Posted: Nov 20, 2019

Vargas named Orange Empire Conference MVP!

Orange Coast College freshman forward Danny Vargas earned Most Valuable Player honors to cap off the 2019 All-Orange Empire Conference Team, as voted on by the conference's head coaches at their postseason meeting.

Vargas, a 5-foot-9, 150-pound freshman out of Costa Mesa HS, was a dominant player up front for the Pirates, tallying eight goals and nine assists and helped guide the Pirates to a strong second-place showing in the always-tough Orange Empire Conference. Just how tough was the OEC this year? Six of this year's seven teams earned spots in this year's Southern California Regional playoffs, including the fifth-seeded Pirates (12-3-5), who host No. 12 Irvine Valley on Saturday at 2 p.m. in the opening round.

The Pirates have been led from the back of the formation, courtesy of freshmen defenders Anthony Tobon, Max Copeland and Jake Whitcomb, all of whom earned first-team, All-OEC honors this year. In addition to that dynamic trio, two more defenders -- sophomore Cayden Bonner and freshmen Tyler Beteag -- earned second-team, All-OEC honors, anchoring a defense that allowed just 21 goals total in 20 games played this year.

Joining Bonner and Beteag on the second team, all-conference list is freshman midfielder Chase Bullock, who was a solid two-way player for the Pirates, sparking the offense as well as assisting to the OCC defensive unit.

ORANGE EMPIRE CONFERENCE MEN'S SOCCER 2019

COACH OF THE YEAR: Greg Aviles, Fullerton College

MVP: Daniel Vargas, Forward, Freshman, Orange Coast College

FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE

Ryan Meinardus Midfielder Freshman Fullerton

Alejandro Castillo Forward Sophomore Fullerton

Manny Tovar Defender Freshman Fullerton

Marco Polo Defender Sophomore Fullerton

Anthony Tobon Defender Freshman Orange Coast

Max Copeland Defender Freshman Orange Coast

Jake Whitcomb Defender Freshman Orange Coast

Byron Gutierrez Midfielder Sophomore Golden West