Cal Poly Pomona Men's Soccer Quartet Earns All-West Region Selection

By: Doga Gur, BroncoAthletics.com Contributor

POMONA, Calif. - Paul Roger Henschke, Melvyn Perez Cortez, Cesar Ruvalcaba and Jasper Winslow of the Cal Poly Pomona men's soccer program have garnered All-West Region distinction for the 2023 season.

Last Tuesday, Nov. 28, the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) unveiled its 2023 All-West Region squads, with Bronco captain Ruvalcaba making the 13-member first team. Henschke was one of four forwards on the 13-player second team, and Perez Cortez among four midfielders.

The United Soccer Coaches then revealed its regional awards this week, with seniors Henschke, Perez Cortez and Ruvalcaba all becoming unanimous honorees on the 11-player first team. Winslow earned his first career All-West Region recognition as one of three defenders on the 11-member second team.

Henschke, Perez Cortez and Ruvalcaba are all former All-Americans, with the trio advancing back again to this year's All-America ballots for their respective first-team regional nods. Henschke was previously a D2CCA All-West Region first-teamer in 2021 and second-teamer in 2022. Ruvalcaba was on the organization's 2021 second team.

Last fall, Henschke, Perez Cortez and Ruvalcaba were all United Soccer Coaches All-West Region First team selections. Ruvalcaba went on to be named a first-team All-American by the association, and Perez Cortez a second-team All-American. In 2021, Henschke was an all-region first-teamer and United Soccer Coaches All-America Third Team pick.

A native of South Gate, Ruvalcaba predominantly played in central midfield in his fifth and final season in the green and gold, moving up from center back. Voted by league head coaches as the 2023 California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Defender of the Year, Ruvalcaba also produced the first three goals of his career in his final collegiate go-around, all against Cal State Monterey Bay. That included a two-goal brace in a 4-1 home victory over the Otters on Nov. 18 in the second round of the NCAA Championship. He added a career-high four assists for 10 total points, ranking fifth on the squad. Ruvalcaba was one of nine Broncos to appear in all 21 games, starting each of the last 20.

Henschke, from Berlin, Germany, was the only Bronco to start all 21 matches this season. He topped the team with 10 goals, eight assists, 28 total points, 39 shots and 22 shots on goal. Henschke shared the CCAA lead in points, and was second in goals (tied) and assists. He registered either a goal or an assist in 12 of the 21 contests. Henschke began his three-year CPP career as the 2021 CCAA Newcomer of the Year after arriving from Palm Beach Atlantic University. He leaves the program fourth all-time in points (74) and goals (29), and seventh in assists (16).

Perez Cortez, a graduate student from Los Angeles, started the final 18 of 19 games played this season after missing the first two. A long throw-in specialist, he contributed four points from one goal, the game-winning opener to kick off an 8-0 home romp over Stanislaus State on Oct. 8, and two assists. Perez Cortez spent the last four seasons in the CPP program after beginning his college career at El Camino College in Torrance.

Also a Los Angeles product, Winslow started 19 of 21 games played. The fourth-year junior outside back scored the first four goals of his college days, fifth on the team and two of them of the game-winning variety, and added one assist for nine total points. Winslow paced all Broncos with 1,750 minutes of action on the pitch.

Cal Poly Pomona just wrapped up another successful campaign this past Friday afternoon, Dec. 1, in Wichita Falls, Texas, as the sixth-ranked Broncos were narrowly edged by No. 4 Cal State LA in the third round of the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championship. CPP was the CCAA regular-season and tournament runner-up, both behind the Golden Eagles, finishing at 14-2-5 overall and 8-1-2 in league play. The Broncos led the conference offensively with 50 goals in their 21 games.

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