Inland Area Prep Soccer Top 10
1. Moreno Valley Valley View (10-3-3) – The Eagles have come back to Earth a little bit over the last two weeks, dropping two consecutive for the first time this season. Coach John Kush expected a slump earlier in the season, and admitted as much after Valley View to La Sierra on 1/19.
LAST RANKED: (No. 1). LAST WEEK: lost to Riverside La Sierra, 2-1, on 1/19; d. Moreno Valley, 2-1, on 1/21.
THIS WEEK: at No. 6 Riverside Arlington TODAY; vs. Moreno Valley Vista del Lago FRIDAY.
2. Riverside King (11-3-5) – The Wolves have been unbeaten since losing at Inland Area No. 5 Corona on 1/6. Senior MF Garrett Lomanto (6-foot-1, 170 pounds) has tallied in each of King’s last two games, and leads the team with eight goals.
LAST RANKED: (No. 2). LAST MATCH: d. Riverside North, 2-0, on 1/20; tied Corona Centennial, 2-2, on 1/25.
THIS WEEK: at No. 8 Corona Santiago THURSDAY; vs. No. 5 Corona TUESDAY.
3. Murrieta Valley (14-4-1) – The Nighthawks have have won two consecutive since losing at No. 9 Temecula Great Oak on 1/14. Senior F Chris Sanders (6-2, 175) scored three times as MurVly overwhelmed cross-town rival Vista Murrieta on 1/21. He leads the Southwestern League with 13 goals thus far.
LAST RANKED: (No. 3); LAST WEEK: d. Murrieta Valley, 2-0, on 1/19; d. Vista Murrieta, 4-0, on 1/21.
THIS WEEK: vs. Temecula Chaparral TODAY; at Temecula Valley FRIDAY.
4. Claremont (12-0-4) – The Wolfpack could very well be the best team on this list. They haven’t lost once in 16 matches this season, and won both the Rancho Cucamonga HS and the Upland HS tournaments. Coach Fred Bruce-Oliver’s team also owns a 1-0-1 record against teams in the Inland Area Top 10. If the Top 3 falter any further, expect the ‘Pack to make a jump.
LAST RANKED: (No. 4). LAST MATCH: d. Chino Hills Ayala, 3-1, on 1/19; d. West Covina South Hills, 2-1, on 1/21.
NEXT MATCH: vs. La Verne Damien TODAY; vs. Chino Hills FRIDAY.
5. Corona (7-1-6) — The Panthers have been inconsistent at best, losing 5-1 to Corona Centennial at home on 1/13 before bouncing to beat No. 10 Riverside Poly, 2-1, four days later. Results of their match with Norco on 1/20 have not yet been reported.
LAST RANKED: (No. 5). LAST WEEK: vs. Norco on 1/20; tied No. 10 Riverside Poly, 0-0, on 1/25.
NEXT MATCH: vs. Riverside North THURSDAY.
6. Riverside Arlington (9-2-4) – The Lions are unbeaten since losing to No. 1 Valley View, 2-0, on 12/13. That’s a string of 11 matches. Will it come to an end when coach Kevin Watson’s side hosts the Eagles today?
LAST RANKED: (No. 6). LAST MATCH: d. Riverside Ramona, 5-2, on 1/19; tied Moreno Valley Canyon Springs, 3-3, on 1/21.
THIS WEEK: vs. No. 1 Moreno Valley Valley View TODAY; at Moreno Valley FRIDAY.
7. Corona Santiago (9-2-2) – The Sharks recorded back-to-back 3-0 victories last week and are unbeaten in the Big VIII League this season. They’re a victory over King or Corona away from breaking into the Top 5.
LAST WEEK: (No. 8). LAST WEEK: d. No. 10 Riverside Poly, 3-0, on 1/20; d. Eastvale Roosevelt, 3-0, on 1/25.
THIS WEEK: at No. 2 Riverside King THURSDAY.
8. Lake Elsinore Lakeside (12-0-4) — The Lancers are sort of “The Little Team That Could.” Coach Colin Gilliland’s side wins on the road (5-0-1), against Top 10 teams (2-0-1), and is running away with the Sunbelt League (4-0-1).
LAST RANKED: (No. 9). LAST WEEK: d. Paloma Valley, 2-1, on 1/20; d. Lake Elsinore Temescal Canyon, 5-1, on 1/25.
THIS WEEK: at Perris THURSDAY; vs. Elsinore THURSDAY.
9. Temecula Great Oak (9-4-2) – The Wolfpack have had moments of brilliance (a 2-1 victory over No. 3 Murrieta Valley on 1/14), and moments of weakness (at 1-0 loss to at Vista Murrieta on 1/19). Which team will show up this week for coach Geoff Houck?
LAST RANKED: (No. 10). LAST WEEK: lost to Vista Murrieta, 1-0, on 1/19.
NEXT MATCH: vs. Temecula Valley TODAY; at Murrieta Mesa FRIDAY.
10. Riverside Poly (6-7-4) – The Bears have lost three of their last five, and are just one step from falling out of the Top 10 after beginning the season as its No. 1 team. How can it be that this team is so disorganized?
LAST RANKED: (No. 7). LAST WEEK: lost to No. 8 Corona Santiago, 2-1, on 1/20; tied No. 5 Corona, 0-0, on 1/25.
NEXT MATCH: at Corona Centennial THURSDAY.
JUST MISSED: San Bernardino Cajon (15-2-3), Riverside La Sierra (10-3-3), Redlands Arrowhead Chr. (11-5-3).
INLAND FIELDHOUSE 