On the heels of a season filled with success and a trip to the CIF Southern Section Division 3 playoffs, Santa Monica High School’s girls soccer team recently received more reasons to celebrate.
This week, California Interscholastic Federation officials announced the winners of the Ocean League’s three MVP awards, and three local Vikings managed to sweep the contests, according to head coach Jimmy Chapman — who took home this year’s Coach of the Year award along with his assistant.
Samohi senior Giulia Trevellin was named the Ocean League MVP, while sophomore defender Minya Pertel won Ocean League Defensive MVP and freshman Sydney Forsyth brought home the Ocean League Offensive MVP, Chapman said in an interview Monday. The two All-Ocean League teams also featured a number of Vikings, as Samohi’s London Wilkes, Summer Ernst, Melisa Ramirez-Hernandez and Lauren Kozmor all made the cut for the first team. Bria Stocker, Ava Bayley and Cassidy VanCott also found themselves on the list for the second team.
With the local high school moving to the Bay League next year, Chapman described the awards as the cherry on top of a very sweet season.
“It had been three years since we were named Ocean League champions, so winning it was definitely one of our goals this year — especially considering next year’s move into the Bay League,” which is a league that features many of the region’s soccer powerhouses, Chapman said while he detailed how many of league’s teams regularly find themselves in contention for the championships.
After winning four league championships in a row from 2014-2017, Chapman said, “We had fallen short the last two years, but we knew we were competitive enough to make it this year even though we knew that it was gonna be a tight race.”
Chapman said he’s always felt the team that comes out of league play as champions propels itself forward going into playoffs. So, with the Ocean League secured, Samohi turned its attention to the playoffs when it took to the pitch in February.
“We only had one player with an Ocean League win but now all of them do, so we feel we have the right kind of momentum and that energy and excitement that’s needed when going into a new division next year,” Chapman said, adding, “It’s going to be a daunting task but you have just got to keep grinding and working.”
“I think the preseason will be there to build momentum and once league comes, we’ll have to win our home games and try to get a couple away games because it’s going to be tough,” the coach said. “When every team has the skill that’s on display in the (Bay League), then every game matters.”
And with a new field, a competitive league filled with juggernauts and a team returning nine starters, Chapman said, “Every game will be a must watch.”
brennon@smdp.com
