Prep Soccer: Merced locks up Central California Conference awards

Minutes after sealing the program's second playoff berth in as many years with a shutout, Merced goalie Stephanie Isenberg praised the play of the defense in front of her.

She raved about the play of sweeper Alexa Lawler and the energy from Camille McKee, Taylor Yanez and Kieli Rivera.

"My defense is strong," she said, "I don't have to worry that."

Turns out, Isenberg was just as valuable.

Merced's backline was honored with two of the Central California Conference's major girls soccer awards recently.

Isenberg was named Goalkeeper of the Year and Lawler shared Most Outstanding Defensive Player honors with Turlock's Cassidy Costa in a vote by conference coaches.

Merced coach Brooke Wilson was named Coach of the Year and Turlock forward Sara Latham was named Most Oustanding Offensive Player.

"I almost feel bad for some forwards trying to get through those last two," Wilson said. "They'll lay down on the line before they'll let a goal get by. They're walls. They really are."

Latham and Costa anchored Turlock's fifth straight conference championship, but Merced, which has gone unbeaten in more than two months, made quite an impression on the conference's coaches.

Merced (10-1-5) clinched its second straight Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoff berth on the regular season's final afternoon, edging Pitman (13-4-3) with a scoreless draw on May 5. The two teams entered the game separated by two points in the league table, with Merced needing only a tie to advance.

The defense was up to the challenge, posting its eighth shutout of the season.

But that was nothing new to Wilson, whose team gave opposing offenses little room to breath.

Merced led the conference in goals against, allowing just four in 12 games.

Quite often, attacks stopped at Lawler, a physcially gifted sweeper who stands tall and strong but plays deceptively fast.

The sophomore was rarely beaten in 1-on-1 situations and would often start Merced's counterattacks with a deft pass or clearance.

If offenses did get by Merced's defense, Isenberg was usually there to snuff out an attack.

The energetic senior played the position with reckless abandon; the same fervor and passion that cost her a tooth last season.

She made diving stops, like the fingertip save that preserved the tie with Pitman.

She made kick saves, broke up 1-on-1s and though smaller than most players on the field, controlled anything that flew through her box.

And she was tough. Isenberg was roughed up twice in a 1-1 tie at Turlock (17-0-2) on April 21, absorbing an inadvertant blow to the head and body.

"To me, I've always seen that fire and aggression she has that seems so instinctual," Wilson said. "That's something you can't coach -- and she has it."

Fourteen area players landed on the all-CCC's first and second teams, highlighted by the most prolific scorer in Golden Valley (13-9-2) history.

Vanesa Vega was named to the first team after setting a school record for goals in a season with 27.

The junior broke Liz Clem's 2006 record of 26 with four goals in an 8-1 victory over Los Banos in their season finale.

Proving she's not a one-trick pony, Vega also had an area-best 20 assists.

"Last year I saw her immediately as a forward with her shooting ability, but she had a midfielder's mentality," GV coach Lee Shaw said. "I pushed her to build her confidence, mainly that mental side of it. She took that on and became our leader on and off the field. She became more attacking."

Joining Vega on the all-CCC first team were: Atwater's Chloe Magneson (midfield); Buhach Colony's Amber Lee (midfield); Los Banos' Jennifer Diaz (midfield); Merced's Lawler and Isenberg; Turlock's Latham and Costa; and Pitman's Hanna Verschelden (forward) and Karina Maldonado.

The second team was comprised of: Merced's Stephanie Montes (midfield/forward) and Luz Perez (midfield); Golden Valley sisters Rachel (midfield) and Sara Callister (forward); Atwater defenders Alli Gurden and Susana Gutierrez; Buhach Colony's Alejandra Zarate (midfield); Los Banos' Leila Melendez (midfield); Turlock's Alissa Dahl (midifeld) and Kaitlyn Ireland (defense); and Pitman's Marisa Emmons (midfield) and Maricela Meza (defense).

James Burns is managing editor/sports editor of the Sun-Star. He can be reached at jburns@mercedsun-star.com.

This story was originally published May 12, 2010 at 12:48 AM with the headline "Prep Soccer: Merced locks up Central California Conference awards."