Inland Area Prep Soccer Top 10
1. Moreno Valley Valley View (12-3-3) – The Eagles took a huge step toward a second consecutive Inland Valley League title after winning at Inland Area No. 6 Arlington last week. Only four regular season matches remain for John Kush’s side, but two of their last three are on the road.
LAST RANKED: (No. 1). LAST WEEK: d. No. 6 Riverside Arlington, 1-0, on 1/26; d. Moreno Valley Vista del Lago, 1-0, on 1/28.
THIS WEEK: vs. Riverside Ramona TODAY; vs. Moreno Valley Rancho Verde FRIDAY
2. Claremont (13-0-5) – The Wolfpack, still unbeaten, jump two spots this week after the teams previously above them could not keep pace. Junior striker Denes Kantor scored his seventh goal of the season in a 2-1 victory over Chino Hills on 1/28. Coach Fred Bruce-Oliver’s side plays three of its last four on the road.
LAST RANKED: (No. 4). LAST MATCH: tied La Verne Damien, 0-0, on 1/26; d. Chino Hills, 2-1, on 1/28.
NEXT MATCH: at Covina Charter Oak TODAY; vs. Chino Hills Ayala FRIDAY.
3. Corona (9-1-7) — The Panthers scored a huge victory on the first day of February, going on the road and taking down King, 1-0, on 2/1. Coach Mike Sutherland’s side must not celebrate too much — they still have to play at No. 4 Santiago, the Big VIII leader, on Friday.
LAST RANKED: (No. 5). LAST WEEK: tied Riverside King, 1-1, on 1/27; d. No. 4 Riverside King, 1-0, on 2/1.
NEXT MATCH: at No. 4 Corona Santiago FRIDAY.
4. Corona Santiago (11-2-2) – The Sharks remain unbeaten against Big VIII League opponents after convincing road victories the last five days. They were just a victory over King or Corona away from breaking into the Top 5. Well here they are. Now they face Corona on Friday.
LAST WEEK: (No. 7). LAST WEEK: d. No. 5 Riverside King, 2-1, on 1/27; d. Norco, 6-1, on 2/1.
THIS WEEK: vs. Corona Centennial THURSDAY; vs. No. 3 Corona FRIDAY.
5. Riverside King (11-3-5) – The Wolves’ unbeaten streak was snapped and they have yet to win again after losing at No. 8 Santiago last week, and to Corona at home on 2/1. It was a bad BAD seven days, and coach Todd Mapes’ side falls three spots as a result.
LAST RANKED: (No. 2). LAST MATCH: lost to No. 8 Corona Santiago, 2-1, on 1/27; lost to No. 5 Corona, 1-0, on 2/1.
THIS WEEK: vs. Norco THURSDAY; at Riverside Poly FRIDAY.
6. Lake Elsinore Lakeside (14-0-4) — The Lancers have scored 10 goals in their last two matches, and 15 goals in their last three. Clearly, coach Colin Gilliland uncovered some fertile ground from which goals spring. As noted last week, this team earns results everywhere — on the road (5-0-1), against Top 10 teams (2-0-1), and in any game within the Sunbelt League (6-0-1).
LAST RANKED: (No. 8). LAST WEEK: d. Elsinore, 6-0, on 1/27; d. Perris, 4-0, on 2/1.
THIS WEEK: at Menifee Heritage THURSDAY.
7. Murrieta Valley (14-5-2) – The Nighthawks had a rocky week, scoring just once in two matches and posting a 0-1-1 mark. Now they welcome in No. 9 Great Oak, a team they lost to just two weeks ago. Expect senior center forward Chris Sanders (6-foot-2, 175 pounds) to play a pre-imminent role.
LAST RANKED: (No. 3); LAST WEEK: lost to Temecula Chaparral, 2-1, on 1/26; tied Temecula Valley, 0-0, on 1/28.
THIS WEEK: vs. No. 9 Temecula Great Oak TODAY; vs. Murrieta Mesa FRIDAY.
8. Riverside Arlington (10-3-4) – The Lions went 1-1-0 last week but losing to No. 1 Valley View, 1-0, on 1/26 hurt. It broke their string of 11 unbeaten, and dropped them two spots in this week’s Inland Area Top 10.
LAST RANKED: (No. 6). LAST WEEK: lost to No. 1 Moreno Valley Valley View, 1-0, on 1/26; d. Moreno Valley, 1-0, on 1/28.
THIS WEEK: at Moreno Valley Rancho Verde TODAY; vs. No. 10 Riverside La Sierra FRIDAY.
9. Temecula Great Oak (11-4-2) – The Wolfpack steadied course last week, outscoring opponents 6-0. They’ll have to keep scoring goals and not allowing any — coach Geoff Houck’s team plays at No. 6 Murrieta Valley today. A victory would give his team a season sweep and a two-match lead in the Southwestern League.
LAST RANKED: (No. 10). LAST WEEK: d. Temecula Valley, 2-0, on 1/26; d. Murrieta Mesa, 4-0, on 1/28.
NEXT MATCH: at No. 6 Murrieta Valley TODAY; vs. Vista Murrieta FRIDAY.
10. Riverside La Sierra (12-3-3) – The Eagles are riding a five-match winning streak that has them keeping pace with the best in the Inland Valley League, and that includes No. 1 Valley View, whom coach Dave Eckelrod’s side defeated, 2-1, on 1/19.
LAST RANKED: (Not Ranked). LAST WEEK: d. Moreno Valley, 3-0, on 1/26; d. Riverside Ramona 3-1, on 1/28.
NEXT MATCH: at Moreno Valley Canyon Springs TODAY; at No. 8 Riverside Arlington FRIDAY.
DROPPED OUT: No. 10 Riverside Poly (7-8-4).
JUST MISSED: San Bernardino Cajon (16-4-3), Temecula Chaparral (7-5-4), Redlands Arrowhead Christian (13-5-3).
INLAND FIELDHOUSE 