Head coach Miguel Larranaga talked about what might have been following the 11th-seeded Central Valley girls soccer team’s 3-0 loss to sixth-seeded Lincoln in the first round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-I playoffs on Feb. 13 in Stockton.

Starters Aaralyn Jauregui, Aaliyah Jauregui, Amirrah Cornielle and Camila Orozco did not play during the Hawks’ matchup against the Trojans.

They were sidelined for various reasons.

“It would have been a different story if we had all of our players,” Larranaga said. “We still have amazing players. They were motivated. They did not give up until the last second.”

Central Valley continued its winning tradition this winter.

The Hawks compiled a 15-5-2 overall record.

Central Valley collected 13 wins, one loss and no ties on its way to claiming its second straight Western Athletic Conference championship.

The Hawks also qualified for the playoffs for the third year in a row.

Lincoln posted a 16-6-2 overall record and placed third in the Tri-City Athletic League with a 7-3-0 mark. 

The Trojans lost 3-1 to the third-seeded Inderkum Tigers in the quarterfinals of the playoffs on Feb. 16.

“I’m proud of the girls,” Larranaga said. “I’m happy for the girls, program and school. We won back-to-back (WAC) titles. The reason we did this is because we have so much talent. All the girls stepped up this year.”

Central Valley goalkeeper Elia Hernandez made five saves against Lincoln.

Mia Barkley, Peysha Hinnant and Trinity Thompson all scored one goal for Trojans.

The Hawks trailed 2-0 at halftime.

“It was a big challenge,” Larranaga said. “”Overall, they were a better team. They dominated more. We played really well. We controlled the game for a while. The second half was very even. We had clear opportunities to score but didn’t finish. That’s what hurt the team.”

The absence of Orozco, Cornielle, Aaliyah Jauregui and Aaralyn Jauregui impacted Central Valley’s overall play.

Aaralyn Jauregui, Most Valuable Player of the WAC in 2024-25, collected 10 goals and dished out seven assists this season.

“It was tough,” Larranaga said. “I had to move players around to positions they don’t normally play.”

The Hawks will lose four key players to graduation, including Hernandez, Marcella Larranaga, Jocelyn Rivera and Aaliyah Jauregui.

Jauregui missed the majority of the season with an ankle injury.

“They were good leaders,” coach Larranaga said. “Soccer meant a lot to them. They always played their hearts out. I know they’re leaving but we still have a strong group.” 

Central Valley will have high expectations next season as a wealth of talent is expected to return to the team.

“We have a lot of girls coming back,” Miguel Larranaga said. “Hopefully, we get a few new freshmen that will help the program as well.”