s all-league accolades stated otherwise, but nonetheless the Mariners’ standout was a force to be reckoned with anytime he stepped on the pitch.
The coaches within the league took note of it, which is the reason he was named the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League boys’ soccer Player of the Year for his outstanding efforts on the pitch in the 2023-24 season.
“I really feel like I did put the work ethic and everything that I needed to do during practice, and on my own, too, when I would go shoot with my cousin,” Alvarez said. “I’m very proud of myself and I hope my family’s proud of me, too, that I got this award.”
Alvarez had a league-leading 22 goals to go along with six assists for the Mariners. Aptos coach Roberto Zúñiga was excited to see his star player earn the well deserved award.
“The kid is very deserving, top of the leaderboard,” Zúñiga said. “He just gave it his all and he’s a team player.”
Aptos junior Nami Banks was named Defensive Player of the Year, helping the Mariners defense concede just six goals in league play. Harbor High senior Romeo Marin was awarded Offensive Player of the Year, and Soquel High junior Andrew Bucio was the Goalkeeper of the Year.
Zúñiga also collected some hardware after he was awarded Coach of the Year honors. He helped lead Aptos to a 14-3-3 overall record and capturing the SCCAL crown with an 8-1-1 record in league play.
The Mariners also qualified for the Central Coast Section Division II playoffs for a fourth straight trip to the postseason.
In his 17th year at the helm, Zúñiga continues to strive for his goal of leading by example and having the coaching staff be as committed as the players, whether it’s practicing in the rain or showing up for film study.
“For me, this recognition by my peers means a lot,” he said. “It means that we’re doing something right at Aptos for the boys’ program, and that we have been working like a well-oiled machine for the last four years.”
Alvarez was still upset after last year’s results for all-league awards. He recorded a league-best 17 goals and four assists, putting him in prime contention to earn top honors.
However, it was Raul Calles of Harbor High who walked away with the POY award despite having one less goal and assist than Alvarez, who was named the offensive player of the year.
During the offseason, Alvarez worked twice as hard and admitted he went into the season with a bit of a chip on his shoulder. He finished coming off a strong season in the summer with his club team, PV United prior to joining Aptos for the winter.
“I had this thought in my head where I was like, I need to do better than last year. I need to get more goals,” he said.
It started with a six-goal performance in the Mariners’ 7-1 win over Ceiba College Prep on Nov. 21, followed by four goals in a 14-0 crushing victory against Anzar High on Dec. 14. Alvarez also scored at least one goal in seven league games.
But it wasn’t just his ability to score that earned Alvarez top honors. The four-year varsity player also knew how to lead a group through the good times and the challenging ones.
“The kid has always given it his best. I think that it speaks volumes of a person,” Zúñiga said. “It takes character to just hold and wait your time on the pitch until you fully develop into the player and team captain.”
Alvarez plans to continue his soccer career at Cabrillo College with hopes of transferring to a four-year college and beyond.
“I feel like I’m ready for Cabrillo,” Alvarez said.
Aptos seniors Esteban García, Andrew López-Rameño, Carlos Gutiérrez and junior Noah Curran—who recorded seven shutouts as the main goalkeeper this season—all earned All-SCCAL First Team honors.
The all-league second team included seniors Kaleb Plascencia and Ulises Valdéz; junior Love Granström (Jr.); and sophomore Daniel Lozano.
A trio of underclassmen in sophomores Josiah Siqueiros and David Sebastian-Killpatrick; and freshman Damián García made the honorable mention list.
“I just hope that the program does good and Aptos keeps doing what they’re doing. Keep striving for better achievements and better goals, and maybe a [Central Coast Section ring,” Alvarez said.
Individual Awards
Player of the Year: Eduardo Álvarez (Sr.), Aptos
Offensive Player of the Year: Romeo Marin (Sr.), Harbor
Defensive Player of the Year: Nami Banks (Jr.), Aptos
Goalkeeper of the Year: Andrew Bucio (Jr.), Soquel
Coach of the Year: Roberto Zúñiga, Aptos
First Team
Esteban García (Sr.), Aptos
Andrew López-Rameño (Sr.), Aptos
Carlos Gutiérrez (Sr.), Aptos
Noah Curran (Jr.), Aptos
Jeo Linares (Sr.), Harbor
Alex Aparicio (Jr.), Harbor
Javi Calles (Jr.), Harbor
Triton Dew (Sr.), Santa Cruz
Aiden Nounnan (Sr.), San Lorenzo Valley
Esteban Gonzalez (Sr.), Soquel
Rex Denger (Sr.), Scotts Valley
Second Team
Kaleb Plascencia (Sr.), Aptos
Ulises Valdéz (Sr.), Aptos
Love Granström (Jr.), Aptos
Daniel Lozano (So.), Aptos
Danny Garcia (So.), Harbor
Brandon Jimenez (Jr.), Harbor
Moi Hernandez (So.), Harbor
Christopher Vasquez-Vargas (Jr.), Santa Cruz
Jac Chisler (Sr.), SLV
Antonio Plaza (Jr.), Soquel
Cooper Wickum (Sr.), Scotts Valley
Honorable Mention
Josiah Siqueiros (So.), Aptos
David Sebastian-Killpatrick (So.), Aptos
Damián García (Fr.), Aptos
Juan Lara (Sr.), Harbor
Johnny Campbell (Sr.), Harbor
Maury Martinez (Sr.), Harbor
Omar Porter y Ramirez (Sr.), Santa Cruz
Luc Stanfield (Sr.), Santa Cruz
Nicolas Aladro-Wolf (Sr.), Santa Cruz
Owen Garrahan (Sr.), SLV
Thomas Moberg (Sr.), SLV
Francisco Rocha (Sr.), SLV
Jack Leiva, Midfielder (Jr.), Soquel
David Moya (Jr.), Soquel
Kai Reyes (Jr.), Soquel
Mars Davis (Sr.), Scotts Valley
Jacob Berman (Jr.), Scotts Valley
Lukas Bloom (Jr.), Scotts Valley
