The Pima Community College men’s soccer team was well represented in the All-ACCAC and All-Region I, Division II teams with freshman forward Leonel Gutierrez, a Salpointe grad, chosen the Player of the Year.
Gutierrez earned honors along with sophomores Eythan Mancilla (Sunnyside), Robert Castaneda (Nogales), Nathan Flores and Aldhair Valenzuela-Rodriguez.
Gutierrez is the 10th Pima player in the last 16 years to earn the award. He follows D’Andre Pickett (2024), Sam Lossou (2021), Seungeon Kim (2021), Hugo Kametani (2018), AJ Valenzuela (2017), Jason Romero (2015), Arturo Vega (2014), Eric Glad (2011) and Minh Vu (2010).
Gutierrez, Mancila and Castaneda were earned All-ACCAC/Region I, Division II First Team honors. Flores was named to the Second Team and Valenzuela-Rodriguez was an Honorable Mention selection.
Gutierrez leads the ACCAC with 21 goals and 48 points. He also has six assists as he has played in 18 games, making 17 starts.
Mancilla, a defender, played and started in 16 games with one goal and seven assists. The Aztecs have surrendered 17 goals this season with a 0.92 goals-against-average.
Castaneda, a midfielder, played and started in 17 games this season with nine goals, five assists and was second on the team with 23 points. The Aztecs were second in the ACCAC conference with a total of 76 goals scored.
Flores, a midfielder/defender, played and started in 18 games with five goals and eight assists and is third on the team with 18 points.
Valenzuela-Rodriguez, a defender/midfielder, appeared in 17 games; making 16 starts and finished with one assist. He has helped secure nine shutout victories for the Aztecs.
Pima fell to Phoenix College 4-2 in the Region I, Division II finals. The Aztecs await to see if they get an at-large bid to the NJCAA Division II National Tournament from Nov. 16-22 at the Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita, Kan.
Recommended for you
