PHOTO BY DANIEL ZUNIGA
RIO RANCHO, NEW MEXICO- Our final candidates for the New Mexico Boys Soccer Player of the Year (no order). If you notice, they’re 13 candidates instead of our usual 10. Well, that’s because for the second time in CPS history, we had a four-way tie for our final spot (based on votes from our panel). I think that is a testament to the talent in this state.
Each athlete who made the cut is listed below along with some stats, and some insight courtesy of their respective head coaches. Thank you to all the coaches who made this happen and thank you to Transcend for continuing to support New Mexico athletes.
DISCLAIMER: we are not affiliated/associated with Gatorade or the GPOY voting committee, this list was done by a panel at our independent sports outlet, CPS.
Finally, there is no order. Without further ado…
- Sandia’s Mateo Ojeda (junior)-
STATS: 28 goals & 14 assists.
“Great players are defined by unmatched effort, consistency, and the ability to excel when others fatigue. Mateo Ojeda is a player who embodies all of these principles. He performs in all conditions, has vision for future play, and elevates himself through mental toughness and relentless drive. He is a player who has the talent to be with the best, and the work ethic to surpass them all.”- Sandia head coach Ryan Sanchez.
- La Cueva Connor Hanks (senior)-
STATS: 5 goals, 3 assists, & contributed to 11 shutouts as one of the defenders. La Cueva also won the 5A state championship.
“Connor Hanks was the anchor of our defense and a true captain in every sense. His organization, communication, and understanding of the game allowed us to play with confidence on the back end. He brought toughness and discipline that helped us become one of the top defensive teams in the state. Connor’s leadership and reliability were key factors in our team’s success all season.”- La Cueva assistant coach Matthew Sandoval.
- La Cueva Brice Clark (freshman)-
STATS: 21 goals, & 15 assists. La Cueva also won the 5A state championship.
“Brice Clark gave our offense a dynamic presence we could count on. He has a natural ability to find scoring opportunities and the confidence to finish in big situations. Beyond the goals, he consistently created chances and applied pressure that kept opponents on their heels. His playmaking and competitive edge played a significant role in the success we had as a team.”- La Cueva assistant coach Matthew Sandoval.
- La Cueva Winston Starr (senior)-
STATS: 15 goals, 12 assists, La Cueva also won the 5A state championship.
“Winston Starr was the heart of our team this season. As our captain, he led by example with his work ethic, composure, and ability to rise to the moment. He provided timely scoring when we needed it most, but just as importantly, he set the standard for accountability and leadership every single day. His presence and consistency were major reasons for our overall success.”- La Cueva assistant coach Matthew Sandoval.
- Rio Rancho Parker Dunn (senior)-
STATS: 2 goals, 2 assists, & contributed to 8 shutouts as a defender.
“Parker Dunn – team captain; our absolute unquestioned leader on the field; held himself and others accountable for effort and attitude (especially himself); super reliable center back – never came off the field; high quality young man that every parent would be proud to have; also funny and likeable – got along with everyone in the program; top defender in the state in my opinion.”- Rio Rancho head coach John Shepard.
- Rio Rancho Kenneth Graves (senior)-
STATS: 79 saves & .937 GAA.
“2-year captain; one of the toughest young men I’ve ever coached; mature and reliable; extraordinarily athletic; as a goal keeper, he was also one of the fastest sprinters on the team; top goal keeper in the state in my opinion.”- Rio Rancho head coach John Shepard.
- St Pius X’s Nico Reyes (junior)-
STATS: 31 goals & 14 assists. St. Pius X also won the 4A state championship.
“Reyes was a First Team All-District, First Team All-Metro, and First Team All-State selection. He was also the District 5-4A Player of the Year, and one of three New Mexico players named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Region (Region VIII – Far West) team. Reyes is an elite finisher, a blue-chip footballer, and an eventual D1 athlete whenever his time comes.” CPS owner Daniel Zuniga.
