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Aptos Today
By the People, for the People
Five local squads move into section semifinals
Aptos, Harbor, and Watsonville boys teams advance, while Aptos and Watsonville girls teams also reach semifinals
Published on Feb. 22, 2026
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The Aptos High boys soccer team edged North Salinas 2-1 in the Central Coast Section Division IV quarterfinals, with goals from Ivan Zavala and Josiah Siqueiros. The No. 4 seed Harbor High boys team blanked Junipero Serra 2-0, and the No. 2 seed Watsonville High boys team defeated Woodside 4-1. On the girls side, the No. 1 seed Aptos High team shut out Gilroy 3-0, and the No. 4 seed Watsonville High team beat Everett Alvarez 1-0.
Why it matters
These results showcase the strength of the local high school soccer programs, with several teams from the Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay areas advancing deep into the CCS playoffs. The success of these squads highlights the competitive nature of soccer in the region and the dedication of the players and coaches.
The details
In the boys Division IV quarterfinal, Aptos scored the winning goal in the 78th minute on a pass from Nicolas Topete to Ivan Zavala. Harbor's goals came from Andres Reyes and Nico Mojica, while Watsonville was led by a pair of goals from Diego Guillen. On the girls side, Aptos was paced by two goals from Alexa Castaneda and a goal and assist from Emilie Santiago, while Watsonville's lone goal came from Jackeline Cano.
- The Aptos boys game was played on Saturday, February 22, 2026.
- The Harbor boys game was also on Saturday, February 22, 2026.
- The Watsonville boys game took place on Saturday, February 22, 2026 as well.
- The Aptos girls game was on Saturday, February 22, 2026.
- The Watsonville girls game was on Saturday, February 22, 2026.
The players
Ivan Zavala
Forward for the Aptos High boys soccer team who scored the winning goal in the 78th minute.
Nicolas Topete
Midfielder for the Aptos High boys soccer team who provided the assist on the winning goal.
Andres Reyes
Player who scored one of the goals for the Harbor High boys soccer team.
Nico Mojica
Player who scored the other goal for the Harbor High boys soccer team.
Diego Guillen
Senior who scored two unassisted goals for the Watsonville High boys soccer team.
What they’re saying
“This is a special moment, a special team and our coaching staff is very proud of this group of boys.”
— Roberto Zuniga, Aptos High boys soccer coach (The Tribune)
“The work continues and we are looking forward to our next match.”
— Roberto Zuniga, Aptos High boys soccer coach (The Tribune)
What’s next
The Aptos High boys team will host No. 3 seed Sacred Heart Cathedral of San Francisco in the semifinals on Wednesday, February 26th at 7 p.m. The Harbor High boys team will travel to face No. 1 seed Archbishop Mitty in San Jose on Wednesday at 3 p.m. The Watsonville High boys team will host No. 3 seed Homestead of Cupertino on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
The takeaway
The success of these local high school soccer teams in the CCS playoffs demonstrates the strength of the sport in the Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay regions. The ability of squads from Aptos, Harbor, and Watsonville to advance to the semifinals is a testament to the dedication and skill of the players, as well as the quality of the coaching they receive.
