Six Bulldogs Earn WSC Honors, Gomez Named Conference Player of the Year
After he led the conference in goals, assists and points, coaches voted Allan Hancock College men's soccer player Migel Gomez the Western State Conference's Player of the Year. The sophomore forward became the first Hancock athlete to win the honor since 2002 and the fourth in program history.
The Cabrillo High School graduate led the league with 19 assists and 47 points. He and teammate Ulysses Cardona tied for the conference lead with 14 goals. Gomez (pictured below) ranked third in the state in assists and points, and tied for sixth in goals. His 19 assists set a Hancock single-season record and rank third all-time in Western State Conference history. Gomez scored game-winning goals in wins against Monterey, Yuba and Moorpark.
"Migel provided great leadership as a captain and was the core of our team. He makes all players around him better and his statistics show he is a true team player," said Hancock head coach Billy Vinnedge. "Placing fifth in conference and still winning Player of the Year shows how much other coaches respected him. He is going to do great things at the next level, both on and off the field."
Gomez was one of six Hancock men's soccer players who earned postseason accolades from Western State Conference coaches.
Cardona (pictured below), a freshman forward, earned a spot on the All-Conference First Team. The Lompoc High School graduate compiled 14 goals and six assists. He ranked second in the conference with 34 points. Cardona scored two goals in a single-game twice, and he provided the game-winning goal for the Bulldogs in victories against Citrus and Chabot.
Sophomore midfielder Francisco Ayala and freshman midfielder Saul Ayuso earned spots on the All-Conference Second Team. Ayuso, a Santa Maria High School graduate, recorded three assists. Ayala earned all-conference recognition for the second time. He finished with four goals and two assists. He scored three goals in a five-game stretch, including the game-winner against L.A. Mission.
After anchoring the Hancock defense, sophomore defenders Joseph Goryance and Mario Delgado received honorable mention. Goryance, an all-conference pick as a freshman, played in all 22 games for the Bulldogs. He scored once in the team's 4-1 win over Chabot. On top of shining on defense, Delgado scored twice during the season and had one assist. He scored the game-winning goal in the team's 2-1 victory over College of the Sequoias.
Hancock finished the season 10-9-2 overall and 2-7-1 in conference action. The Bulldogs won 10 games in a single-season for the first time in seven years.
Ayala Delgado Goryance