GALT, CA (MPG) - It was a season that will be talked about in Liberty Ranch hallways for years to come. The Hawks boys’ soccer team finished second in the Sierra Valley Conference with a 12-1-1 record, then caught fire in the postseason, capturing a second consecutive section championship before making the deepest state playoff run in school history. Six Hawks were recognized for their outstanding contributions with all-league selections.

Head Coach Garett Arechiga reflected on what his team accomplished with a mixture of pride and gratitude.

“Just the guys showing up and doing the work: definitely a proud moment for our boys, our staff and our program,” Arechiga said. “We set out the season with the goal to repeat as section champions and we did it. It was a tough road but our boys rose to the occasion and accomplished something a lot of programs cannot say they’ve done. Then we went farther than any team in Liberty Ranch history in the state finals, and we could not have had the season we had without the support of our boosters, faculty and of course the parents.”

Leading the charge offensively was senior Danny Juarez, who topped the roster with 21 goals and 45 points while averaging 1.0 goals per game. Juarez was a relentless force up front all season long, and his senior leadership proved invaluable as the Hawks navigated the pressure of defending their section crown and pushing deep into state competition.

Junior Isaac Flores was equally impactful, contributing 14 goals and seven assists for 35 points on the season while averaging 0.7 goals per game and 0.3 assists per game. Alongside him, junior Christian Maciel was the engine that made the offense run, pacing the team with 16 assists to go with 12 goals and 40 points – good for second on the team – while averaging a team-best 0.7 assists per game. The combination of Juarez, Flores and Maciel gave Liberty Ranch an attack that opposing defenses simply could not contain.

Junior Beto Dominguez rounded out the midfield all-league honorees, contributing five assists and 0.3 assists per game while providing the kind of consistent, two-way play that keeps an offense moving and a defense organized. Senior Aiden Rivera and junior Wesley Steinbaugh also earned all-league recognition, anchoring the backfield all season long and providing the defensive wall that protected both the goal and the goalkeeper. Their relentless work in the back line gave Liberty Ranch the defensive foundation that made the Hawks’ historic postseason run possible.

In goal, junior Abraham Flores provided reliable depth and averaged 2.1 saves per game with 46 saves and a 1.369 GAA. Relief goalie Alex Becerra gave Arechiga flexibility throughout a long and demanding campaign.

That campaign reached its peak in the postseason. After claiming the section title for the second straight year – a remarkable achievement in its own right – the Hawks kept rolling in the state playoffs. They opened with a gritty 1-0 victory over Orland before facing Aptos in a match that needed a penalty shootout to decide, with Liberty Ranch advancing after a 2-2 draw. The Hawks’ historic run finally came to an end in the regional final against Del Mar, but the result did nothing to diminish what this group accomplished.

Back-to-back section champions. A state playoff run unlike anything in Liberty Ranch history. Six all-league honorees. For a program that continues to raise its standard year after year, this season was proof that the Hawks are no longer just competing; they are building something special in Galt.