Walker highlights Sailors earning all-league honors

Newport Harbor High senior striker Evan Walker shared the Sunset League Offensive MVP honor, highlighting seven Sailors making the All-Sunset League team in boys’ soccer.

Walker lifted Newport Harbor to a third-place finish in league at 5-3-2, one point away from second place. The Sailors vastly improved this season, going 13-7-4 after a two-win season. Newport Harbor reached the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs under first-year coach Mike Ditta.

Walker, who shared the league offensive honor with Jordan Gorman of Fountain Valley, finished with 13 goals and two assists. Ditta said Walker, a three-year varsity player, is looking to play at UC San Diego or Cal Poly San Luis Obispo next year.

Senior midfielder William Muñoz and junior midfielder Dillan Freiberg made the first team. Muñoz recorded 10 goals and five assists. Freiberg, a threat with his long throw-ins, assisted on 12 goals and added a goal.

Sailors getting second-team recognition include senior midfielder Scotty Figueroa, senior defender Joel Gonzalez and junior goalkeeper Kyle Evans.

Rodrigo Ruvalcaba, a junior defender, was an honorable mention.

Esperanza’s Austin Caudillo-Smyth was named the Sunset League Player of the Year.

Eric Foremski of Los Alamitos was the Sunset League Defensive MVP.

— From staff reports