Five Warriors named all-league for boys soccer

Five members of Fallbrook High School’s boys soccer team received all-league recognition from the Avocado West League coaches.

Sergio Lopez was selected to the league’s first team while honorable mention distinction was bestowed upon Ivan Belos, Miguel Calderon, Joey Martinez, and Ignacio Robles. All five players are seniors.

The school’s quantity of all-league selections is often related to the team’s finish in the league standings, but Fallbrook’s nine forfeits due to an ineligible player included five league games. The Warriors had a 5-3-2 Avocado West League record on the field which would have given the team fourth place in the league standings, although the forfeits left Fallbrook with an official league record of 1-8-1.

“We just have to respect what they had to say,” Fallbrook coach Jorge Rojas said of the league coaches’ vote for all-league players.

Lopez played midfield for the Warriors. “His technical skills are just phenomenal,” Rojas said.

“Sergio’s play really allowed us to be a more versatile team,” Rojas said. “It allowed us to have a bit of balance in the midfield.”

Fallbrook closed its 2012-13 season Feb. 14 with a 2-1 loss to Division I playoff participant Rancho Buena Vista. Lopez closed out his high school career March 9 with a loss in the Southern California College Soccer Showcase senior all-star game between the San Diego County all-stars and the Inland Empire all-stars. The all-star game at Great Oak High School in Temecula utilized three 45-minute periods and included Lopez providing an assist to La Costa Canyon forward Ryan Blasena for one of San Diego County’s goals in the 6-2 game. “Great participation by Sergio,” Rojas said.

Lopez was not an all-league player for the 2011-12 season. “A lot of improvement,” Rojas said of Lopez’s 2012-13 season.

Belos played center back for the Warriors, Calderon was a defender, Robles was the center midfielder, and Martinez played forward.

The forfeits changed Fallbrook’s overall season record from 11-10-2 to 3-19-1.