Members of the Columbus/Winfield-Mount Union soccer team pose with their 2016 State Qualifying banner after capturing the Class 1A Subdistrict 6 championship versus Albia on May 28. Photo by KCII’s Sally Hart.

Fresh off their second ever trip to the Class 1A soccer tournament, the Columbus/Winfield-Mount Union Wildcats (17-2) earned several postseason accolades from their conference coaches. The 2016 Southeast Iowa Super Conference Soccer team was released by the league Tuesday and included three Wildcats as first-team all-conference performers, one as a second team player, and a pair of honorable mention selections. Also, Columbus/Winfield-Mount Union head coach Luis Cacho was named as the conference’s Coach of the Year.

Junior Eric Canterero highlights Columbus’ first team all-conference selections. Canterero had a breakout season as the Wildcats’ striker, recording a school-best 30 goals, the most goals scored in Class 1A soccer this season. His 17 assists are the most in the Southeast Iowa Super Conference, and the third most in Class 1A. Columbus senior Adrian Santos has been named to the first-team all-conference squad. The Columbus defender scored six goals and assisted on three others. Junior Ruben Paz rounds out Wildcat players on the first team all-conference crew. Paz drove nine goals into the back of the net, and assisted on three others. Santos and Paz anchored a defensive unit which allowed only four regulation goals all season.

Columbus senior Diego Sanchez represents the Wildcats on the conference’s second team squad. Sanchez was second in the Southeast Iowa Super Conference in goals scored (14) and assists (11). Junior Daniel Fuentes and sophomore Brayan Solis were named honorable mention all-conference players.

The Columbus/Winfield-Mount Union Wildcats finished the season with a record of 17-2 overall, advancing to the quarterfinal round of the Class 1A state soccer tournament.