Inland Area Prep Soccer Top 10
1. Riverside Poly (0-0-0) — Coach Alex Figueroa has led the Bears to four consecutive playoff appearances, culminating in a spot in a CIF-Southern Section semifinal match last year. His task this year is to replace a senior defense that allowed just 22 goals in 29 matches in 2009-’10. He’ll need to first start at goalkeeper because both of Poly’s varsity keepers graduated.
LAST SEASON: 12-1-1, 1st in Big VIII League; 21-5-3 overall, lost at Bell Gardens, 1-0, in 2009-’10 CIF-Southern Section semifinal.
THIS WEEK: vs. Claremont WEDNESDAY; vs. Moreno Valley Valley View FRIDAY.
2. Murrieta Valley (0-1-0) — Led by senior central defenders Kyle Genevay and Kyle Haecker, the strength of Nighthawks strength will be their senior-heavy defense. Chris Sanders, who led Murrieta Valley with 16 goals as a junior, will play up front with support from senior MFs Dale Howard and Ernie Solis.
LAST SEASON: 6-3-1, 2nd in Southwestern League; 10-9-5 overall, lost at Redlands, 3-1, in CIF-SS first-round.
LAST WEEK: lost at Lake Elsinore Lakeside, 4-3, on 11/29.
THIS WEEK: THURSDAY-SATURDAY at Hesperia Oak Hills Tournament.
3. Moreno Valley Valley View (1-0-0) — The Eagles boast an Inland Area-leading 12 seniors on a team that advanced to a CIF-Southern Section quarterfinal last season. And it was junior F Miguel Hernandez who scored in the closing moments of a 1-0 victory over Rubidoux on Monday. Coach John Kush’s team is as talented as it is deep.
LAST SEASON: 11-1-2, 1st in Inland Valley League; 14-5-4 overall, lost to Goleta Dos Pueblos, 4-1, in CIF-SS quarterfinal.
LAST WEEK: defeated No. 9 Rubidoux, 2-1, on 11/29.
THIS WEEK: at Claremont THURSDAY; FRIDAY at No. 1 Riverside Poly FRIDAY.
4. Riverside Arlington (0-0-0) — The Lions are now coached by Kevin Watson, who becomes Arlington’s fourth steward in four seasons. Led by first-team all-Inland Valley League GK Ivan Hernandez, Arlington reached the CIF-SS quarterfinals last year. How far can Hernandez’s agile play carry his newest coach?
LAST SEASON: 9-1-3, 2nd in Inland Valley League; 13-9-3 overall, lost at Anaheim Katella, 3-0, in CIF-SS quarterfinal.
THIS WEEK: at La Verne Damien THURSDAY.
5. Corona (1-0-0) — Coach Mike Sutherland returns after not manning the touchline last season. Can the Panthers immediately recapture top table in the Big VIII League? Sutherland led Corona to an 11-1-1 tally against the other seven in 2008-’09.
LAST SEASON: 9-4-1, 3rd in Big VIII League; 14-5-3 overall, lost at Goleta Dos Pueblos, 2-1, in CIF-SS semifinal.
LAST WEEK: defeated Temecula Valley, 1-0, on 11/29.
THIS WEEK: at Placentia El Dorado FRIDAY.
6. Temecula Chaparral (0-0-0) — It will be difficult for any coach to replace so many first-team all-league players, but can first-year man Mark Paterson produce results like former coach Tony Rossi? How the Pumas begin 2010-’11 at the Rancho Cucamonga Tournament will be an early indicator.
LAST SEASON: 7-1-2, 1st in Southwestern League; 22-3-3 overall, lost at Anaheim Savanna in CIF-SS quarterfinal.
THIS WEEK: vs. Colton WEDNESDAY; at Ontario FRIDAY.
7. Riverside King (0-0-0) — Senior GK Bradley Doman is the on-field leader of the Wolves, who qualified out of the Big VIII League for the first time last season. Coach Todd Mapes provides steady leadership. His skills will be tested by the graduation of all-league F Kevin Schulte. Senior MF Edgar Salguedo and senior F Ryan Bayarsky will need to provide quality attacking options.
LAST SEASON: 8-6-1, 4th in Big VIII League; 13-11-1 overall, lost to Littlerock, 5-3, in CIF-SS first-round.
THIS WEEK: vs. Perris Citrus Hill WEDNESDAY; vs. La Verne Bonita THURSDAY.
8. Riverside La Sierra (0-0-0) — Coach Dave Eckonrod has the Eagles getting progressively better each of the last four seasons, and last season reached a CIF-Southern Section quarterfinal for the first time. Goal-scoring F Kevin Neal (10 goals in ’09-’10) returns for his senior season, as does MF Mark Arnold (seven assists last year).
LAST SEASON: 6-3-5, 3rd in Inland Valley League; 14-5-6 overall, lost to Santa Ana Saddleback, 3-1, in CIF-SS quarterfinal.
THIS WEEK: vs. Riverside Patriot THURSDAY; vs. No. 9 Rubidoux SATURDAY; vs. Perris SATURDAY.
9. Rubidoux (0-0-1) — The Falcons, who went unbeaten in the Mountain Pass League last season, lost their season-opener Monday to No. 3 Valley View. If not for the last-minute goal by Valley View, junior GK Eric Rocha would have posted a shutout in his debut.
LAST SEASON: 10-0-4, 1st in Mountain Pass League; 13-3-5 overall, lost at Apple Valley Granite Hills, 2-1, in a CIF-SS quarterfinal.
LAST WEEK: lost to Moreno Valley Valley View, 1-0, on 11/29.
THIS WEEK: vs. Perris THURSDAY; vs. No. 8 Riverside La Sierra SATURDAY; vs. Riverside Patriot SATURDAY.
10. Hesperia (0-0-0) — The Scorpions were the best team in the High Desert last season, with long-time coach Gene Estrada leading his team to an unbeaten Mojave River League record and a CIF-Southern Section semifinal.
LAST SEASON: 10-0-2, 1st in Mojave River League; 22-2-5 overall, lost to Corona Santiago, 2-0, in CIF-SS semifinal.
LAST WEEK: at San Bernardino Arroyo Valley on 11/30.
THIS WEEK: next match vs. Moreno Valley Vista del Lago on 12/7.
JUST MISSED: Lake Elsinore Lakeside (1-0-0), Corona Santiago (0-0-0), Menifee Heritage (1-0-0), Pomona Garey (0-0-0).
INLAND FIELDHOUSE 