’10-’11 Inland Area Soccer List
I covered seven Inland Area soccer games this season for HS Gametime, and attended several more. On weeknights from December to the end of February, I saw abusive fans, coaches and even weather — it was pretty nasty out there this year. I also saw some pretty fantastic football being played in one the nation’s hotbeds for professional talent.
Here’s FOMB’s best from the 2010-’11 Inland Area prep soccer season:
BEST DISASTER:
Driving south on I-15 toward Temecula, I could see that weather was going to play a part in the game between San Jacinto and host Great Oak. I just didn’t know how big a part. What started a heavy rain turned into near-hurricane conditions as everything not nailed down — including a goal — was blown over by strong winds during the first day of the Great Oak HS girls soccer tournament. It was the worst weather conditions in which I’ve ever witnessed an athletic competition.
BEST TENSION:
After 100 minutes of a scoreless play, the CIF-Southern Section Girls Division 4 second-round playoff game between Los Angeles Marymount and Riverside Arlington was forced to be decided by kicks from the mark. With the score 3-2 in Arlington’s favor, Lions keeper Makayla Cowles made the victory-clinching save on Marymount’s fifth and final attempt. The feelings of players and fans during a shootout run the gamut, from elation to devastation. This ended with elation for the home side.
BEST MOMENT:
It rained steadily on the way to Lake Elsinore to cover Lakeside’s boys play Apple Valley Grange Hills in a CIF-SS Division 4 first-round game, so a I brought umbrella. The game was about as sloppy as the weather, with Lakeside allowing a in the first minute. The Lancers equalized in the 10th minute and what would you know? A terrific rainbow appeared over the stadium and coach Colin Gilliland’s side went on to cruise to a 4-1 victory — Gilliland’s first in four playoff tries.
BEST GOAL:
As the ball hopped over the goal line, an expression of exasperation came across the face of Woodcrest Christian keeper Hannah Seaburt. She had deflected but not stopped a free kick from Lompoc Cabrillo’s Brianna Farley from scoring in the eighth minute of sudden-death overtime in a CIF-SS Division 5 quarterfinal game. Seaburt, a sophomore, had been exceptional in a game that had been scoreless to that point.
BEST GAME(S):
Riverside Arlington vs. Moreno Valley Valley View, No. 1 — The Eagles forward tandem of senior Miguel Hernandez and sophomore Alex Turkson score as the Eagles win at home to stop a five-year winless streak against the Lions. Turkson’s goal in the first five minutes of the second half visibly deflated Arlington.
Riverside Arlington vs. Moreno Valley Valley View, No. 2 — Turkson, the 2011 FOMB Inland Area Soccer Player of the Year, and Hernandez score against in 2-1 victory to clinch the Inland Valley League title. With the score knotted 1-1, Hernandez pounced on a loose ball just inside the penalty are and slotted it into the back of the net.
INLAND FIELDHOUSE 