Submitted photo – Former Arcata Tigers Ethan Gyenis (23) and Josiah Gomez were both named to the Bay Valley Conference all-conference team after big seasons at Mendocino College.

By Ray Hamill — Former Arcata Tigers Ethan Gyenis and Josiah Gomez are hoping to take their talents to four-year programs after impressive back-to-back seasons playing men’s soccer at Mendocino College.

Both players were recently named to the Bay Valley All-Conference First Team and this weekend they will travel to compete at a collegiate showcase event being held at American River College near Sacramento.

Gyenis enjoyed a record-breaking career playing for the Eagles, while Gomez was one of the top defensive midfielders in the conference, and both players will be missed, according to their head coach Felipe Chavez.

“Ethan does a lot of things right,” the coach said. “He has a big frame, but he’s very quick, very light on his feet, and at the same time I think he’s got a lot better at being physically imposing.

“And he’s worked very hard at the defensive end of the field, and I think that’s where he’s improved the most.”

All of that showed in his play.

The 2023 Arcata High graduate set a single-season school record for most goals as a freshman, netting 16 times last fall.

This year, he broke his own school record with 18 goals, making him the highest scoring player in Eagles program history with 34 goals.

“I think that anytime anybody has numbers like that, they obviously have played a big role on the team,” Chazez added of Gyenis, who also had five assists this fall. “And he was very impactful.”

Gomez, who also graduated from Arcata High in 2023, was equally impactful as a defensive midfield, a position many people feel is the most important on the soccer field and one that continually sets the tone for a team.

“He’s very big, very physical, very athletic and he’s a really big competitor,” said Chavez, who added “It’s a very important role that not a lot of people are willing to do, but for him it comes naturally.”

The athletic Gomez, who also starred on the basketball during his time at Arcata High, played a key leadership role for the Eagles.

“He’s vocal and he’s demanding of himself and his teammates,” Chavez added.

Gyenis and Gomez weren’t the only former H-DNL players to impress for the Eagles this season.

Former Eureka Logger Kaleb Green and former Fortuna Husky Adrian Magana each enjoyed strong freshman campaigns with the team.

Green, who plays in defense, got his collegiate career off to a flying start before being slowed by a knee injury later in the season.

“Kaleb started off really, really strong,” Chavez saids. “He came in definitely very well prepared and ready to play.”

Chavez added that Green is “very vocal” and “naturally a leader.”

Magana, meanwhile, grew into the college game as the season progressed.

“He started slowly, getting used to the pace and physicality of the (college) game, but once he got used to that he took off and he was probably our most improved player,” his coach said. “I’ve been really impressed with his ability to play the game and his ceiling I think is very high.”

The Eagles finished the season 10-10-2 overall and finished third in conference with a record of 7-4-1.