Pajaro Valley High’s Valeria Acosta and teammate Scarlet Gomez had a special chemistry on the soccer pitch. Both were recognized for their stellar performances in 2024-25 by earning special honors during All-Pacific Coast Athletic League voting.
Acosta was named MVP of the PCAL’s Mission Division and Gomez was named Offensive MVP. Together, they helped the Grizzlies outscore opponents 77-33 on the season, win their second division title in school history, and advance to the Central Coast Section Division III playoffs.
Acosta, a senior forward, finished with a school-record 45 goals — No. 1 in the CCS and No. 9 in the state, according to statistics published on maxpreps.com — to go along with five assists. She finished her career with a school-record 90 goals.
“She had an incredible season, obviously. Record-breaking,” Grizzlies coach Kristian Flores said. “She worked really hard over the last four years to have the season she did.”
Though Flores saw Acosta daily at practice, he often was wowed him with her penchant for producing clutch goals during games.
“Lots of times that would happen,” he said. “She would often bail us out with clutch goals in the right moments. She was always there to supply us with a goal or an assist. She scored two goals against PCS (Pacific Collegiate School) and, late in the game, when she drew all the attention from the defense, she passed it off to Scarlet for the win.”
Gomez, a junior midfielder, produced six goals and a team-high 28 assists. She sent numerous quality passes to Acosta, whether it be through balls, or over-the-top crosses to her left, leaving her star forward to gather the ball in stride and onside.
Flores said Gomez, who has played three seasons with Acosta, knew her star teammate’s speed and tendencies and was able to provide the perfect pass. Gomez was more than a set-up player, though, her coach said.
“She was not only good at assists, but a really good defender as well,” he said. “She’d win the ball back in our offensive half, or near midfield, and get us going in our transitions. She always had the perfect pass. She’d send a 40-yard ball and hit the forward in stride, so the player is not offside. She was almost like a quarterback.”
Carmel senior goalie Adi Clark was named Defensive MVP after posting eight shutouts for the fifth-place Padres (5-8-6, 4-4-4).
Acosta and Gomez were joined on the first team by junior teammates Leilani Vazquez and Rosio Acosta.
Senior Anna Walker-Edwards and sophomore teammate Kaia Gurdak also made the first team for second-place PCS (8-6-3, 6-3-3), as did versatile junior Ashley Drago, who played forward, midfielder, and fullback for sixth-place Monte Vista Christian (5-11-3, 3-8-1).
St. Francis (10-3-1, 7-1-0), champion of the PCAL’s bottom tier, the Santa Lucia Division, also had a standout duo and they also received special honors after leading the Sharks to their first league title.
St. Francis freshman Alyssandra Peterson was named MVP, and junior teammate Peyton Orradre was selected Most Valuable Offensive Player.
Peterson finished with seven goals and nine assists, and Orradre produced 17 goals and two assists.
“It was very special for two of our girls to be given such high honors by the league, especially considering they are both first-time players for us,” Sharks coach Chris Croghan said. “Aly, because she is a freshman, and Peyton is a junior transfer from basketball. They both came in and had an immediate impact on the team while, at the same time, picking up on the hard work and commitment of our veteran players. It was the perfect recipe for a great season.”
Senior Alessia Torrente was named Most Valuable Defensive Player for fourth-place York (3-4-2, 3-3-2).
Peterson and Orradre were joined on the first team by two teammates, senior Olivia Chavez-Arce and sophomore Ella Dewig.
Ariel Cruz and Azailee Espinosa were named to the first team for fifth-place Ceiba (0-9-0, 0-8-0).
Soledad senior Vanessa Aguilar was named MVP of the Gabilan Division, the top level of the four-tiered equity league. The University of Washington-committed midfielder, a member of Mexico’s U17 National Team, totaled 18 goals and 16 assists for the runner-up Aztecs (17-3-1, 10-1-1).
Salinas junior Morgan Retterer was named Most Valuable Offensive Player after totaling 24 goals and 11 assists for the champion Cowboys (17-2-2, 11-0-1), who advanced to the CCS D-II Championship match. Everett Alvarez junior Jennifer Montes was named Most Valuable Defensive Player for the fifth-place Eagles (8-10-1, 3-8-1), who recorded six shutouts.
Watsonville freshman Layla Romero was named a first-team selection for the seventh-place Wildcatz (4-11-2, 3-9-0).
Gonzales senior midfielder Alessandra Tejeda-Ochoa was named MVP of the Cypress Division after totaling 13 goals and 16 assists for the champion Spartans (10-8-2, 9-3-2).
