Central Valley’s and Ceres High’s girls soccer programs have reason to be excited heading into the 2025-26 season.
The Hawks and Bulldogs have talent and experience on their respective rosters.
“We’re in a good spot,” Central Valley head coach Miguel Larranaga said. “We have a strong team. We want to win league so we get a good spot for playoffs.”
“I have high hopes for them,” Ceres High leader Rudy Jimenez stated. “I know what we have. The goal is to make playoffs again and get a better seed.”
Larranaga awarded roster spots to 19 players this year, including Elia Hernandez (Sr.), Aaliyah Jauregui (Sr.), Marcella Larranaga (Sr.), Jocelyn Rivera (Sr.), Bella Ayala (Jr.), Brianna Cuevas (Jr.), Eliana Jimenez (Jr.), Vivian Jimenez (Jr.), Aaralyn Jauregui (Jr.), Camila Orozco (Jr.), Kenia Acevedo (So.), Ayleen Apreza (So.), Amirrah Cornielle (So.), Ashley Juarez (So.), Deanika Perez (So.), Evelyn Rivera (So.), Anahy Aguilar (Fr.), Melanee Gutierrez (Fr.) and Nya Nevarez (Fr.).
The Hawks lost four players to graduation, including Magnolia Tavizon, Mia Mendoza, Gianna Silva and Eliana Tamayo.
“I look for skills like speed, ball control under pressure and passing more than anything,” coach Larranaga said. “That’s how you get to know who your best players are.”
Larranaga, Ayala, Orozco, Acevedo, Apreza, Cornielle, Juarez, Aaliyah Jauregui, Eliana Jimenez, Vivian Jimenez and Aaralyn Jauregui are returners.
Hernandez, Cuevas, Perez, Aguilar, Gutierrez, Nevarez, Jocelyn Rivera and Evelyn Rivera are newcomers.
“Team chemistry is excellent,” Miguel Larranaga said. “The girls want to be here. They like and respect each other. They’re like sisters.”
Aaliyah Jauregui and Marcella Larranaga have been named team captains.
Aaliyah Jauregui, who is currently sidelined with an ankle injury, earned first-team all-Western Athletic Conference honors as a junior.
She started at center back while anchoring Central Valley’s defense.
She collected three goals and three assists.
Aaliyah Jauregui, who is currently sidelined with an ankle injury,
Marcella Larranaga was selected to the WAC Second Team.
The standout defender collected seven goals and four assists.
“They’re definitely the leaders of the team,” coach Larranaga said. “They’re committed. Their teammates listen to them. They’re good examples.”
Juarez and Apreza were both named to the WAC First Team.
Juarez started at left defender.
She had six goals and five assists.
Apreza, a midfielder, had 12 goals and nine assists.
Cornielle, a utility player, garnered second-team all-conference recognition.
She had 14 goals and nine assists.
Jimenez decided to carry 14 players on Ceres High’s roster this season, including Jessie Blevins (Sr.), Stephanie Espinoza (Sr.), Brianna Luna (Sr.), Julia Medina (Sr.), Martina Meglioli (Sr.), Xicalai Montanez (Sr.), Evelyn Navarro (Sr.), Melina Castrejon (Jr.), Braidynn Mott (Jr.), Giselle Zamora (Jr.), Sharryah Cabellos (So.), Aleah Alvarez (Fr.), Leah Mejia (Fr.) and Tatiana Zamora (Fr.).
The Bulldogs lost eight players to graduation, including Ava Montesdeoca, Alyssa Santillanes, Melanie Lopez, Madeline Diaz, Stephanie Lizola, Daira Rivas, Itzel Torrez and Mariah Zamora.
“I got a mix of girls that are extremely talented, athletic and know the game,” Jimenez said.
Blevins, Espinoza, Luna, Navarro, Castrejon, Mott, Cabellos and Giselle Zamora are returners.
Medina, Meglioli, Montanez, Alvarez, Mejia and Tatiana Zamora are newcomers.
Luna, Navarro and Giselle Zamora have been named team captains.
“They’re team players,” said Jimenez. “They lead very well. All the girls respect them.”
Cabellos and Mott both earned first-team all-WAC honors a season ago.
Mott, a standout goalkeeper, totaled eight saves during second-place Ceres High’s scoreless tie against league-champion Central Valley.
“She’s an elite player,” Jimenez said. “She has no fear. She’s very communicative back there. She takes charge. She does her job to the fullest.”
Cabellos totaled six goals and four assists while logging playing time at midfielder and striker.
“I wasn’t surprised by what she was able to do,” Jimenez said. “She knows the game really well. She can use both of her feet. Moving forward, she’s going to get even better.”
Giselle Zamora, a midfielder, had four assists and one goal as a junior.
Blevins, a halfback/midfielder, collected two goals.
Castrejon, a sweeper, also contributed two goals.
Central Valley and Ceres High plan to continue their tradition of excellence this winter.
The Hawks will by vying for their third consecutive Sac-Joaquin Section playoff berth and second straight WAC championship.
Ceres High will look to extend its playoff appearance streak to 11 seasons and battle Central Valley for the league title.
The Hawks compiled a 20-4-2 overall record and finished in first place in the WAC standings with a 12-1-0 mark during the 2024-25 school year.
Fourteenth-seeded Central Valley lost 1-0 to third-seeded Gregori in the first round of the Division-I playoffs.
“Our first goal is to win league,” coach Larranaga said. “We can definitely be a contender. Of course, we’re going to have to practice and do our best every game. It’s going to take a lot of discipline from the girls. If that’s there, I think we can make it happen.”
The Bulldogs posted an 11-7-3 overall record and placed second in league with a 9-2-2 mark last year.
Unbeaten through its final seven games of the regular season, 13th-seeded Ceres High put up a fight in losing 2-0 to fourth-seeded Del Campo in the Division-III postseason tournament.
“There’s no reason we can’t take first (in league),” said Jimenez. “Without a doubt, I believe we can make playoffs again. We have the talent to do it. We just have to play smart and communicate as a team.”
Crosstown-rivals Central Valley and Ceres High faced off twice this past season.
The Hawks shut out the Bulldogs 2-0 during the first meeting.
The two teams battled to a 0-0 tie the final week of WAC play.
This year’s games will be staged on Jan. 15 (Ceres River Bluff Regional Park, 3 p.m.) and Feb. 10 (Ceres High, 6 p.m.).
“Every time we play them, it’s a tough game,” coach Larranaga said. “They always do their best against us. It’s exciting to coach those games. You want to win for the girls and school. There’s a lot of pride.”
“It’s a friendly rivalry,” Jimenez added. “The girls respect each other. Nobody is out to hurt anyone. We’re looking forward to the games. If our girls play with the right mentality, we can win. We’ll see what happens.”
