A standout defender during her first three seasons on Central Valley’s varsity girls soccer team, Citlaly Salinas made a name for herself while starring at forward this year.

Salinas and Central Valley teammates Anusha Kumar and Yaira Contreras were recognized in a vote by the Central California Conference’s head coaches on Feb. 22 at Golden Valley High School.

“I’m proud of them,” Hawks’ head coach Miguel Larranaga said. “They definitely deserved it.”

Salinas was selected to the CCC First Team for the second year in a row.

She earned first-team all-Western Athletic Conference honors during the 2017-18 season.

Salinas was voted WAC co-Defensive Player of the Year as a freshman.

“She’s a complete player with a lot of talent,” Larranaga said. 

Salinas collected a team-leading 24 goals and three assists her senior year. “I’m a little surprised because she never played the position before,” Larranaga said. “But she adapted so well. She improved every game.”

Kumar, a senior defender, earned second-team all-league honors. “Anusha gave 100 percent every game,” Larranaga said. “She did her best not to let me down.”

Contreras, a senior midfielder, was a CCC Sportsmanship award winner.  She had one goal and six assists.

“She’s a very positive person,” Larranaga said. 

Central Valley (2-7-3) struggled to a fifth-place finish in the CCC standings.