Arik Anaya, sidelined for most of the 2011 season with a knee injury, nearly led Ripon’s boys soccer team to the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs after returning in time for the second half of the Trans-Valley League schedule.

Fully recovered, the fourth-year varsity standout was named co-MVP of the TVL as he keyed the Indians’ second-place finish. They qualified for the postseason for the first time since 2009.

In all, six Riponites were selected to the TVL and Southern League first teams. Ripon Christian defender Christian Manes was voted to the All-SL first team after helping the Knights end an eight-year playoff drought.

Anaya scored nine goals and seven assists for Ripon (6-4 TVL, 10-10 overall), which was eliminated in the first round of the SJS Division V playoffs by a 4-1 loss to top-seeded West Campus. Riverbank striker Jonathan Rodriguez (22 goals, 4 assists) shares the league’s top honor with Anaya. Martin Gonzales is Coach of the Year after guiding Riverbank to a fourth TVL title in five years.

Leading scorer Jack Brierly, one of four Indians to join Anaya on the first team, accounted for 13 goals and 10 assists. He had two hat tricks, one coming in a 4-0 victory over Hilmar in TVL play. Matt Uecker (8 goals, 3 assists) defenders Henk Gaalswyk and Emmanuel Sanchez also earned first-team recognition.

Earning honorable mention were freshman goalie Johnathan Soto, freshman defender Jose Garcia, senior defender Jordan Boyt, junior forward Flavio Valadao and senior defender Aaron Aguilar.

Ripon Christian (8-3-3, 13-5-4) placed third in the competitive SL and reached the semifinal round of the SJS Division VII playoffs, where they fell to eventual champion Sacramento Country Day, 4-0. Manes anchored RC’s back line that allowed just 15 goals in 14 league matches.

Senior Jon Vander Molen (9 goals, 3 assists) and junior Kyle Van Vuren (8 goals, 9 assists) made the honorable-mention list.