The men’s and women’s soccer teams at California Baptist University both had athletes placed on All-PacWest soccer teams this season.
The women’s team placed the most players on the All-PacWest Women’s team for the second year in a row, with 11 players. Lindsay Vesling, senior exercise science major and forward for the Lancers, and Justene Kesterson, sophomore kinesiology major and forward, made the top of the list as Player and Newcomer of the Year, respectively.
Audrianna DeGraw, sophomore marketing major and midfielder, received her first PacWest honor when she was added to the first team.
The men’s team put members on the All-PacWest Men’s Soccer teams for the fourth consecutive year, with Aidan Apodaca, freshman biology major and forward/midfielder, earning Freshman of the Year.
Five other players were added to the all-conference teams. Apodaca led the team with seven goals on the season and aided on one other to finish with 15 points. He is ranked as the highest freshman in the PacWest’s top-10 for goals scored to earn second-team recognition.
Paul Oliver, senior business administration major and defender/midfielder, was the only Lancer to find a spot on the first team, his second-straight first team recognition.
Fellow defender Bryan Portillo, senior psychology major, grabbed third-team honors.
Riley Phillips, freshman communication disorders major and defender; Sara Escobedo, freshman undeclared major and goalkeeper; and Mikala Gillis, senior kinesiology major and midfielder/defender, made CBU’s selections on the second team, along with Lauren Wallberg, junior accounting major and midfielder.
Rachel Witz, sophomore undeclared major and forward/midfielder, was named to the third team, along with Silvia Sanchez, senior criminal justice and visual arts double major and defender.
Chris Gaitan, junior contruction management major and midfielder; Josh Robinson, junior kinsesiology major and defender/midfielder; and Josue Soto, freshman undeclared major and midfielder/forward, were given honorable mentions.
Rounding out the 11 phenoms, Kimberly Allard, senior kinesiology major and forward/midfielder, and Courtney Shutts, junior kinesiology major and defender, picked up honorable mentions. Allard completed her senior year with four goals and three assists. Shutts was a key member of the back four to help shut down opponents attacking.
The men’s team ended the season on a three-game winning streak to finish 8-9-1 overall and 7-5-0 in conference.
The women’s team finished the season ranked No. 8 in the West Region with a 11-4-3 overall record and an unbeaten 9-0-3 PacWest record. The women’s team was also ranked No. 21 in the NCAA Division II for total offense.
