Richland Earns 13 All-DAC Honors
DALLAS – Dallas College Richland's Alexis Cruz was named the Dallas Athletic Conference Men's Soccer Most Valuable Player.
Daniel Espana earned the DAC Defensive Player of the Year, Victor Gomez was named the league Goalkeeper of the Year and Raul Herrera the Coach of the Year.
Charles Chimezie and Sebastian Gonzalez joined Cruz, Gomez and Espana as First Team All-DAC selections. Alex Valdez, Jose Diaz, Mazin Saeed and Maximilian Vega were named Second Team All-DAC.
Cruz had six goals and four assists for 16 points. He scored a hat trick in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III South District Championship game.
Espana helped key a back line that posted six shutouts, including two in conference games.
Gomez went 10-2-1 with six shutouts, a 1.10 goals against average and .696 saves percentage.
Chimezie, a defender, also keyed the back line in helping the Thunderducks post six clean sheets.
Gonzalez scored two goals and had five assists for nine points.
Valdez had two goals and an assist for five points.
Diaz had two goals and two assists for six points.
Saeed had three goals and an assist for seven points. He scored twice in the district title game.
Vega had three goals and an assist for seven points, while as a defender, helping Richland hold opponents to 17 goals in 14 games.
Herrera guided the No. 1-ranked Thunderducks to the DAC regular season title. They ran their unbeaten streak to 52 straight conference games.
Richland (11-2-1) will play in the NJCAA Division III Tournament Nov. 11-16 in Herkimer, N.Y.
ALL-Region V
Alexis Cruz, So, M, Richland
Victor Gomez, Fr, GK, Richland
Daniel Espana, Fr, D, Richland
Charles Chimezie, So, D, Richland
Sebastian Gonzalez, Fr, M, Richland
Joely Garcia, Fr, M, Mountain View
Ramon Guardado, Fr, F, Mountain View
Blake Galvez, Fr, F, Mountain View
Samuel Bernardion, So, M, Mountain View
Bryson Bolton, So, F, Cedar Valley
ALL-DAC
Most Valuable Player – Alexis Cruz, So, M, Richland
Offensive Player of Year – Bryson Bolton, So, F, Cedar Valley
Defensive Player of Year – Daniel Espana, Fr, D, Richland
Newcomer of Year – Joely Garcia, Fr, M, Mountain View
Goalkeeper of Year – Victor Gomez, Fr, GK, Richland
Coach of Year – Raul Herrera, Richland
FIRST TEAM ALL-DAC
Alexis Cruz, So, M, Richland
Victor Gomez, Fr, GK, Richland
Daniel Espana, Fr, D, Richland
Charles Chimezie, So, D, Richland
Sebastian Gonzalez, Fr, M, Richland
Joely Garcia, Fr, M, Mountain View
Ramon Guardado, Fr, F, Mountain View
Blake Galvez, Fr, F, Mountain View
Samuel Bernardion, So, M, Mountain View
Bryson Bolton, So, F, Cedar Valley
Willofiam Ojage, So, M, Cedar Valley
SECOND TEAM ALL-DAC
Alex Valdez, Fr, F, Richland
Jose Diaz, So, F, Richland
Mazin Saeed, So, F, Richland
Maximilian Vega, So, D, Richland
Jose Contreras, Fr, M, Cedar Valley
Acalli Castaneda, Fr, M, Cedar Valley
Valente Salas, So, D, Cedar Valley
Bennett Woodworth, So, GK, Cedar Valley
Josue Moreno, Fr, F, Mountain View
Nathaniel Velasquez, So, F, Mountain View
Christopher Perez, So, M, Mountain View
Christopher Galindo, So, M, Mountain View