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Animos Erick Pulido, Alex Lugo, Daniel Arreola, and Jefferson Umana celebrate Lugos goal in the CIF-SS-Division 3 championship game in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, February 23, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Animos Alex Lugo works to keep the ball away from the goal in the CIF-SS-Division 3 championship game in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, February 23, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Animos Alex Lugo scores the winning goal against Bell Gardens in the CIF-SS-Division 3 championship game in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, February 23, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Animos Alex Lugo tries to push past Bell Gardens Brandon Martinez and Nelson Abarca in the CIF-SS-Division 3 championship game in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, February 23, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Bell Gardens Damian Miranda and Maximus Solis try to get the ball from Animos Alex Lugo in the CIF-SS-Division 3 championship game in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, February 23, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Animos Alex Lugo pushes past Bell Gardens in the CIF-SS-Division 3 championship game in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, February 23, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Animos Alex Lugo pushes past Bell Gardens in the CIF-SS-Division 3 championship game in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, February 23, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Junior midfielder Alex Lugo celebrates after his second goal of the game against Brea Olinda in the CIF-Southern Section semifinal on Saturday at Edward Vincent Jr. Park in Inglewood. (Photo by Ignacio Cervantes)
Animo Leadership’s Alex Lugo (No. 10) celebrates with teammate Oscar Montanez (No. 13) after scoring against California in the second half of a CIF-SS boys soccer Division 5 quarterfinal at California High School in Whittier on Wednesday, February 15, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Animo Leadership boys soccer wins the CIF-SS-Division 3 championship game in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, February 23, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
DAILY BREEZE ALL-AREA BOYS SOCCER TEAM 2023-24
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
ALEX LUGO, ANIMO LEADERSHIP, SENIOR
Before entering high school, Alex Lugo watched his uncle lead the Animo Leadership boys soccer team to a CIF-Southern Section championship.
His uncle, Alfredo, was a member of the 2013 and 2014 teams that won consecutive CIF-SS Division VI titles and a CIF SoCal Regional Division III championship.
After losing in the 2023 Division 5 championship, Lugo had one more chance to lead the Aztec Eagles back to championship glory this season.
“We had to bounce back from our junior year,” he said. “We had a senior heavy team that we thought would help take us far ….older guys that had been through the playoffs and been through that experience.”
With Lugo leading the way, the Aztec Eagles, the No. 1 seed in the Division 3 playoffs, captured their fourth CIF-SS title under coach Sergio Medrano and the first since 2014.
Lugo drew a lot of attention on the field from the opposition, from being man-marked to facing double teams and even every defensive approach imaginable. He still finished with 27 goals, 10 assists and earned CIF-SS Division 3 player of the year honors and Daily Breeze player of the year honors.
“I’ve known him since his youth club days,” Medrano said of Lugo. “He always wanted to be around the program and we were obviously excited to have him. He’s been a big part of Animo soccer legacy.
“He had a great season and he was one of our great captains that led us to our main goal of the CIF championship and winning it.”
Lugo didn’t play his freshman season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He officially joined the following season and the Aztec Eagles lost in the Division 5 wild-card round.
“I was always playing against bigger guys,” he said of his first year. “As I got older and started to get more physical, I wasn’t scared and I had more confidence and I then I had the confidence to reach my full potential.”
In his junior season, Animo lost in the Division 5 final. This season, the Aztec Eagles were moved up to Division 3, lost one game in the regular season (Mira Costa) and in the CIF SoCal Division III Regional (Porterville).
Despite losing their last game of the season, Lugo and the Aztec Eagles had accomplished the goal of winning the CIF-SS title, defeating Bell Gardens 2-1. Lugo scored the game-winning goal in the second half. Lugo said he finished his high school career with 64 goals and 32 assists.
“He (Alex Lugo) wears the No. 10 jersey for a reason,” Medrano said after the game. “That’s the heaviest jersey on the team, historically in our program and in world soccer. The biggest players shine in the biggest moments. We asked him for a game-winner at halftime. He was like I got it and he executed what he said.”
Lugo is still weighing his college options, but he expects to play at the next level and wants to play professionally.
COACH OF THE YEAR
SERGIO MEDRANO, ANIMO LEADERSHIP
Medrano won his fourth CIF-Southern Section championship as the Aztec Eagles defeated Bell Gardens 2-1 in the final.
The Aztec Eagles were the No. 1 seed after going undefeated in Mulholland League play.
Medrano and Animo advanced to the Division 5 final in 2023, but lost to Palm Desert. The Aztec Eagles were moved up to Division 3 this season.
DAILY BREEZE ALL-AREA TEAM
FIRST TEAM
Midfielder – Alex Lugo, Animo Leadership, Sr. – Player of the Year
Forward – Oliver Knotek, Palos Verdes, Sr.
Forward – Brian Rodriguez, Animo Leadership, Sr.
Midfielder – Gino Segura, South Torrance, Sr.
Midfielder – Marco Bottene, Mira Costa, Sr.
Midfielder – Peter Chang, Palos Verdes, Sr.
Defender – Sean Gauer, Mira Costa, Sr.
Defender – Brian Dermott, Palos Verdes, Jr.
Defender – Niko Huebel, South Torrance, Sr.
Defender – Ian Rodriguez, Mira Costa, Sr.
Goalkeeper – Evan Hansen, Mira Costa, Sr.
SECOND TEAM
Forward – Danniell Bueno, Redondo, Jr.
Forward – Ethan Salazar, Leuzinger, Sr.
Forward – William Corry, Palos Verdes, Sr.
Midfielder – Owen Lagerwey, Mira Costa, Sr.
Midfielder – Brandon Garcia, Animo Leadership, Sr.
Midfielder – Daniel Arreola, Animo Leadership, Sr.
Midfielder – Jett Khan, Redondo, Jr.
Defender – Max Abroms, El Segundo, Soph.
Defender – Jonathan Arias, Leuzinger, Jr.
Defender – Kevin Aguilar, Animo Leadership, Sr.
Goalkeeper – Kieran Davidson, Redondo, Jr.
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