The race for the Channel League boys soccer title came down to the wire, and San Marcos edged out Santa Barbara High for its first championship since 2002.
Both teams carried so many outstanding players that it was difficult to select one as an offensive MVP. As a result, San Marcos senior midfielder Caden Vom Steeg and Santa Barbara forward Cason Goodman shared the Offensive MVP Award.
Vom Steeg’s brilliance at finding open teammates — often times his twin brother, Jared — made him dangerous every time he touched the ball.
Cason Goodman was a stellar goal scorer, putting away a league-best 15 during the season.
The Defensive MVP was Dons’ junior center back Luke Goodman, Cason’s twin brother.
San Marcos and Santa Barbara each put three players on the all-league first team. The Royals selected are junior Sergio Diaz and seniors Jared Vom Steeg and JC Orgaz.
Santa Barbara’s honorees are juniors Rockwood Foster and Sebastian Alvarez and senior Miguel Alvarado.
Dos Pueblos players on the first team are senior Sebastien Dupont and junior Joshua Guevara Tahuite. Santa Ynez also placed two players, senior Erik Guerrero and junior Grant Fieldhouse.
Senior Gerardo Mendoza of Cabrillo and freshman James Villanueva of Lompoc round out the team.
The second team includes four player from San Marcos: sophomores Justin Hess and Leo Olivo, junior Juan Escobar and senior Yahir Vasquez.
From Santa Barbara, juniors Erick Hernandez and Barrett Goodman, the third brother on the squad, and senior Luisangel Jeromino were second-team picks.
Dos Pueblos also had three selections: senior Kylan Johnson and juniors Frederick Jones and Max Early.
Seniors Cason Gann and Jack Stevens of Santa Ynez, junior Bennett Richards and freshman Jesus Aguiniga of Cabrillo and Lompoc’s Erick Jimenez round out the second team.
The honorable mention players are San Marcos seniors Ulyses Velez, Sam Friedman and Cade McLean.