The Ceres Earthquakes 16-and-under girls travel soccer team finished in first place at the Irvine Soccer Academy Summer Showcase this past month.

Ceres relied on its offense and defense while turning in a balanced effort.

“Everybody was locked in,” head coach Javier Alvarez said. “They knew what they were there for. They worked collectively to achieve the team goal. They’ve been putting in a lot of hard work at practice.”

The Earthquakes compiled a 4-0 record at the July 25-26 event.

Ceres outscored its opponents, 12-2.

Mila Zaragoza led the Earthquakes with six goals and two assists.

Sofia Mejia collected three goals and one assist.

Lexi Benitez had two goals.

Canyon Dermond-Cuthbert had one goal and one assist.

Payson Toste had two assists.

Aleah Alvarez and Julietta Del Hoyo each had one assist.

“We were the only team from Northern California there,” coach Alvarez said. “We’ve never faced any of those teams. It was new scenery for us. It was a different stage but it didn’t change who we are. We got to test our skills. Our intensity and hungriness is what made us come out on top. We outworked everybody.”

Ceres edged Strikers FC 2-1 in the championship game on July 26.

Zaragoza scored a game-high two goals.

Mejia and Aleah Alvarez both collected one assist.

Tied at 0-0, Ceres outscored Strikers FC 2-1 during the second half.

Zaragoza tallied goals in the 50th and 53rd minutes.

Strikers FC cut the deficit to 2-1 with 10 minutes to play.

“We took care of business,” coach Alvarez said.

Ceres cruised to a 5-1 win against Legends FC on July 26.

Zaragoza and Mejia each scored a team-high two goals.

Benitez chipped in with one goal.

Del Hoyo, Dermond-Cuthbert and Toste all contributed one assist.

The Earthquakes shut out Strikers FC 1-0 on July 25.

Benitez accounted for the game’s lone goal.

Ceres rolled to a 4-0 victory over Flyte FC 4-0 in July 25.

Zaragoza filled the stat sheet with two goals and two assists.

Dermond-Cuthbert and Mejia both scored once.

Toste had one assist.

“They had fun,” coach Alvarez said. “They shined bright.”

The Earthquakes continued their run of success.

Ceres posted a 10-0 record during 16-and-under NorCal Spring League play.

The Earthquakes competed against travel teams from Modesto (Ajax), Turlock (Academica), Manteca (Regulators) and Manteca (Futbol Club).

Ceres finished in second place while competing as a 15-and-under team at the Cal North State Cup, April 18-19, in Sacramento.

Zaragoza, Benitez, Del Hoyo, Dermond-Cuthbert, Toste, Aleah Alvarez, Sofia Mejia, Ariani Alvarez, Leah Mejia, Minka Mejia, Alexandria Jimenez, Amariis Marquez, Janelle Mendoza, Naomi Newton, Alexa Palacios, Elianna Ramirez and Lizette Tafolla make up the Earthquakes’ 17-person roster.

Ceres has two assistant coaches in Patrick Newton and Ricardo Jimenez.

Rebecca Alvarez is team manager.

“The sisterhood these girls have, the communication and togetherness, has helped out a lot,” Javier Alvarez said. “They don’t bad mouth each other. They have each other’s backs.”