There were a few players at Bishop Amat who could have been singled out for the San Gabriel Valley Player of the Year award after an incredible season that included a victory in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship and the CIF State Southern California Division II regional championship.

Certainly, senior forward Matthew Ibarra made a strong case with some big goals in the playoffs, finishing with 21 on the season. You could look at Maximus Ugalde’s work on defense or the combination of Michael Luna’s defense and incredible throw-ins that helped him lead the team in assists with 15.

But when Bishop Amat needed a big goal, needed a big penalty kick and needed something to happen in the decisive moments, that player was senior midfielder Junior Moreno, who has been named the SGV boys soccer player of the year.

Moreno, a Del Rey League first-team selection, shared team-high goal scoring honors with Ibarra, netting 21. And none were bigger than the two goals he scored in the state regional title game against San Pasqual. Moreno buried a penalty kick in the first half, and with the game tied 1-1 in sudden-death overtime, he headed home the game-winning goal that clinched the title and sent the Lancers into a wild celebration.

“He (Moreno) was hurt last year and I knew if he stayed healthy, he would be that player for us,” Bishop Amat coach Steve Jimenez said. “When you need a player to change the outcome of the game, he was that person.”

Moreno scored six goals in the playoffs, and one of his biggest came against Del League rival Cathedral in the CIF-SS Division 1 quarterfinals. Tied 1-1 in sudden death overtime, the Lancers were awarded a penalty kick. And Moreno, who infamously said, “I don’t miss pens,” buried it for the game-winning goal to send the Lancers to the semifinals, and the rest is history.

STEVE JIMENEZ, Bishop Amat

Jimenez probably never could have imagined a season being as dominant as this one, finishing 32-2-1. Bishop Amat won the Del Rey League and beat rival Cathedral three times, including a victory in the playoffs. Bishop Amat beat Sultana 3-1 for the CIF-SS Division 1 title, the school’s first. Bishop Amat became the first team since Damien in 2005 to win a Division 1 boys soccer title. And then the Lancers capped it all off defeating San Pasqual 2-1 in sudden-death overtime to win the CIF State Southern California Division II regional title. For his efforts, Jimenez has been named the SGV boys soccer coach of the year.

Forward: Matthew Ibarra, Bishop Amat, Sr.

Forward: Oscar Feria, Walnut, Sr.

Forward: Fabricio Ocampo, South El Monte, Jr.

Forward: Momo Tonthat, Pasadena Poly, Sophomore

Forward: Sisi Simpson, Bonita, Jr.

Forward: Fernando Contreras, Nogales, Sr.

Midfielder: Junior Moreno, Bishop Amat, Sr.

Midfielder: Joshua Robinson, Bonita, Sr.

Midfielder: David Vierya, Pasadena, Sr.

Midfielder: Alexander Morales, South El Monte, Jr

Midfielder: Jose Benitez, Pasadena Poly, Jr.

Midfielder: Samuel Rodak, South Pasadena, Sr.

Midfielder: Alex Hartley, St. Francis, Sr.

Midfielder: Ismael Ayala, California, Sr.

Defender: Javier Estrada, Santa Fe, Sr.

Defender: Maximus Ugalde, Bishop Amat, Sr.

Defender: Peter Min, Pasadena, Sr.

Defender: Michael Luna, Bishop Amat, Jr.

Defender: Leonard Fiss, South Pasadena, Sr.

Defender: Erick Vergara, Schurr, Sr.

Goalkeeper: Alan Rubio, Pasadena, Sr.

Forward: Abraham Zazueta, Edgewood, Jr.

Forward: Sebastian Anaya, Arroyo, Sr.

Forward: Noah Guillen, Bishop Amat, So.

Forward: Ashton Sangadeo, West Covina, Sr.

Forward: Diego Householder, Rio Hondo Prep, Sr.

Forward: Charlie Garcia, Northview, Jr.

Forward: Emmanuel Lopez, Monrovia, So.

Midfielder: Richard Hoang, Temple City, Sr.

Midfielder: Asher Torres, Los Altos, Sr.

Midfielder: Angelo Cusaro, Bishop Amat, So.

Midfielder: Paul Acosta, Walnut, Sr.

Midfielder: Daniel Santa Cruz, California, Sr.

Midfielder: Jorge Lopez, Pasadena, Sr.

Midfielder: Anthony Terrazas, Bonita, Sr.

Defender: Luis Becerra, Schurr, Sr.

Defender: Nathan Sesma, Walnut, Jr.

Defender: Jayden Lopez, Pasadena

Defender: Arlyn Baiza, South El Monte, Sr.

Defender: Noah Daniel, Pasadena Poly, Sr.

Defender: James Gonzalez, Pioneer, Sr.

Goalkeeper: Angel Castellanos, Bishop Amat, Jr.