Central Valley’s girls soccer program has reason to be excited heading into the 2024-25 season.

The Hawks return a host of talent from last year’s team, which compiled an 11-11-2 overall record, finished third in the Central California Conference with a 7-3-2 mark and qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-I playoffs.

“Our two goals are to win league and make it to playoffs,” head coach Miguel Larranaga said. “We want to go as far as we can go.”

Approximately 17 student-athletes earned spots on Central Valley’s roster this winter, including Mia Mendoza (Sr.), Gianna Silva (Sr.), Eliana Tamayo (Sr.), Magnolia Tavizon (Sr.), Aaliyah Jauregui (Jr.), Marcella Larranaga (Jr.), Anali Mendoza (Jr.), Bella Ayala (So.), Brianna Cuevas (So.), Sophia Garibay (So.), Aaralyn Jauregui (So.), Camila Orozco (So.), Kenia Acevedo (Fr.), Ayleen Apreza (Fr.), Amirrah Cornielle (Fr.), Ashley Juarez (Fr.) and Evelyn Rivera (Fr.).

“I have a bunch of new girls that are very talented,” coach Larranaga said. “They’ll make a difference this year.”

“We have a very strong defense—one of the best we’ve ever had,” he added.

Silva, Tavizon, Garibay, Larranaga, Mia Mendoza, Anali Mendoza, Aaliyah Jauregui and Aaralyn Jauregui are returners.

Tamayo, Ayala, Cuevas, Orozco, Acevedo, Apreza, Cornielle, Juarez and Rivera are newcomers.

The Jauregui sisters were both selected to the CCC First Team last season.

Aaralyn fell one vote shy of being named the league’s Most Valuable Player.

She collected 13 goals and one assist at striker against conference competition.

Aaralyn totaled 27 goals and seven assists on the year.

Aaliyah starred on defense.

She had one goal and two assists.

Tavizon was named Central Valley’s CCC Sportsmanship Award winner.

She started goalkeeper.

Tavizon, Marcella Larranaga and Aaliyah Jauregui have been named team captains.

“They’re the leaders of our team,” Miguel Larranaga said. “They’re very hard workers. They motivate and support the other girls. They’re key players. They keep the team together.”

The Hawks lost seven players to graduation, including Isabella Barajas, Viviana Flores, Isabella Gudino, Giselle Hernandez, Niome McMurray, Aundrea Perez and Daniela Rodriguez.

Rodriguez and McMurray, Central Valley’s co-captains, both earned second-team all-CCC honors as seniors.

Rodriguez had three goals and two assists.

McMurray was a major contributor on defense.

The Hawks secured a playoff berth, their first in three years, during the final day of the 2023-24 regular season. Central Valley prevented Patterson from winning the CCC title with a 1-1 tie.

Competing in Sac-Joaquin Section Division-I postseason tournament for the first time, the 14th-seeded Hawks fell short in their upset bid in losing 1-0 on the road to the third-seeded Davis Sr. High Blue Devils.

Central Valley managed to qualify for the playoffs this past winter despite having to forfeit seven games for inadvertently violating a CIF rule by using an ineligible player.

The California Interscholastic Federation has a bylaw in place that prevents student athletes from playing on a high school team and a club team at the same time.

“The rules apply to everybody,” Coach Larranaga said. “As soon as you start high school, you’re not allowed to play 11-versus-11 club soccer. Somebody reported it. We didn’t do it on purpose.”

Central Valley will compete in the new-look Western Athletic Conference this season.

The Hawks moved from the CCC to the WAC as part of the section’s league realignment plan.

The WAC features eight teams, including Central Valley, Ceres High, Livingston, Beyer, Grace Davis, Johansen, Lathrop and Pacheco.

“The girls are motivated,” noted the coach. “We have a lot of talent. We should be fighting for first place. As long as they’re dedicated and play as a team, I believe that will make the team stronger. We have to give everything we have every game.”

The Hawks and crosstown-rival Hawks will face off twice as the conference schedule consists of home and away games.

Central Valley and Ceres High will battle for more than bragging rights. Results could determine the league champion and playoff positioning.

“We’re very happy we get to play our crosstown rival twice,” said. “It means so much more now because we’re playing for points. It’s not just a friendly match.”