Inland Area Prep Soccer Top 10
1. Riverside Poly (1-1-2) — The Bears’ offense woke up on Saturday, scoring six goals in two Rancho Cucamonga Tournament matches. Coach Alex Figueroa’s squad must have improved its passing; Poly had just five scoring opportunities in the second half of their draw with Valley View on Friday.
LAST WEEK: (No. 1); lost to Claremont, 2-0, on 12/1; tied Moreno Valley Valley View, 1-1, on 12/3; defeated Rancho Cucamonga, 3-1, on 12/4; tied Glendora, 3-3, on 12/4.
THIS WEEK: at Riverside Patriot THURSDAY.
2. Murrieta Valley (2-2-1) — The Nighthawks started strong at the Hesperia Oak Hills Tournament but fell in the championship game Saturday to Rialto Carter. Senior MF Dale Howard, and not senior F Chris Sanders, leads the team with three goals thus far.
LAST WEEK: (No. 2); defeated San Bernardino, 3-0, on 12/2; defeated Victorville Silverado, 1-0, on 12/3; tied Cathedral City, 2-2, on 12/4; lost to Rialto Carter, 3-1, on 12/4.
THIS WEEK: at Corona Santiago TODAY; vs. Desert Hot Springs FRIDAY.
3. Moreno Valley Valley View (2-1-3) — The Eagles will have played seven matches in seven days after today’s contest at Temecula Valley. Coach John Kush’s team had to be shut out for its only loss of the season, a 1-0 defeat Saturday to Colton bounced Valley View from the Rancho Cucamonga tournament.
LAST WEEK: tied Claremont, 2-2, on 12/2; tied No. 1 Riverside Poly, 1-1, on 12/3; tied Bloomington, 2-2, on 12/4; lost to Colton, 1-0, on 12/4; defeated Hemet West Valley, 4-1 on 12/7.
THIS WEEK: at Temecula Valley TODAY; vs. Vista Murrieta FRIDAY.
4. Corona (3-0-0) — Coach Mike Sutherland has returned with an unblemished start as the Panthers have yet to allow a goal this season. Can Sutherland and Panthers really recapture top table in the Big VIII League? We’ll soon see. Their next match is at home against No. 1 Riverside Poly on 12/16.
LAST WEEK: (No. 5); defeated Placentia El Dorado, 3-0, on 12/3.
NEXT MATCH: vs. Riverside Poly on 12/16.
5. Riverside Arlington (0-0-0) — The Lions are now coached by Kevin Watson, who becomes Arlington’s fourth steward in four seasons. Arlington is not playing in any tournaments this season and just two non-league games, both of which are this week. How will such little game action effect this team in league play?
LAST WEEK: (No. 4); No matches.
THIS WEEK: at Rubidoux THURSDAY; vs. Perris FRIDAY.
6. Riverside King (1-2-2) — The Wolves had a quality showing at the Rancho Cucamonga Tournament, but have now lost two consecutive following a lopsided loss to Great Oak on Tuesday. It’ll be the battle for Wood Road Friday, when Citrus Hill travels exactly 1.8 miles north for the match.
LAST WEEK: (No. 7); tied La Verne Bonita, 1-1, on 12/2; tied Upland, 1-1, on 12/3; defeated Fontana Summit, 3-0, on 12/4; lost to Temecula Valley, 2-1, on 12/4; lost to Temecula Great Oak, 4-1, on 12/7.
THIS WEEK: vs. Perris Citrus Hill FRIDAY.
7. Temecula Chaparral (0-2-1) — The Pumas struggled at the Rancho Cucamonga Tournament, losing twice Saturday by a 7-3 combined score. New coach Mark Paterson’s team takes off this week for finals before resuming play next week.
LAST WEEK: (No. 6); tied Colton, 1-1, on 12/1; lost to Ontario, 4-2, on 12/2; lost to Glendora, 3-1, on 12/4.
NEXT MATCH: at Lake Elsinore Lakeside on 12/14.
8. Riverside La Sierra (3-1-1) — Coach Dave Eckonrod led the Eagles to the championship of the Norte Vista Tournament, but La Sierra was defeated Tuesday in their first match against a Big VIII League team this season — and it wasn’t to Poly, Corona or Santiago.
LAST WEEK: (No. 8); tied Riverside Patriot, 1-1, on 12/2; defeated Rubidoux, 2-1, on 12/4; defeated Perris, 4-0, on 12/4; defeated Perris Citrus Hill, 2-1, on 12/6; lost to Corona Centennial, 2-1, on 12/7.
NEXT MATCH: at Moreno Valley Vista del Lago on 12/15.
9. Claremont (3-0-2) — The Wolfpack opened the season with a win over Inland Area No. 1 Riverside Poly, and followed it up the next day with a draw with No. 3 Moreno Valley Valley View. They’ve managed a 1-0-2 record since, but it was the start for coach Fred Bruce-Oliver’s team that raised eyebrows.
LAST WEEK: (NR); defeated No. 1 Riverside Poly, 2-0, on 12/1; tied No. 3 Moreno Valley Valley View, 2-2, on 12/2; defeated Vista Murrieta, 2-0, on 12/4; tied Montclair, 1-1, on 12/4; defeated Upland, 3-0, on 12/6.
THIS WEEK: vs. Diamond Bar THURSDAY.
10. Indio (3-0-1) — The Rajahs ran roughshod through the Hemet Tournament, outscoring opponents 5-1 in route to the championship. Coach Alberta Moscoso has led his team to the playoffs three of the last four seasons.
LAST WEEK: (NR); defeated Redlands Arrowhead Christian, 1-0, on 12/2; defeated San Bernardino Cajon, 1-0, on 12/3; defeated Hemet Tahquitz, 3-1, on 12/4; tied Desert Hot Springs, 2-2, on 12/6.
THIS WEEK: at Fontana Kaiser TODAY; at Thermal Desert Mirage FRIDAY.
DROPPED OUT: No. 9 Rubidoux (1-3-1), No. 10 Hesperia (1-1-2).
JUST MISSED: Temecula Great Oak (3-1-1); Lake Elsinore Lakeside (1-0-0), Corona Santiago (0-0-0), Pomona Garey (1-0-0).
INLAND FIELDHOUSE 