It didn’t take long for soccer talent Alexa Castaneda to become an impact player at the high school level.

The sophomore midfielder helped the Mariners (15-3-3, 9-0-1) go unbeaten in the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League, repeat as champion, and qualify for the Central Coast Section Division II playoffs.

Castaneda finished with 10 goals and a team-high 11 assists and was named by coaches the 2023-24 SCCAL Player of the Year during all-league voting.

She was a first-team selection as a freshman.

“Alexa is an amazing soccer player,” said her mother, Gina, the Mariners’ head coach and a member of the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame after shining on the pitch, among other sports. “She has what many coaches want, a high soccer IQ. She sees things that other players don’t see. She’s able to read the game and get balls into tight spaces to give other players opportunities to score. It’s impressive to see her redirect the ball, and change gears in the attack. Her knowledge of the game is beyond her years. She is so dynamic, and her presence on the field is giant.”

Soquel senior forward Julia Inkles was a first-team honoree last season, but she improved her game and helped lead the Knights (11-7-2, 7-3-0) take second place in the SCCAL to secure a berth in the CCS D-V playoffs. She finished with nine goals and five assists and was named the league’s Offensive Player of the Year, quite an accomplishment considering she battled through hip and ankle injuries this season.

“Julia won forward of the year because she was passionate about becoming the most offensive player this year,” said Knights coach Jose Sierra. “She is strong on the ball. She knew how to handle contact and continue with her dribble and take a shot. That’s difficult to teach.”

Sierra praised Inkles for shining while banged up. “If she was healthy she would have been more dangerous,” her coach said. “Julia always worked on the things to improve her game. She would practice set shots almost every practice and she was rewarded with goals throughout the season.”

The Mariners secured the remainder of the top honors following their special season.

Junior defender Anahi Macias was named Defensive Player of the Year, and substantially improved senior Alessandra Zuniga, an honorable mention pick last season, was honored as Goalkeeper of the Year.

“Anahi is a player who not only plays with her heart, but plays with her soul,” coach Castaneda said. “She’s a player that’s all in. She’s strong and aggressive and is a fierce defender who’s willing to attack from the backline. She is fearless. In my career as a coach, I can count on one hand players who will get up and score goals on headers, by far she is the best.”

The Mariners outscored opponents 51-19 and recorded 12 shutouts.

Mariners goalkeeper coach Justin Agnello said Zuniga’s previous experience at the position as well as her natural ability helped her find success this season.

“As a team, we didn’t let in many goals in this season, but when the occasional goal did go in, Ale impressed me by not getting down in herself,” Agnello said. “She bounced back with a positive attitude.”

Gina Castaneda, who overcame a cancer scare ahead of the season, was named Coach of the Year for the second time in three years.

Three other Mariners were named to the first team: Freshman forward Isabella Hartnett, who scored a team-high 13 goals, sophomore defender Izzie Schenone, and repeat selection Ella Shoemaker, a senior midfielder.

Soquel had three juniors make the first team: defender Chloe McGilvray and midfielders Arden Salles-Cunha and Trinity Wilson.

Scotts Valley sophomore forward Ella Ireland repeated as a first-team honoree and was joined by Falcons freshman forward Taylor Ericson.

Harbor had a pair of defenders honored in senior Ava Root and junior Becca Vaca.

Santa Cruz senior defender Maya Kingsley and San Lorenzo Valley senior goalie Taylor Long rounded out the first team.