Monte Vista Christian School’s Alexa Malaspina, a junior goalie on the girls soccer team, was named Defensive Player of the Year in the Pacific Coast Athletic League’s Mission Division.

Malaspina, a third-year starter, posted three league shutouts for Mustangs (5-10-4, 4-6-2), who finished in fifth place in the division.

“In one-on-one situations, she was just amazing,” Mustangs coach John Martin said. “She’d force them to make a mistake or shoot prematurely. We called her our ‘sweeper keeper,’ ” because she would come out to break up threats at the top of the penalty box.

Malaspina plays club for De Anza Force.

“She has progressed every single year,” Martin said. “She’s a gamer. She’s so passionate about the sport.”

Soledad junior Sophia Martel was named MVP after she posted 37 goals and 12 assists for the third-place Aztecs (15-6-1, 7-4-1), who reached the Central Coast Section Division IV final.

Rancho San Juan junior Cadence Walters was named Offensive POY after she posted 19 goals and four assists for the champion Trailblazers (16-4-1, 10-1-1), who reached the CCS D-III final.

Including Malaspina, Santa Cruz County had four players named to the first team: Pajaro Valley senior Karla Leyva and sophomore teammate Valeria Acosta, and Pacific Collegiate senior Rosalyn Bourdow.

In the Gabilan Division, the op tier of the PCAL, Watsonville senior forward Kiana Varela was named the first team after helping the Wildcatz (3-9-7, 3-4-5) take fifth. Salinas senior captain Susana Juarez was named MVP after leading the Cowboys (15-0-3, 10-0-2) to the league title. Cowboys sophomore Delilah Vega Aguilar was named Offensive MVP, and Alvarez junior Natalie Vargas was named Defensive MVP.

St. Francis (7-7-2, 7-4-1) had three players named to the first team in the Cypress Division after taking second place: Emma Pettersen, Olivia Chavez-Arce, and Alondra Martinez. Seaside senior Jacky Vazquez was named MVP after leading the Spartans (11-5-1, 9-2-1) to the title, York’s Samantha Ortiz-Naranjo was named Offensive POY, and Spartans junior Jadie Martinez Reyes was named Defensive POY.

Ceiba junior Janelle Quintero was a first-team pick in the Santa Lucia Division after she helped the Spartans (7-10-2, 7-5-2) take fifth. Pacific Grove’s Sophia O’Connor was named MVP after leading the Breakers (13-4-1, 12-1-1) to the title. Greenfield’s Yaquelin Patricio and Marina’s Abby Hostetter were selected as co-Defensive MVP.

To view the complete all-PCAL girls soccer team, go to santacruzsentinel.com/sports