Sparks High and Spanish Springs each landed top individual awards in the 5A North High Desert League all-region boys soccer selections, as voted by the league's coaches.
Yosgar Cruz earned Defensive Player of the Year and Miguel Lopez took Goalkeeper of the Year for the Railroaders, according to Nevada Sports Net. Jayden Elliott of Spanish Springs was named Midfielder of the Year.
The awards follow a season in which Sparks finished 17-1-7 overall and 8-0-4 in league play, according to the Reno Gazette Journal. The Railroaders' only loss came in the 5A North regional championship on Oct. 31, when Hug's Manuel Chavez headed in a goal in the final minute of the second overtime for a 1-0 win.
Both Sparks and Hug qualified for the 5A state tournament.
Beyond the individual awards, Sparks forward Isaiah Zamorano earned first-team all-region honors. Four more local players landed on the second team: Sparks midfielder Juan Cruz, Sparks defender Giovanni Espana, Spanish Springs forward Cade Canale and Spanish Springs midfielder Evyien Cordova. Spanish Springs defender Jens Jensen also made the second team.
The Railroaders have built a consistent winner under head coach Jose Espana, who joined the coaching staff in 2011 and became head coach in 2016. Since he joined the staff, the program has qualified for state 12 times in 14 seasons, Nevada Sports Net reported in an Oct. 30 feature.
Sparks won two 3A state titles in 2011 and 2016 before moving to the 5A classification. The Railroaders won their first 5A regional title in 2023.
In coverage published Oct. 30 by Nevada Sports Net, Sparks senior midfielder Juan Cruz said, "The history has always been great … Each year, we just try to win something every year to keep that legacy going."
The state tournament runs Friday, Nov. 6, and Saturday, Nov. 7, at Faith Lutheran in Las Vegas. Sparks plays Arbor View at 5 p.m. Friday. The state championship game is scheduled for noon Saturday.
