INLAND FIELDHOUSE

I’m covering the Moreno Valley Valley View-Riverside Poly boys varsity soccer match today for The Press-Enterprise. The best part of this assignment is sure to be seeing two of the Inland Area’s top soccer programs in an early-season tournament match.

The Eagles (1-0-1) play the Bears (0-1-0) at Poly HS as part of pool play in the Rancho Cucamonga Tournament. First whistle is 3:15 p.m.

THE LOWDOWN:
Junior forward Miguel Hernandez has scored twice in two matches for Valley View, including the match-winner 1-0 win over Inland Area No. 9 Rubidoux on 11/29. He’s clearly the focus of the Eagles’ attack thus far. I’ll be charting every pass he plays.

The Bears failed to get on the scoresheet in a 2-0 season-opening loss to Claremont on 12/1. Linking passes between midfielders is essential for this team. Talented juniors Ed Garcia and Dario Amici must make take pressure off of the defense with quality attacks the breed results.

PROJECTED STARTING XIs
VALLEY VIEW — GK: Victor Silva. D: Christian Sandoval, Francisco Milian, Jake Gonzales, Victor Sandoval. MF: Danny Hernandez, Mason Anderson, Daniel Roman, Francisco Sanchez. F: Miguel Hernandez, Daniel Turkson.

POLY — GK: n/a. D: Levit Sanchez, Horacio Morales, Jeff Tovar, Juan Martinez. MF: Ed Garcia, Yordy Garcia, Julio Mendez, n/a, n/a. F: Dario Amici.

THE DIFFERENCE:
Unless Poly has a goalkeeper up to the challenge, Valley View’s Hernandez will likely make a play that contributes to the outcome of this match. It’ll be interesting to see how he attacks Poly’s back line, and whether or not the Bears can put together a game plan to limit his possessions.