It was recently announced by the South Coast Conference (SCC) that eight Long Beach City College men's soccer players hauled in All-SCC South honors following a solid 5-2-1 record in conference action. Highlighting the award winners is freshman goalkeeper Saul Ocampo who was named the SCC Defensive Player of the Year. Sophomore defender Hector Rojo, sophomore defender Irving Alvarado, and sophomore midfielder Israel Gonzalez earned first-team honors, while freshman midfielder Fabio Mujica, freshman midfielder Nicholas Vazquez, and sophomore defender Christopher Ribet were named to the second team. Furthermore, Head Coach Cameron Beaulac was named the All-SCC Coach of the Year for the second year in a row and fifth nod in his career.
Beaulac, a five-time recipient of the SCC Coach of the Year award in an impressive 13-year career, led a group of talented men to a second-place showing in conference after a 5-2-1 record. Playing in a tough SCC South conference, Beaulac utilized his depth and coaching knowledge to put together another solid product with a young group of talent. He helmed a three-game win streak in the latter part of conference play to aid the solid finish.
Ocampo was deemed the best goalkeeper and defensive player in the SCC after acting as the most reliable brick wall between the pipes. While starting in all 21 games this season, Ocampo totaled a whopping 91 saves to equal a saves percentage of .771 that led to five wins and six shutouts. The freshman phenome recorded five or more saves in nine games this season which is highlighted by a 12-save contest in a 1-1 draw against East Los Angeles. Ocampo was very impressive down the stretch by recording two wins and a tie where he amassed 18 saves in that span.
Rojo earned his first-career All-SCC award by landing on the first team followed by a solid season manning the backline. A staple on the defensive end while chipping in timely offense primarily off free kicks, the sophomore was known for closing lanes and his distribution across the pitch. Rojo played in 20 games this season while starting in 19. He chipped in one goal in the final game of the season in the final second via free kick.
Alvarado joins Rojo on the first-team All-SCC list after proving to be a mainstay on the Vikings' defensive unit playing lockdown defense on some powerful offensive teams. Alvarado was very consistent and poise in the 19 games he played in while starting in 18 of them.
Gonzalez earned his second All-SCC nod to cap off a highly successful career for the Vikings. While battling through numerous injuries on the season, Gonzalez managed to make a difference in numerous conference matches with his stamina and reliability in the midfield to keep a steady-flowing offense. Gonzalez started in all 14 games he played and scored one goal in a 3-2 victory over El Camino.
Mujica earned a second-team All-SCC nod in his inaugural season for the Black and Red after playing in 19 contests and starting in 14. He consistently minimized pressure from opposing offenses while dually setting up his offense for success. While he was not a direct contributor to the offensive outcome, he worked endlessly to set up opportunities for his teammates.
Vazquez earned second-team All-SCC honors following a great showing in his first season for the Vikings. While acting as a sparkplug off bench and eventually being worked into a starting role for eight games, Vazquez used a tenacious attitude and relentless pursuit of the ball leading to two goals and two assists on the year. One score acted as a game-winner in a 3-2 thriller against El Camino.
Ribet rounds out the awards by being named to the second-team All-SCC list after being seen as one of the most powerful offensive weapons in the conference. Ribet was the most active player off the bench and was primarily used for corner kick purposes. As the season progressed, Ribet grew into an offensive weapon more than ever by finishing the season with six goals and three assists that included two game-winners.