Bee’s Best: Meet The Sacramento Bee’s girls’ soccer All-Metro team and MVP

Erica Grilione’s season at West Park High School started on the bench.

The junior soccer player missed the first half of the soccer season not because of her skill level or an injury. She had to sit out because of the CIF transfer policy. Grilione transferred from Woodcreek to the west Roseville school last summer.

When she returned to the field, she was unstoppable. The Sacramento Bee’s girls’ soccer player of the year scored 32 goals in only 10 games. She scored eight goals against Rio Linda and six goals in two other games.

“I was definitely excited and honored,” Grilione said on the player of the year award. “This was my first year playing at West Park and I only got to play half the season because I transferred. I was super excited to play at West Park and experience the new school and play with new girls this season.”

She added, “One of my closest friends, Madison Hamm, who plays on my Davis (Legacy club team) was a part of the reason (I transferred). She convinced me to come to West Park and it was also where my sister was going to be starting high school and it is close to home. It was a great experience from the beginning. There are a lot of people I have known since I was little here and I would say it was a smooth transition. Definitely happy to be here and happy with the choice. … It was not as fun to be on the sidelines, but it was good to watch the games and cheer them on.”

Grilione started playing soccer when she was 4 years old. It started off as a way to connect with friends and soon became her passion. She verbally committed to one of the top soccer programs in the country in Stanford last year. Grilione carries a 4.1 GPA.

“It had been my number one dream school since I started watching college soccer and playing,” Grilione said. “I went to a camp three or four years back and I really liked the coaches and it seemed like a good atmosphere. I wanted to stay in California, so it was an ideal location for me that was not too far from home, but also not right here.”

She added, “(My) future goals are playing on the (USA) national team and in the NWSL. I would love to be able to represent our country. I have gone to a few (team USA) youth camps, but it’s only a small step toward (being) on the full national team.”

Grilione’s prep career isn’t over yet. She will return along with all of her West Park teammates. The school opened last school year with only freshmen and sophomores. This upcoming school year will be the first with all four classes.

It’s the reason she thinks her team can advance even further in the playoffs next season. West Park lost in the section semifinals to Kimball this season.

“I think next year will be even better than this year,” Grilione said. “The team was definitely excited to make it as far as we did. That energy can carry on to next year. With it being a new school, we will continue to grow once I’m gone. There are a lot of kids coming here and I think (West Park) will eventually be an athletic powerhouse in the area.”

Coach of the Year: Ana Jones, Whitney

The Sacramento Bee’s coach of the year is Ana Jones from Whitney High School. Jones helped lead the Wildcats to a Sac-Joaquin Section Division ll championship this season against top-seeded Granite Bay.

It marked the team’s third section championship in school history and second since 2019. Despite going 3-5-2 in league play, the Wildcats found a way to turn around their season.

Whitney lost in the opening round of the Northern California regional tournament to Buchanan and ended the season with a 17-7-2 record.

The Bee’s girls’ soccer All-Metro team

Player of the Year: Erica Grilione, West Park, Jr.

Gali Bolivar, Pioneer, Sr.; Alexia Chavez, River City, Sr.; Reese Clarke, Whitney, Sr.; Jaycee DeFazio, St Francis, Sr.; Kaia Diederichs, Colfax, Fr.; Grace Goins, Oak Ridge, Sr.; Sarah Granno, Woodcreek, Jr.; Devin Greer, Christian Brothers, So.; Madison Hamm, West Park, Jr.; Klaire Horton, Vista del Lago, Sr.; Lauren Hunter, Whitney, So.; Tiana Johnson, Monterey Trail, Sr.; Alex Klos, Vista del Lago, Sr.; Emily Lieber, Oak Ridge, Sr.; Susie Long, McClatchy, Jr.; Gabby Marsh, Oak Ridge, Sr.; Mia McSweeney, Woodcreek, Jr.; Iman Mustafa, Oak Ridge, Sr.; Lucy Newlin, Granite Bay, Sr.; Drew Novaes, River City, Jr.; Lauren Rose, Roseville, Sr.; Alyssa Savig, Granite Bay, Jr.; Savannah Schwarze, Granite Bay, Sr.; Angela Shannon, Whitney, Sr.; Molly Silva, McClatchy, Jr.; Isabell Stryker, Del Oro, Sr.; Capriana Viano-Nitschke, Elk Grove, Sr.

This story was originally published April 10, 2022 at 5:00 AM.