The National Soccer Coaches Association of America named one of Cerritos’ own, the National Player of the Year.

Star forward Luis Gonzalez was the recipient of this award for last years soccer season.

This sophomore out of Long Beach Millikan High School was also the team’s captain and is used to being part of a soccer program.

‘I have been playing soccer (on a team) since I was six or seven years old,’ Gonzalez said; who along with national recognition has been awarded several other honors.

These honors include the California Community Colleges Athletic Association’s October male athlete of the month, a two-time All-American and a two-time South Coast Conference player of the year, and the state finals MVP; despite his team losing in the playoffs.

You would think that with so many awards as a star athlete, Gonzalez would have expected to be dubbed player of the year but this was the highest honor he has received.

‘I never expected this,’ Gonzalez said referring to being named the NSCAA’s player of the year.

‘This is the biggest accomplishment of my life,’ he added.

Gonzalez led the Cerritos men’s soccer team to a No. 2 national ranking and a state championship last year as a freshman.

‘He really set the bar high (for the team), ‘ said men’s soccer head coach Benny Artiaga.

‘It must be a great honor to be recognized as the best player in the U.S,’ Artiaga said,
‘ ‘he’s a great leader; he’s our team captain and overall just a great kid.’

Gonzalez finished the season with 27 goals and 18 assists for 72 points and with a total of 51 goals and 35 assists for 137 points in his two years on the Cerritos College soccer team.

Though Gonzalez has racked up great stats in the past two seasons, he still is not sure if he is going to stick around for a third season and remain a Falcon.

He said he is ‘undecided’ on whether to transfer to another school but he says he is looking around.

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