Once perennials in the Central Coast Section boys’ soccer playoffs, the Gators had missed the postseason cut in two of the past three years.

“Last year was pretty underwhelming,” SHP junior Liam Johnson said. “We were expecting a lot more and it was, I think, one of four times our school hasn’t made CCS. So … so I knew going into this year we had potential but we were kind of uncertain what was going to come from this season.”

Uncertainty then turned to history. SHP started scoring goals in droves. After opening the year with two non-league games in Monterey County, combining to outscore Santa Cruz and Carmel 9-3, the Gators tore through their regular-season slate to the tune of a 17-0-2 undefeated record, outscoring opponents 66-8.

Despite falling short of adding to the program’s CCS championship total — SHP has captured eight section crowns all-time — the Gators added win No. 18 in the CCS Division I playoff opener against South San Francisco, settting a program record for victories.

“They really put the fear factor back in the Sacred Heart soccer program,” SHP co-head coach Armando Del Rio said. “This team made us important again, where all of our alums felt really proud that this team was arguably one of the strongest teams we’ve had.”

Johnson — the Daily Journal Boys’ Soccer Player of the Year — was the team’s driving force. SHP went on to total 68 goals on the year. Johnson directly contributed to 30 of them, scoring 18 goals and adding 12 assists. That doesn’t account for what Del Rio calls “hockey assists,” where Johnson, playing in the central midfield, frequently set scoring plays in motion.

It was when Johnson was finishing, though, that the Gators were at their best. The third-year varsity junior brings a new-school showmanship to the pitch with his outpourings of emotion. It can be a lot of emotion, so much that Johnson — if there is one knock against him — can be his own worst enemy at times.

None of those times came when he was on the attack, though, as Johnson’s offensive style has become synonymous with razor focus and dramatic finishes.

“His goals weren’t just tapped in goals,” Del Rio said. “They were like world class strikes.”

And he seized plenty of chances to shine.

None were more important to SHP’s regular-season ride than a Dec. 12 victory 2-1 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. In recent years, the Fightin’ Irish have developed into a CCS powerhouse, winning four section championships in five years, including this season with a Division III title.

As good as the Gators earning the victory was the way they did it. When Johnson was a freshman, Cathedral had dismantled SHP in a 3-1 win.

So, this year, when the Irish jumped ahead on an early first-half goal, Johnson wondered if it was déjà vu all over again.

The score remained 1-0 heading into the second half. But the Gators fired back, and quickly, with a Max Sloat equalizer. That set the stage for Johnson’s late dramatics, taking a rebound off a free kick and flicking a left-footed second effort into the right corner for the game-winning score.

“I was just swamped with emotion and it was honestly just one of the best moments I’ve had,” Johnson said, adding it was the most pivotal victory of the Gators’ season. “That gave us the momentum to set up an undefeated season in league.”

A little momentum goes a long way for a nucleus of players such as the Gators midfield.

Johnson is a natural defender but moved to midfield midway through his sophomore year. This season was his first playing there from start to finish. He is one of three team captains, along with Tommy Hogan and Kevin Box.

The three have something else in common, as they all play club soccer together with the NorCal Premier League Alpine Strikers Jaguars.

“Our midfield consisted of strictly players on our (Jaguars) team,” Johnson said.

“Chemistrywise, in the midfield, I think that was the reason we had such a successful season because the midfield is really the core part of the formation. So, all of us playing on the same team and knowing each other’s style of play really contributed to our success.”

SHP’s only loss would come in the postseason, a disappointing 2-1 upset in the CCS Division I quarterfinals at the hands of Monterey.

The Gators, who last won a CCS title in 2013, are keen on continuing their success into 2020 though. SHP only loses three seniors to graduation and, in terms of star power, has Johnson returning to take one more shot at the big prize.

“When we lost that game, the first thing my coach told me is we’ll be right back here next year,” Johnson said. “So that was a reassuring note.”

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