2024 All-Cal Pac Men’s Soccer Teams

If the names of the players selected for the 2024 men's soccer individual awards by California Pacific Conference coaches sound familiar, it is because they are names that have appeared frequently in headlines over the past two seasons.

UC Merced's Daniel Borges was voted the Player of the Year by conference coaches after spearheading an attack that led the Bobcats to an unbeaten season and a share of the Cal Pac title, the third regular season crown in program history.  Borges, a native of Turlock, Calif., led the conference in goals (12) and points (31), handing out seven assists on the year.  A First Team pick this Fall, Borges was a First Team selection last year when he was named the Newcomer of the Year.

Westcliff, the regular season co-champion, fielded the Cal Pac's top Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year.  Jordan Di Lonardo was selected on the offensive side after he led the conference in Assists (8) and Shot (61) and ranked second in Goals (10) and Points (28).  The senior midfielder from Gordola, Switzerland, was voted to the 2024 First Team, as he was in 2023.

The top defensive honors went to WU's Janis Hinterleitner, who has been a mainstay on the Warriors' back line over the past four seasons.  The senior defender from Eckernforde, Germany, anchored a squad that allowed just six goals in 15 matches this year while registering nine shut outs. Hinterleitner was named to the All-Cal Pac Second Team last year and the First Team in 2022.

The Cal Pac coaches selected Pacific Union Emiliano Ascencio as the Newcomer of the Year.  The junior forward from La Quinta, Calif., transferred in this Fall and had a big impact on the Pioneer offense, punching in five goals in 11 matches.

UCM's Jaycob Walker was voted the Freshman of the Year.  The Fresno, Calif., native patrolled the midfield for the Bobcats, reinforcing the stingy defensive unit while contributing three goals on the offensive side—all coming in the final two matches of the regular season.

WU's Randy Dodge was selected by his peers as the Coach of the Year for the second straight season.

UCM midfielder Xavier Barajas closed out his stellar career with the Bobcats with a third consecutive First Team selection.  In his four years at UCM, Barajas has played a big role on teams that compiled a 30-3-6 Cal Pac record (49-12-11 overall), won the conference postseason tournament in 2021, and advanced to the NAIA National Championship tournament three straight seasons.

Only one other player has received multiple recognitions from conference coaches:  Providence Christian's Elijiah Vanderveen, who was named Honorable Mention in 2023 and 2024.

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  Daniel Borges (UC Merced)

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  Jordan Di Lonardo (Westcliff)

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  Janis Hinterleitner (Westcliff)

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR:  Emiliano Ascencio (Pacific Union)

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR:  Jaycob Walker (UC Merced)

COACH OF THE YEAR:  Randy Dodge (Westcliff)

ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS

First Team

Second Team

Honorable Mention

Cal Maritime:  Jose Diaz.  La Sierra:  Cristian Prieto, Sean Palena, Isaac Pineda.  Pacific Union:        Andres Becerra.  Providence Christian: Elijiah Vanderveen.  Simpson:  Alexander Zimmerman, Gio De La Torre.  Soka:  Matt Fujinami, Adalid Oregon, Elm Pentinat.  Westcliff:  Facundo Palacio, Mohamed Sidi Haiba.