JACKSON, Miss. - Justin Ramirez has been named the 2026 CCS Goalkeeper of the Year, extending a Belhaven run that began before he first arrived on campus. A Blazer has won the award in each of the last four seasons: Max Rudolph in 2023, Danny Bahena in 2024 and 2025, and now Ramirez.

Ramirez spent his freshman season behind Bahena, appearing once and playing 45 minutes against Tougaloo. This fall, the sophomore from Gray, La., moved into the starting role. He made 15 starts and played more than 1,329 minutes in goal, recording 51 saves and three solo shutouts while sharing a fourth.

Belhaven's season began with a tie and four losses. The Blazers responded with six consecutive wins, and Ramirez supplied several of the stops that kept the streak going.

At Rhodes on Sept. 23, he made five saves in a 2-1 comeback victory. His last came with 1:19 remaining, protecting Belhaven's first win over the Lynx since 2014. He followed with five saves against LaGrange as the Blazers opened conference play with a 2-0 shutout.

Three days later, the Riverside Derby gave Ramirez his defining moment of the regular season. Diego Sarzalejo's first half bicycle kick had Belhaven ahead of Millsaps 1-0, but the Majors pressed throughout the second half.

With just over eight minutes left, Ramirez turned away an Ellis Dykes penalty kick. He finished with five saves, and the Blazers held on for their sixth straight win, matching their longest winning streak since the 2024 CCS championship run.

Ramirez was called on again when Belhaven hosted Piedmont on Oct. 17. Freshman Luke Finley scored twice in the opening 63 seconds, but the Lions continued to create chances. Ramirez made a season-high eight saves in the 2-1 win; Piedmont's only goal came from the penalty spot in the 78th minute. His nine saves across wins over MUW and Piedmont earned him the first CCS Defensive Player of the Week award of his career.

He closed the regular season with four saves in a scoreless draw at Huntingdon. Across five CCS matches, Ramirez made 23 saves, posted a .793 save percentage and recorded two shutouts. His overall totals included a .708 save percentage and a 1.42 goals against average.

A three-time all-state selection at Vandebilt Catholic High School, Ramirez entered 2026 with little college match experience. He takes his place in Belhaven's four year line of CCS Goalkeepers of the Year after a season spent making that starting role his own.

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