Paloma Valley soccer players receive championship rings

Members of the CIF-SS champion Paloma Valley High girls soccer team pose with their championship rings. Menifee 24/7 photos: Doug Spoon

One of the most historic seasons ever by a Menifee high school team was celebrated Friday when the Paloma Valley High School girls soccer players received their CIF-SS championship rings in a ceremony in the school theater.

Principal Jennifer Thomasian joined new athletic director Ryan Sharp and head soccer coach Carlos Alfaro in presenting the rings, which were promised to the girls by district superintendent Grant Bennett the day the Wildcats defeated Ventura 1-0 to win the CIF Southern Section Division 4 championship on March 3.

The Wildcats posted an incredible record of 26-1-3 during the season, with their only loss coming in a rematch against Ventura in the CIF State Southern Regional finals. At one point in the season, they posted 16 consecutive shutouts. Overall, Paloma Valley 138 goals and allowed only eight.

"These rings are bonding all of you for the rest of your lives," Alfaro said to the players. "Your season record, your shutouts, it was all off the charts. People know who you are; when they go to play you they say, 'That's Paloma; they're good.'"

Thomasian also praised the Wildcats, who became the first Paloma Valley team to win a CIF-SS title in a team sport.

"I want to tell you how absolutely proud I am of you personally and of the feats you accomplished," Thomasian said. "You must realize what this means to you, for the school and for the city of Menifee. Stay hungry, stay passionate and do it again."

The Wildcats may be in position to do just that. All but three players from last year's team will be returning, including junior-to-be Nicole Dallin. On Friday, it was announced that Dallin was named a High School All-American by the U.S. High School Soccer Coaches Association.

Dallin scored 54 goals with 16 assists this past season.

"It kind shows that hard work pays off," Dallin said. "Sometimes your hard work isn't really noticed; this season it really was."