Posted By Press Democrat Staff Writer Michael Coit:

A pair of Empire soccer standouts are Dominican University’s athletes of the year.

Pedro Guevara, from Montgomery high, and Julianna Bratsberg, out of Maria Carrillo, were selected male and female athlete of the year, respectively, for the NCAA Division II-school in San Rafael.

The honors are the latest for the seniors who helped lead Dominican into the NCAA small school ranks. The Penguins had competed in the NAIA.

Guevara was an All-West Region First Team selection. He led Dominican in goals all four seasons with the Penguins and was a great playmaker after missing a season due to knee and wrist injuries.

Also overcoming injury was Bratsberg. After missing her sophomore season to a hip injury, Bratsberg capped her career with an All-West Region Second Team honor. She helped lead the Dominican women to the program’s first winning season as a senior.