Document text
North Medford’s Ortiz shares top goalie nod By Kris Henry Updated: Nov 08, 2022 07:46 PM A A Tornado, Panthers combine for nine first-team honors on all-SWC list Only two teams at the Class 6A level allowed fewer goals than North Medford’s boys soccer team this past fall, a feat certainly worthy of recognition during the all-conference voting by the Southwest Conference coaches. North Medford junior goalkeeper Fernando Ortiz shared honors as the Southwest Conference’s goalkeeper of the year with one of those peers — South Eugene’s Tate Glock — to lead a parade of honors for local players. Ortiz was the anchor to a defense that allowed only 11 goals this past season with seven shutouts, and was joined on the all-SWC first team by a pair of key contributors to those totals in center back Colson Rumrey and midfielder Matt Donovan, who also was responsible for sparking a lot of what the Black Tornado was able to accomplish on offense. Only South Eugene with seven goals and Central Catholic at eight overall allowed fewer goals this season in 6A boys soccer. South Medford received a pair of first-team honors as well in juniors Eloy Saucedo and Andrew Opperman. Saucedo, a three-year starter as a midfielder, paced the Panthers with eight goals, including two hat tricks, while Opperman led a young defense to five shutouts this past season. In voting by the SWC girls soccer coaches, South Medford’s Brooke Fairbanks and Lexie Maukonen and North Medford’s Olivia Boger and Brycelin Endrikat received first-team honors. Fairbanks scored nine goals and had eight assists for the Panthers, while Maukonen contributed five assists and one goal in holding down the midfield for South Medford. Boger led North Medford with a hefty 15 goals this fall with four assists — the Black Tornado tallied 20 goals overall — while Endrikat contributed mightily to four shutouts posted by the North defense by holding down the back line and was central in buildups from the defensive end. Ariel de Dios Cruz of Willamette was named the SWC boys soccer player of the year, while Sheldon’s Alexis Cockerill-Gonzalez gained the nod as SWC girls soccer player of the year. South Eugene’s Liya Brooks made it a clean sweep for the Axe with recognition as SWC girls goalie of the year. Sheldon’s Phil Larsen was named SWC girls coach of the year, while the boys honor was shared by South Eugene’s Pete Peterson and Willamette’s Jason Burke. ALL-SWC SOCCER BOYS PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Ariel de Dios Cruz, Jr., Willamette. CO-GOALKEEPERS OF THE YEAR: Tate Glock, Jr., South Eugene, and Fernando Ortiz, Jr., North Medford. CO-COACHES OF THE YEAR: Pete Peterson, South Eugene, and Jason Burke, Willamette. First Team Ariel de Dios Cruz, Jr., Willamette; Charlie Lacey, Sr., South Eugene; Papa Yansane, Sr., Willamette; Anders Davidson, Sr., South Eugene; Cade Brandes, Sr., Grants Pass; Matt Donovan, Jr., North Medford; Pedro Gonzalez, Sr., Grants Pass; Colson Rumrey, Jr., North Medford; Emi Rojo, Jr., Willamette; Roy Arroyo, So., Willamette; Andrew Opperman, Jr., South Medford; Eloy Saucedo, Jr., South Medford. GK: Tate Glock, Jr., South Eugene, and Fernando Ortiz, Jr., North Medford. Second Team Antonio Barrero de la Puerta, Sr., Grants Pass; Alistair Briggs, Jr., Sheldon; Felix Valenzuela, Jr., South Medford; Trevor Baird, Jr., Roseburg; Hayden Galas, Jr., South Eugene; Tyler Wade, Sr., South Eugene; Koby Ibarra, Jr., North Medford; Eli Brown, Jr., Willamette; Cy Isabell, Sr., Grants Pass. GK: Noah Cox, Sr., Willamette. Honorable Mention Warren Schwartz, Sr., South Eugene; Tomas Serrano, So., South Eugene; Trey Anderson, Sr., Willamette; Porter Boersma, Sr., Grants Pass; Greg Hildebrand, Sr., North Medford; Alex Villanueva, So., Roseburg; Heath King, Jr., Roseburg; Israel Salinas, Jr., Sheldon; Christian Ramirez, Sr., Sheldon; Alex Rodriguez, Sr., South Medford. GK: Tristan Villanueva, Jr. Roseburg, and Osvaldo Canchola Garcia, Fr., Sheldon. GIRLS PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Alexis Cockerill-Gonzalez, So., Sheldon. GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR: Liya Brooks, Sr., South Eugene. COACH OF THE YEAR: Phil Larsen, Sheldon. First Team Alexis Cockerill-Gonzalez, So., Sheldon; Mary Frances Sluga, Sr., Sheldon; Oliva Boger, So., North Medford; Tayler McKillop, Sr., Sheldon; Brooke Fairbanks, Jr., South Medford; Maddalena Benedetti, Sr., Willamette; Brooke Anderson, Jr., Grants Pass; Sarah Money, Sr., South Eugene; Lexie Maukonen, Sr., South Medford; Kendall Quinney, Fr., Sheldon; Adriene Willis, Sr., Willamette; Brycelin Endrikat, Fr., North Medford. GK: Liya Brooks, Sr., South Eugene. Second Team Ella Miranda, Sr., South Eugene; Hannah Heuberger, Jr., Roseburg Ava Markiewicz, Fr., North Medford; Melia Markel, So., Sheldon; Abigail Gripp, Jr., Grants Pass; Claire Holcomb, Jr., North Medford; Sydney Mills, Jr., South Eugene; Tyler Hampson, So., South Medford; Bella Driskell, So., North Medford; Kali Richards, So., Roseburg. GK: Addison Dye-Blondell, So., Sheldon, and Amy Carpenter, Sr., Roseburg. Honorable Mention Annika Leighton, Fr., Sheldon; Charlotte Vandercar, So., Sheldon; Noelle Sherle, Sr., Sheldon; Jordi Alftine, Sr., North Medford; Avery Zahniser, So., South Medford; Natalie Scheuneman, Jr., South Medford; Makayla Christensen, Sr., Willamette; Gracie Bridgens, Sr., Willamette; Bryn Zeigler, So., South Eugene; Jaydenn Gamboa, Jr., Grants Pass. GK: Margaret Hamlin, Sr., North Medford; Eve Lynx, Sr., South Medford, and Azjah Tocher, Sr., Willamette. Have a story idea? Reach sports editor Kris Henry at 541-776-4488, [email protected] or via Twitter @Kris_Henry North Medford junior goalkeeper Fernando Ortiz shared SWC goalkeeper of the year honors in recent voting by the conference's coaches. Photo by Denise Baratta