INLAND FIELDHOUSE

I’m covering the San Jacinto-Temecula Great Oak girls varsity soccer match today for The Press-Enterprise. The best part of this assignment is sure to be … the rain. It’s been pouring buckets here in SoCal since Friday, and more of the wet stuff is expected.

The Tigers (9-1-0) play the Wolfpack (2-0-2) in the Great Oak Winter Classic pool play opener for both teams. First whistle is set for 12:30 p.m.

THE LOWDOWN:
The Tigers are off to a blistering start, winning the Riverside Christian HS Tournament last weekend, and have won six consecutive heading into Great Oak’s Winter Classic. A CIF-Southern Section Division V quarterfinalist last season, coach Walter Guzman’s team has scored 42 goals and allowed just four thus far.

The Wolfpack, a playoff team a season ago, remain unbeaten heading into their tournament. Coach Alicia Brennan’s team began its season with consecutive victories over Menifee Paloma Valley and Riverside King, but played to draws with San Diego Torrey Pines and Coronado at the San Diego Cathedral Catholic HS Butch Lee Memorial tournament.

STARTING XIs:
SAN JACINTO — F: Karisa Kiser, Leola Cooper; MF: Elly Leyva, Marlene Wilkerson, Leslie Mondragon, Jenavee Arreola; D: Shae Shoemaker, Viviana Preciado, Kayla Swalm, Bibiana Mondragon; GK: Carla Llamas.

GREAT OAK — F: Gabby Forss, Steph Malherbe; MF: Demi Tsambasis, Andrea Reider, NA, NA; D: NA, NA, NA, NA; GK: Michelle Craft.

THE DIFFERENCE:
Great Oak’s Tsambasis should be able to find open space, enough to connect with Malherbe and make things difficult for San Jacinto’s back line. On a wet and possibly muddy pitch, though, all bets are off.