M. Soccer: National Player of the Year honors go to Gustavo Arias

Gustavo Arias (10), who scored the winning goal in both state playoff games, was named the National Player of the Year

Posted: Dec 16, 2025

After leading the Cerritos College men's soccer team to the 3C2A State Championship, being named the tournament's Most Valuable Player and then United Soccer Coaches All-American, sophomore Guatavo Arias (Fairmont Prep HS) was named the National Player of the Year among Division III (non-scholarship) community colleges. Arias is just the second Falcons player to receive the award, as he joins Luis Gonzalez, who received the award in 2009 after the team went 19-3-2 and were eliminated in the 3rd Round of the Southern California Regional Playoffs. That season, Gonzalez scored 27 goals and assisted on 18 others.

The awards ceremony will take place in Philadelphia, PA on January 16, 2026.

Gustavo Arias was named National Player of the Year Over the course of the season, Arias, who accounting for three goals and an assist in the two state tournament games, recorded 17 goals and 14 assists for 48 total points. His goals total ranked tied for third in the state, while his assists were the fourth most and he concluded the season second in the state in points.

"I am so happy for Gustavo and what he means to this team," stated head coach Benny Artiaga. "For two years he just put his head down and showed up to work. When he got passed up for Player of the Year in our conference, we knew that lit a fire in him. He put the team on his shoulders in the tournament and showed why he's cool as ice and wouldn't let his team lose.

Arias was crucial in the team's 3-2 state semifinal win over Cañada College, which included a pair of goals and an assist. Tied 1-1 at intermission, Arias started the turnaround for the Falcons when he gave the team a 2-1 lead just minutes into the second half. After the Colts tied the game, it was Arias (#10, picturedl left) who scored the eventual game-winning goal in the 62nd minute.

"After missing two point blank shots vs. Cañada, we had to reinforce he was our guy and we needed him to step up," continued Artiaga. "The rest is history and now he capped off his amazing season by etching his name as an all-time Cerritos great.

The rest included Arias scoring the eventual game-winning goal in the 102nd minute of the first overtime in a 2-1 win over Hartnell College in the championship game.

Arias, who had just seven goals through the first 18 games, caught on fire at the right time of the season. In the final eight games of the year, Arias scored 10 goals, with seven of them coming in the playoffs.