VC midfielder Audrey Castillo of the Pirates' women's soccer team was named the Western State Conference North Division Co-Player of the Year in voting by the conference coaches last month. The sophomore from Pacifica High School becomes the 11th Pirate in the storied 23-year history of the program to earn the top WSC North honor. Meanwhile, head coach Steve Hoffman was voted by his peers as the WSC-North Co-Coach of the Year for the 2018 season.
Castillo led the conference in scoring with 35 points on 13 goals and nine assists in VC's 10 conference games. On the season, she totaled 22 scores and 11 assists for 55 points.
Joining Castillo as first team All-WSC North selections were goal keeper Aracely Castro, defender Carina Cardenas, defender Yadi Raigoza and defender Natalie Landsberg. Cardenas, a sophomore co-captain from Rio Mesa High School anchored the defensive back along with the three freshmen, Raigoza from Pacifica High School, Landsberg, a Ventura High School product, and Castro, who also prepped at Pacifica High School.
Ventura also had three players, all freshmen, named second team All-WSC North. They included forward Jasmin Ambriz, midfielder Karen Martinez and forward Yamile Mondragon.
Sophomore defender Kayla Simmons-Allon and freshman midfielder Yareli Vasquez earned honorable mention nods on the all-conference team.
Hoffman was named Co-Coach of the Year for the 10th time in his 23-year tenure directing the team. After a slow start, the young Pirates rebounded in WSC play to earn an 8-1-1 conference mark, good for second place alone in the tables. Also during the season, VC earned the program's 350th overall victory. Ventura ended the season with an overall mark of 10-7-5, falling in the opening round of the CCCAA Southern California Regionals.