Senior midfielder Izabella Tejeda was named Offensive POY after producing 12 goals and two assists in just seven games for fourth-place Palma (7-8-3, 6-6-2).
Junior goalie Georgia Bonifas was named Defensive POY for division runner-up Stevenson (10-3-6, 8-1-5).
ALL-PCAL GIRLS SOCCER
GABILAN DIVISION
Special honors
MVP: Vanessa Aguilar (Soledad)
Most Valuable Offensive Player: Morgan Retterer (Salinas)
Most Valuable Defensive Player: Jennifer Montes (Everett Alvarez)
FIRST TEAM
Delilah Vega-Aguilar (Salinas), Sr.
Morgan Retterer (Salinas), Jr.
Kate Nunes (Salinas), Jr.
Praisia Lowe (Salinas), Jr.
Vanessa Aguilar (Soledad), Sr.
Belen Diaz (Soledad), Sr.
Giselle Zepeda (Soledad), Sr.
Karen Alvarado-Castillo, (Hollister), Jr.
Sydney Stacey (Hollister), Sr.
Karina Vargas (Rancho San Juan), Sr.
Sherlyn Farfan (Rancho San Juan), So.
Jennifer Montes (Alvarez), Jr.
Layla Romero (Watsonville), Fr.
Savanna Licea (Monterey), Jr.
SECOND TEAM
Nathalie Sanchez (Salinas), So.
Taylor Ramirez (Salinas), So.
Jennifer Molina (Salinas), Fr.
Taylor Farahmand (Salinas), Jr.
Michelle Aguilar (Soledad), Sr.
Maria Sanchez (Soledad), Sr.
Nicole Gonzalez (Soledad), Fr.
Kylie Barnes (Hollister), Jr.
Itzel Flores (Hollister), Jr.
Natalee Morales-Gonzalez (Rancho San Juan), Sr.
Kaylee Hernandez (Rancho San Juan), So.
Destiny Lopez (Alvarez), Sr.
Sophia Rios (Watsonville), Fr.
Sofia Custodio (Monterey), Jr.
HONORABLE MENTION
Luzelena Atrisco (Salinas), Bailey Portillo (Salinas), Yareli Alcaraz (Salinas), Haely Russell (Monterey), Belen Rodriguez-Muniz (Monterey)
Elgie Bellizio Team Sportsmanship Award: Hollister
Richard Chamberlain Sportsmanship Team:
Jenna Partida (Salinas), Sr.; Maria Leon (Soledad), Sr.; Ana Kaplansky (Hollister); Valeria Razo-Gomez (Rancho San Juan), Sr.; Adison Barrett (Alvarez), Sr.; Jaylen Zamora (Watsonville), Jr.; Flor Lopez (Monterey), Sr.
MISSION DIVISION
Special honors
MVP: Valeria Acosta (Pajaro Valley), Sr.
Offensive MVP: Scarlet Gomez (Pajaro Valley), Jr.
Defensive MVP: Adi Clark (Carmel), Sr.
FIRST TEAM
Valeria Acosta (Pajaro Valley), Sr.
Scarlet Gomez (Pajaro Valley), Jr.
Leilani Vazquez (Pajaro Valley), Jr.
Rosio Acosta (Pajaro Valley), Jr.
Anna Walker-Edwards (Pacific Collegiate), Sr.
Kaia Gurdak (Pacific Collegiate), So.
Ashley Drago (MVC), Jr.
Isavela Valadez (NMC), Sr.
Melissa Villa (NMC), So.
Piper Gallego (NMC), Sr.
Stephanie Zarate (Alisal), Jr.
Karissa Mendez (Alisal), Fr.
Adi Clark (Carmel), Sr.
Andrea Ramirez (North Salinas)
SECOND TEAM
Jocelyn Juarez (Pajaro Valley), Jr.
Jennifer Martinez (Pajaro Valley), Sr.
Daisy Garcia (Pajaro Valley), Jr.
Anna Vasquez (Pajaro Valley), So.
Eva Ramirez-Truse (Pacific Collegiate), Sr.
Elia Mas (Pacific Collegiate), So.
Ashlyn Hoffman (MVC), Sr.
Anahi Flores (NMC), Fr.
Andrea Ibarra (NMC), Sr.
Bella Hernandez (NMC), So.
Massiel Hernández (Alisal), Sr.
Ximena Juárez (Alisal), Fr.
Eva Sedillos (Carmel), So.