- St Pius X’s Ethan Wright (senior)-
STATS: 18 goals & 11 assists. St. Pius X also won the 4A state championship.
“This past season, Wright was a dominant force, and racked up 18 goals and 11 assists. He was a First Team All-District, and First Team All-State selection while also garnering Second Team All-Metro honors. Wright was an absolute vital piece to St. Pius X championship run, and scored in the championship game against ABQ Academy.”- CPS owner Daniel Zuniga.
- Santa Fe Prep’s Dylan Shandler (sophomore)-
STATS: 38 goals & 25 assists.Santa Fe Prep also won the 3A state championship.
“Dylan was absolutely vital to our state championship team this year. As a sophomore left winger, he led us in goals with 38 this season. His speed on the flank consistently puts defenders under pressure, and he has the ability to change a game in an instant. What I appreciate most about Dylan, though, is his team-first mentality. He works tirelessly off the ball, defends when needed, and always prioritizes the success of the group over individual recognition. He’s a dynamic player and an even better teammate, and he’s made a tremendous impact on our program. We look forward to another strong showing from Dylan in his junior year.”- Santa Fe Prep athletic director Phil Lucero.
- Sandia Prep’s Ryan Williams (senior)-
STATS: 36 goals & 13 assists.
“Over the past two years, I think Ryan has been one of the top players in the state at any classification. What made him exceptional for us is his ability to play anywhere on the field and be very good at it. For us, he was asked to score, ‘play make,’ create and lead our team; which he did all of those. He scored 36 goals and had 13 assists for us. How Ryan went, was how we went as a team. He finished top 3 for Sandia Prep all time in points, career goals, goals for a season, and top 6 in all-time assists. He was a 3-time All- State first team player. He will rank up there as one of the top-5 players of all time for Sandia Prep.”- Sandia Prep head coach Tommy Smith.
- Hobbs Joel Gamez (sophomore)-
STATS: 28 goals & 12 assists.
“Joel Gamez has exceptional speed, and close ball control, which makes him an attacking force. His ability to change gears on-and-off the ball helps his elusiveness in a 1v1 or to fly by defenders on a quick counter. His positional awareness and strength helps him gain an advantage when it comes to winning 50/50 balls or holding possession with the ball at his feet. With his attacking prowess, he can score from outside the box, in 1v1’s with the keeper, penalties and free kicks. Along with his gameplay, Joel’s teammates see him as a leader on-and-off the pitch. His confidence in himself, and his abilities, not only puts him ahead of most players but also cultivates confidence in his teammates. Through him, Hobbs has a playmaker and a game changer on-and-off the pitch.”- Hobbs head coach Reyes Márquez.
- Volcano Vista Major Jeffres (senior)-
STATS: 4 goals, 6 assists, and contributed to 8 shutouts as a defender.
“This past season, Jeffres found himself on the All-District, All-Metro, and All-State teams, and in my opinion, was the tone-setter for the Hawks soccer team. He was one of the best defenders in the state, and someone who played with a ton of field IQ and physicality. I thought his best game came against Rio Grande, and I heard great things about his leadership.”- CPS owner Daniel Zuniga.
- Rio Grande Isael Dominguez (senior)-
STATS: 4 goals, 1 assist, contributed to 11 shutouts as a defender, and defender on a team that gave up 12 goals all season (first in 5A).
“Isael has been our captain, and one of our leaders, for the last 3 years. He led a defense that only gave up 12 goals all year, which was 1st in 5A. With his talent and leadership, Rio Grande has won back-to-back district titles. The first one in 2024…was the 1st in program history. He will be missed!”- Rio Grande head coach Brian Weems.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: St. Pius X’s Diego Herrera, ABQ Academy’s Cruz Tomori, Eldorado’s Taren Wente, Atrisco Heritage Academy’s YanCarlo Palma, Artesia’s Moises Corza, Volcano Vista’s Mckay Rogers, Rio Grande’s Miguel Guillermo and Hope Christian’s Manu Garbarino.
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