There’s a new California high school soccer scoring king: He’s Mendota’s Daniel Trejo

So much for Mendota High’s Daniel Trejo needing a couple of playoff games to track down the California Interscholastic Federation career goals record in boys soccer.

Trejo exploded for a season-high seven during the top-seeded Aztecs’ 7-0 Central Section Division VI quarterfinal victory Friday over No. 8 Minarets to push his four-year career total to a state-record 193.

Trejo, who averages 2.1 goals per game, entered needing six to tie the mark of 192 set by Diamond Bar’s Craig Turley from 1984-87.

“It’s an unexplainable feeling; I’m really happy,” Trejo said. “I had a plan. This was one of the games where I knew I would have the chance to score. I got together with my team and let them know we had to make history tonight, and we did. I’m glad.”

He had a hat trick at halftime.

The record-tying goal came on a left-footed shot into the right corner after navigating through a group of defenders 8 yards out. The record-breaker came on a right-footed shot to the near post from 18 yards out on a breakaway. Trejo exited the game with roughly 20 minutes left.

“I fake him right a little. He went left and gave me his right side,” said Trejo, who sprinted over to hug Mendota coach Juan Magana after the record-breaker. “I saw a wide open spot, and I kicked it there. It was a great feeling. That’s my favorite way of scoring.”

The seven goals also pushed Trejo past older brother Javier Trejo as the section’s single-season goals leader with 58. Javier scored 56 for Mendota in 2009-10.

Daniel Trejo became the section’s career goals leader last season, when he soared by the 122 that Porterville’s Rudy Rodriguez scored from 1982-84, according to historian Bob Barnett.

Trejo – who scored 47 goals as a freshman, 39 as a sophomore and 49 as a junior – will have the chance to add to his total when Mendota hosts No. 5 Firebaugh at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the semifinals. The Aztecs are the defending section D-VI champions and reached the semifinals of the CIF Southern California Regional in D-V last season.

“I wanted to get (the record) out of the way,” Trejo said. “I didn’t want to feel pressure. I just want to win the rest of the games. We have high expectations this season. Hopefully, we can make an impact in state again.”

The Mendota-Minarets game was one of 10 quarterfinals not affected by Friday’s rain. There were 14 others – including all four in D-I – postponed until next week because of wet fields.

This story was originally published February 17, 2017 at 8:14 PM with the headline "There’s a new California high school soccer scoring king: He’s Mendota’s Daniel Trejo."