GALT, CA (MPG) - In just his second season leading the Galt High School girls soccer program, Alejandro Renteria has done what few coaches accomplish in such a short time: He has changed the culture. The Sierra Valley Conference recognized that transformation in a big way, naming Renteria the league’s Coach of the Year for the third time in his coaching career. Four Warriors earned all-league recognition, with senior Bayley Miller receiving both the Offensive MVP award and an all-league selection, joined by Brianna Romero, Jennifer Arambula and Katy Dalton.

The Warriors finished the season with a 9-3-2 record and third place in the SVC: a continued step forward for a program that Renteria has been rebuilding from the ground up since taking over two years ago.

Renteria, who previously coached the Galt boys’ program before transitioning to the girls team, was characteristically humble when learning of the honor.

“I honestly was surprised winning coach of the year this season, just because to my own standards I only think I deserve it when we win a banner,” he said. “This is my third time winning the award now, and each time I’m left speechless. I still feel truly honored every single time. I put so much into coaching, into my craft, how I can become a better mentor for our next generation, tying in the community, and overall just making our team have a family feel. I believe in the saying, ‘Never stop being a student.’ If you’re always willing to learn, then you’re always willing to grow. I want to thank the other coaches in the league for recognizing me and my ability to coach.”

The impact Renteria has made on the Warriors program goes far beyond the win-loss column. When he took over, he inherited a group of players who had come to expect defeat.

“Before I took over the program, the same girls I’m coaching now would tell me they would expect to lose,” he said. “Nobody had an interest in wanting to continue. These past two years, several parents and players have thanked me for giving the team confidence. Although I know I’m not perfect, and I never will be, I truly try my hardest to make every player feel seen and confident in their ability. ‘The girls can do it, too’ was my saying.”

Last season, that belief translated into history. The Warriors won the SVC league title for the first time ever: a milestone Renteria said he will carry with him forever. This year, while the banner proved elusive, he saw something just as meaningful take shape.

“This year, although we came up short, I felt like the team was more connected than before,” he said. “We were able to do more team bondings, more goal setting, and more heart to heart conversations. I hope this is something our ladies will carry on forever because soccer is more than just the memories we make on the field.”

His vision for the program is clear and ambitious.

“My main goal now is to create a legacy with this girls team,” Renteria said. “I don’t want to be one and done; I want to be a competitor. Maybe not a banner every year, but make this team known for the talent we have. Our boys’ team has been dominant for over 10 years now, winning league pretty much every year. I want the next generations of girls to come to GHS and know that they’ll have a coach who is trying to replicate that. We don’t want to settle for less anymore. I will always give this team my heart and effort.”

On the field, the Warriors were led by senior striker Bayley Miller, whose dominant season earned her both the Offensive MVP award and an all-league selection. Miller topped the roster with 21 goals, 5 assists and 47 points while averaging a team-best 1.6 goals per game. Her ability to find the net consistently made her one of the most dangerous forwards in the SVC and a worthy recipient of the league’s top offensive honor.

Sophomore Brianna Romero was equally impressive in a different way, functioning as the creative force behind the Galt attack. Romero led the team with a remarkable 22 assists and 38 points while averaging 1.3 assists per game: tops on the roster. She also contributed eight goals on the season, making her one of the most complete midfielders in the conference and a key reason Miller had the space and opportunities to thrive up front.

Senior Katherine “Katy” Dalton rounded out the all-league honorees, averaging 0.4 assists per game and providing the kind of veteran forward play that keeps opposing defenses honest. Jennifer Arambula also earned all-league recognition, contributing the leadership and consistency that helped to anchor the Warriors through a competitive league schedule.

In goal, freshman Abigail Pantoja was a revelation in her first varsity season, making 35 saves and averaging 2.5 saves per game to give Galt a reliable presence between the posts for years to come.

With Renteria at the helm, a proven MVP in Miller’s departing footsteps, and young talent like Romero and Pantoja still developing, the future of Galt girls’ soccer has never looked brighter. As their coach likes to say: The girls can do it, too.