Yuleika Pantoja (North Salinas)
Elgie Bellizio Team Sportsmanship Award: Carmel
Richard Chamberlin All-Sportsmanship Team:
Denise Magallon (Pajaro Valley), Fr.; Chloe Woelfel (Pacific Collegiate), Sr.; Hannah Woodford (MVC), Sr.; Tatiana Hernandez (NMC), Jr.; Alena Ruiz (Alisal), Jr.; Julia Jackson (Carmel), Sr.; Yuleika Pantoja (North Salinas)
CYPRESS DIVISION
Special honors
MVP: Alessandra Tejeda-Ochoa (Gonzales), Sr., M
Offensive POY: Izabella Tejeda (Palma), Sr., M
Defensive POY: Georgia Bonifas (Stevenson), Jr., GK
FIRST TEAM
Georgia Bonifas (Stevenson), Jr., GK
Siena Bullock-Martinez (Stevenson), Sr., D
Macey Torres (Stevenson), Sr.
Sarah Chaabane (Stevenson), Jr., D
Alessandra Tejeda-Ochoa (Gonzales), Sr., M
Grecia Valdez-Cisneros (Gonzales), Sr., M
Janelle Garcia (Gonzales), Jr., F
Aundrea Sanchez (Greenfield)
Kimberly Zavala (Greenfield)
Izabella Tejeda (Palma), Sr., M
Destiny Mosqueda (King City), Jr., M
Olivia DaSilva (Santa Catalina), Sr.
Lexie Cabrera (Seaside), Sr.
Olivia Amaditz (Pacific Grove), Jr., M
SECOND TEAM
Ava Edwards (Stevenson), Sr.
Katrina Bauer (Stevenson), Sr.
Sydney Holland (Stevenson), Jr.
Valerie Oliva-Cardenas (Gonzales), Sr., M
Jennifer Fajardo (Gonzales), So., M/F
Alitzel Mauro-Perez (Gonzales), So., D
Adilene Cortez-Lopez (Gonzales), Sr., D
Isabella Calderon (Greenfield)
Aideliz Moreno (Greenfield)
Allison Guerra (Palma), Sr., M/F
Iran Ibarra (King City), Sr., D
Delilah Fujita (Santa Catalina), Jr.
Gyzelle Mata Cruz (Seaside), Jr.
Ester Stovall (Pacific Grove), Sr., D
Elgie Bellizio Team Sportsmanship Award:
Richard Chamberlin All-Sportsmanship Team: Charlotte Schipper (Stevenson), So., D; Isabella Camargo (Gonzales), Jr., M; Ailyn Salazar (Greenfield); Elizabeth Fuqua (Palma), Sr., M/F; Isabella Hernandez-Swift (King City), So., F; Luisa Tamayo (Santa Catalina), Sr.; Patricia Cavero (Seaside), Sr.; Ella Richards-Smith (Pacific Grove), Sr., M.
SANTA LUCIA DIVISION
Special honors
MVP: Alyssandra Peterson (St. Francis), Fr.
Most Valuable Offensive Player: Peyton Orradre (St. Francis), Jr.
Most Valuable Defensive Player: Alessia Torrente (York), Sr.
FIRST TEAM
Alyssandra Peterson (St. Francis), Fr.
Peyton Orradre (St. Francis), Jr.
Olivia Chavez-Arce (St. Francis), Sr.
Ella Dewig (St. Francis), So.
Ariel Cruz (Ceiba)
Azailee Espinosa (Ceiba)
Jadah Gustus (Marina), Sr.
Erika Ramos (Marina), Sr., D
Gracy Ruiz Gamino (Marina), Jr., M
Jocelynne Reynoso (Anzar), Sr., F
Isabella Briceno (Anzar), So., F
Jasmin Salinas (Anzar), Sr., GK
Alexa Arrango (York), Sr.
Alessia Torrente (York), Sr.
SECOND TEAM
Miriam Abonce (St. Francis), Jr.
Aubry Nualart (St. Francis), Fr.
Haileymae Ritter (St. Francis), So.
Alisa Lumicao (St. Francis), Jr.
Alondra Munoz (Marina), So., M
Jazieehn Ramirez Rodriguez (Marina), Jr., M
Alondra Moreno (Marina), Jr., D
Clairis Lona (Anzar), Sr., M
Naya Medina (Anzar), Sr., F
Clairis Lona (Anzar), Sr.. M
Aaliyah Pina (York), Fr.
Minx Adelman (York), So.
Elgie Bellizio Team Sportsmanship Award: Ceiba
Richard Chamberlin All-Sportsmanship Team: Giselle Meschi (St. Francis), Jr., M; Erika Ramos Alvarez (Marina), Sr.; Scarlett Capuano (Anzar), Sr., D; Regan Takashima (York), Sr.