INLAND FIELDHOUSE

With the 21st annual Tom Tilson Holiday Classic starting this Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010, FOMB takes a look at the Four & More best pool play matches Riverside Poly’s boys soccer tournament.

1. Riverside King (2-2-3) vs. Yucaipa (3-1-0), 3 p.m. on Field Two — The Wolves, ranked sixth in this week’s Inland Area Prep Soccer Top 10, opened Big VIII League play with a victory Thursday over Corona Centennial. The Thunderbirds, winners of three consecutive, are led by senior forward Giovanny Romero (4 goals). In a match pitting King’s stout defense against Yucaipa’s goal-a-match man, FOMB takes goalkeeper Bradley Doman and the Wolves.

2. Riverside Arlington (1-2-1) vs. Rialto Carter (4-1-1), 1:45 p.m. on Field Four — The Lions, ranked fifth in this week’s Top 10, have lost two consecutive Inland Valley League matches and are well on their way to a very trying season. The other Lions, winners one preseason tournament (Hesperia Oak Hills), may be the best team in San Bernardino County this season. An all-Lion matchup? Rawr.  

3. Norte Vista (3-2-3) vs. Murrieta Valley (5-2-1), 1:45 p.m. on Field Three — The Braves are coming off a victory over Inland Area No. 3 Riverside Poly, just the latest in a string of quality results for coach Matthew Bevileau’s team. The Nighthawks, ranked second in this week’s Top 10, have won three consecutive since losing to Carter in the championship match of the Oak Hills Tournament.

4. Riverside La Sierra (3-1-2) vs. Thermal Desert Mirage (1-4-1), 9 a.m. on Field Three — The Eagles, ranked eighth in this week’s Top 10, have allowed more than one goal just once this season (a 2-1 loss to Corona Centennial on 12/7). The Rams, ranked 10th by CIF in the latest Southern Section Division 6 poll, were a playoff team a year ago and is considered the best team in the low desert despite their record.

AND MORE: Temecula Chaparral vs. Redlands, 3 p.m. on Field Four — This would have been the Inland Area’s Match of the Year had it been played at any point last season. Chaparral’s senior vs. Miles Byass and Redlands? It would have been a corker. Alas, Area soccer fans finally have the matchup, albeit a season late.