Cuesta Women's Soccer landed five players on the 2021 All Western State Conference teams led by lone first team selection Ryleigh Mcginty (Arroyo Grande HS- pict). The Cougars returned to action after skipping the 2020 season due to the pandemic. The Kickers, the only team on campus not to compete during Covid, opened the season with a convincing win over Sequoias, 4-0, but then dropped their next five pre-conference games. The Cougars also won their Western State Conference opener, before sliding into another four-game slide. Cuesta rallied over the finals stretch of the season and remained in playoff contention until the final week of the season. The Cougars dropped their last two games of the season, to a pair of playoff teams, and landed in 6th place in the WSC circuit with a 4-12-2 overall record. Despite playing in the one of the State's toughest conferences, the Cougars did have some bright spots in WSC play, including a pair of ties at home against playoff teams Santa Barbara and Ventura. Overall Cuesta was 0-5-2 against playoff teams and 4-7 against the rest of the field. Five Cuesta players, including Mcginty, were accorded all-WSC honors.
Sophomore Defender Ryleigh Mcginty was named to the 2021 All Western State Conference First Team after also being named the team's Most Valuable Player this season. Mcginty was one of two returners from the 2019 season and solidified the Cougars' backline. Mcginty tasked with marking the opponent's top offensive threat and was recognized statewide as one of the best lockdown defenders. Her speed and toughness epitomized Cuesta's defense, while her strong ballhandling and passing skills initiated many of the Cougars' counter attacks on the offense half of the pitch.
Midfielder Jordan Bullard (Paso Robles HS) and Forward Mya Gonzalez (Paso Robles HS) were named to the 2021 All-WSC Second Team after their freshman seasons. Bullard helped anchor the middle of the field for the Cougars. She is a hard-nosed defender, with the ability to also score on the offensive half. Bullard's pair of goals on the season tied her for second on the team. Gonzalez was a fierce attacker with a strong leg. Her lone assist of the year sealed the Cougars' November 2nd win over local rival Allan Hancock and kept their playoff hopes alive going into the final week of the season.
Midfielders Taylor Kirk (Atascadero HS) and Mia Ferguson (Fresno) were both accorded all-WSC Honorable Mention. The Cougars' midfield play was one of the team's strengths and most of that starting line earned all-WSC honors. Kirk tied for second on the team with a pair of goals, while Ferguson added a goal and an assist of her own.
2021 All-WSC Honors
First Team Ryleigh Mcginty
Second Team Jordan Bullard
Second Team Mya Gonzalez
Honorable Mention Taylor Kirk
Honorable Mention Mia Ferguson
