Rebekah Brooks Named Conference POY, All-Region & All-State to Headline Postseason Awards Haul

By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director

College of the Canyons freshman forward Rebekah Brooks has been named the Western State Conference (WSC), South Division Offensive Player of the Year, in addition to earning All-Region and All-State honors, to headline a class of 12 Cougars who earned all-conference accolades.

Brooks finished her freshman campaign with 19 goals and four assists for 42 total points to help lead Canyons to the 2021 WSC, South Division Championship and the program's 10th straight postseason appearance. 

Her goal total, which led the conference and ranked 18th in the state, included six game winners. Always a threat to score, Brooks' 58 total shots ranked eighth in the state and her 37 shots on goal was tied for the No. 12 mark.

She is the eighth WSC, South Player of the Year honoree in COC women's soccer program history, and the first since Angel Quintero in 2017. Former Cougars who have won the award also include Hailey Phipps (2016), Marissa Kneisel (2015 & 2014), Stacey Atwater (2013), Jessica Guerro (2011) and Whitney Johnson (2004).

Brooks began the 2021 season with a five-game scoring streak, then matched that streak with a second five-game scoring run to begin the month of October. Thirteen of her goals came during conference play. She also recorded three multi-score games on the season, including a hat trick vs. L.A. Valley College on Nov. 2.

Those numbers helped Brooks earn placement on both the California Community College Soccer Coaches Association (CCCSCA) All-South Region and All-State Teams. 

Brooks was one of six forwards to earn All-State honors, and one of two players on the squad representing the WSC. 

Canyons saw five players earn All-WSC South First-Team honors in midfielders Maggie Maldonado and Lauryn Bailey, defenders Shelby Cooper and Sabine Yalung and goalkeeper Kylie Yuzon.

Maldonado, a two-year starter for the Cougars, finished the year with six goals and four assists to rank third on the team in both categories.

Bailey finished fourth in the conference and second on the team with 11 goals. She added two assists to end with 24 total points. 

Cooper, who also saw minutes as a midfielder, logged 16 starts in 19 games played. Her lone goal came on Oct. 29 at Santa Monica. 

Yalung started 18 games as a defender to help lead a unit that played to 10 shutouts and allowed just 19 goals on the season. Her only score of the season came in the Cougars' second-round playoff matchup vs. Mt. San Antonio College and put COC on the board in a 2-1 defeat. 

Yuzon had a strong season in goal for the Cougars. Across her final eight starts, including the postseason, Yuzon posted a 6-2 record with three shutouts. 

COC midfielder Katie Russell, forwards Analise Rappe and Lizeth Gutierrez-Cervantes and defender Sascha Marcellin were each named to the All-WSC Second-Team.

Russell led the Cougars with eight assists and added four goals. Her assist total tied for third in the conference.

Rappe registered five goals and an assist for Canyons while logging 11 starts in 17 games. She put together two-goal games vs. Bakersfield on Oct. 1 and West L.A. on Nov. 5.

Gutierrez-Cervantes netted four goals and four assists, playing in 16 games with eight starts.

Marcellin was a standout defender for the Cougars, anchoring the back line with starts in 17 of 18 games. She scored a goal to help COC get an important 2-0 win at Bakersfield on Oct. 26.

Midfielder Janelle Cornelio and defender Giselle Sayan were both recognized with Honorable Mention designations. 

Cornelio recorded a goal and two assists on the season. Sayan started all 19 games for the Cougars before being forced to miss the season finale.

COC head coach Justin Lundin was named the WSC, South Coach of the Year in a season in which the Cougars finished 14-5-1 overall and 10-1-1 in conference play. The 2021 WSC, South title was the program's 12th overall and eighth under Lundin. He is now a seven-time Coach of the Year selection and holds a career record of 161-52-39.

Canyons won 10 of its final 11 regular season games down the stretch to advance to the CCCAA SoCal Regional Playoffs. COC then played to a 4-3 double OT victory over San Diego Mesa College in the opening round before falling to Mt. SAC the following match.

Stay up to date on all this season's action by following the College of the Canyons Athletic department on social media at @COCathletics on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. 

—Mari Kneisel/COC Sports Information