INLAND FIELDHOUSE

The current storm has effected Riverside Poly’s Tom Tilson Holiday Classic boys soccer tournament.

According to The Press-Enterprise, tournament officials cancelled Monday’s matches and have tentatively rescheduled the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds for today at Riverside Unified School District Stadium on the campus of Riverside King HS.

Presumably, the natural-grass playing surfaces at Poly are flooded and King’s artificial turf is the next best option for resuming play sooner rather than later.

The tournament is down to its final eight teams, five of which are ranked in the latest Inland Area Prep Soccer Top 10.

TUESDAY’S SCHEDULE:
8 a.m. — No. 3 Riverside Poly vs. San Bernardino Cajon
9:30 a.m. — No. 2 Murrieta Valley vs. Rialto Carter
11 a.m. — La Quinta vs. No. 6 Riverside King
12:30 p.m. — No. 8 La Sierra vs. No. 7 Temecula Chaparral

Winners of the two early matches play in a semifinal at 2 p.m.; winners of the late matches play in a semifinal at 3:30 p.m.; winners of the semifinals are tentatively scheduled to play the final at 10 a.m. Wednesday, against at King HS.

The Wolves, coached by Todd Mapes, immediately becomes the favorite to now win the tournament. He should not need to remind his team of how close they came last season, when King lost, 1-0, to Chaparral in the final. A victory over La Quinta in a quarterfinal today may mean a rematch with Chaparral a few hours later in a semifinal.

The possibility of a semifinal between No. 3 Poly and No. 2 Murrieta Valley also draws intrigue. Can Poly play up to the competition? Is Murrieta Valley ready to stake its claim as the Inland Area’s best?

It’s all going down today, beginning at 8 a.m.