Submitted photo – Cruz Aguilar, center, has been named MVP of the H-DNL after playing a pivotal role in leading the Tigers to a league title. Also pictured are his brothers, junior Andy (left) and freshman Isai.

By Ray Hamill — Arcata’s Cruz Aguilar and Jada Lusk have been named MVPs in soccer after leading the Tigers to league championships this fall.

Aguilar, a senior and team captain, scored 10 goals and had seven assists in what was an historic season for the Arcata boys, who went undefeated in league play on the way to clinching the title, and also reached a first-ever North Coast Section championship game.

But it was his play in the middle of the field that really had an impact.

“Cruz evolved to be an all-around box-to-box playmaking midfielder for Arcata this year,” Arcata head coach John Davidson said. “His focus and effort were of the highest quality, and as team captain he earned the respect and admiration of his teammates.”

The Tigers lost just three times all year, including a 4-0 loss to Head-Royce in the NCS championship game, and they were 9-0-3 in league play, edging Fortuna for the title on the final day of the regular season.

And for Davidson, it was no real surprise to see his senior captan be named league MVP.

“I am not surprised that the league coaches acknowledge how valuable he was to us and agree he was the most valuable player in the league,” Davidson said. 

Cruz was one of three brothers to play on the Arcata team this year, along with young siblings, junior Andy Aguilar and freshman Isai Aguilar.

The senior team captain was also one of six Arcata players to receive all-league recognition, including five who were named to the all-league team.

Fellow team captains and seniors Lars Gerdes and Jonah Morgan were each named all-league, along with Kai MacDonald and Dakota Grosveld.

Julian Gillespie received an honorable mention for the Arcata boys.

The Fortuna Huskies, meanwhile, had three players named all league.

Kaden Lodes, Brandon Cruz and Daniel Cortez all made the grade for a Huskies team that pushed the Tigers all the way to the final day in the race for the league title and ultimately finished second.

For Del Norte, Giovani Lopez-Munoz and Marco Gonzalez were also included on the all-league team, along with McKinleyville’s Becker Rine and Gaelen Creighton.

Eureka’s Kyan Green, South Fork’s Chris Torres, and St. Bernard’s Max Gunther rounded out the all-league selections for the boys.

There was no award for boys MVP goalkeeper this year.

Lusk, meanwhile, was one of six Arcata girls to receive all-league recognition after playing a key role for the Big 4 champions.

And it was the senior’s leadership role as much as her talents that earned her MVP honors.

“Jada is the definition of a team captain,” Arcata head coach Matt Ingram said of the defensive midfielder. “Leading by example, always positive, putting in her best effort.”

The senior’s shoes will be difficult to fill.

“As a defensive midfielder she played a critical role in our success this season,” Ingram added. “Jada will truly be missed.”

Lusk is joined on the all-league team by teammates Zalayshia Velazquez, Gabby Cavinta, Amabel Miranda and Luciana Buchheister, while Arcata’s Ada Kinziger received an honorable mention.

Eureka had two players named to the all-league team, including Kaylee Hill, who was named the Big 4’s MVP Goalkeeper.

Maya Mitchell also was included on the all-league team for the Loggers, along with Fortuna’s Jozlyn Dahl, Isabel Sanchez and Tayla Fontaine.

McKinleyville’s Grace Pimentel and Emily Mather were both also named all-league.

H-DNL BOYS HONORABLE MENTIONS

Arcata — Jullian Gillespie

Fortuna — Humberto Florez Lopez, Isreal Hernandez, Manny Diaz, Anthony Gonzalez, Oliver Cortes

Del Norte — Alexis Ortiz, David Aguilar-Martinez, Carlos Daniel Gomez-Aguilar, Ty Blue, Sebastian Espinoza, Ethan Vue, Deken Hanks

McKinleyville — Ayden Burtchett, August Gonzalez, Lucas Jones  

Eureka — D’Alessandro Medina, Lucas Ask, Luiz Gonzalez, Mason Beauchamp, Isaiah Herbst, Greyden Larson

South Fork — Gavin Gellman, Brian Rodriguez

St. Bernard’s — Elijah Altic, Tony Pena

Big 4 Girls Honorable Mentions 

Arcata — Ada Kinziger

Fortuna — Amy Aubuchon, Lilly Calderon, Olivia Hayes, Jamilet Ortega-Miranda, Lania Fontaine, Addy Lucas

Eureka — Lola Distefano, Elliot Banducci, Braelyn Frank, Ella Moxon, Grecia Ortiz

McKinleyville — Abigail Pimentel, Taylor Wade