Soccer sweethearts earn All-NorCal honors

Napa Valley College’s Bianca Gonzalez and Ramzi Ali had that bond this fall, even though she starred for the women’s team and he stood out for the men’s squad.

The Vintage High School sweethearts and American Canyon residents have been dating each other for more than five years now, and it’s done anything but hamper their focus as soccer players.

Both sophomores were such outstanding talents this fall, even though their teams each placed only fourth in the Bay Valley Conference, that other California Community College Athletic Association coaches selected them to the All-Northern California teams.

Gonzalez had 24 points on six assists and a team-high nine goals, just behind former Vintage teammate Delia Jimenez’s 25 points on seven goals and 11 assists, and was named BVC Defender of the Year.

Gonzalez, a 2012 Vintage alumna, was one of the few players who stuck with the NVC women’s program after playing three years ago, coming back after last season was canceled due to a lack of enough players.

I would have been devastated if I couldn’t play one more season of junior college soccer before transferring, and I’m sure my fellow sophomores felt the same way.” The Storm women not only managed to finish ahead of three other teams in the BVC, but also end the season with wins over Los Medanos and Yuba, which they had tied and lost to, respectively, in the first half of conference play.

Gonzalez can’t thank McMartin enough for taking over as head coach, holding spring soccer classes to help build the program back up, and hiring experienced assistant coach Joe Koller.

She does have a cousin who helped the University of Maine-Fort Kent women’s soccer team win a national title last month, fellow Vintage graduate and former Storm player Yajaira Gonzalez.

He finished well behind the 32 points of teammate Sebastian Bouchet, a sophomore forward who not only joined him on the All-NorCal team but also made the 24-player All-State team.