Inland Area Prep Soccer Top 10
1. Claremont (1-0) — The Wolfpack retain two-thirds of a very talented trio that ended its season with a CIF-Southern Section Division 2 title and a trip to the state semifinals. Seniors Denes Kantor and Daniel Kim will lead the title defense.
LAST RANKED: (No. 1).
FINAL 2010-’11 RECORD: (8-1-1 Sierra League, 1st; 22-2-5 overall).
LAST GAME: def. La Verne Bonita, 4-0, on 11/22.
NEXT FIXTURE: vs. Rancho Cucamonga TODAY.
2. Riverside King (0-0) — The Wolves are helmed by the every-steady Todd Mapes, who has a bevy of returning starters in his best XI. Senior MF/F Justyn Peeples will be giving keepers nightmares with his physicality in the penalty area.
LAST RANKED: (No. 3).
FINAL 2010-’11 RECORD: (8-3-3 Big VIII, 2nd; 17-6-6 overall).
LAST GAME: lost, 1-0, to No. 1 Claremont in a CIF-SS D2 semifinal game on 3/1.
NEXT FIXTURE: vs. No. 8 Riverside Arlington TODAY.
3. Moreno Valley Canyons Springs (1-0) — The Cougars turned some heads last season, defeating perennial contenders Corona Santiago and Temecula Chaparral in the playoffs. Coach Michael Kell has given captain’s armbands to senior MF Gabriel Mercado and senior D Ian Joyce.
LAST RANKED: Not Ranked.
FINAL 2010-’11 RECORD: (8-4-2 Inland Valley, 4th; 13-9-5 overall).
LAST GAME: def. Menifee Heritage, 3-0, on 11/28.
NEXT FIXTURE: at Beaumont on THURSDAY.
4. Moreno Valley Valley View (0-1) — The Eagles will go as fly as high as reigning FOMB Inland Area Player Of The Year Alex Turkson will take them. Coach John Kush may have difficulty replicating last year’s success, though, as the team has already struggled to find a result this season.
LAST RANKED: (No. 2).
FINAL 2010-’11 RECORD: (11-2-1 Inland Valley, 1st; 16-4-4 overall).
LAST GAME: lost, 2-1, to Rubidoux on 11/28.
NEXT FIXTURE: vs. Temecula Chaparral TODAY.
5. Hesperia Oak Hills (0-0) — The Bulldogs have 10 players returning from one of the High Desert’s all-time best soccer teams. Coach Darren Goodman will rely on goals from junior Sage Smith and sophomore Juan Nuno, and solid keeping from senior Ricardo Ramirez to help build from last season’s success.
LAST RANKED: (No. 5).
FINAL 2010-’11 RECORD: (9-1-2 Mojave River, 1st; 25-4-3 overall).
LAST GAME: lost, 3-1, to Santa Barbara in the CIF-State SoCal Regional championship on 3/11.
NEXT FIXTURE: Not Available.
6. Temecula Great Oak (0-0) — The Wolfpack have created a tremendous tradition under Geoff Houck, but it remains to be seen whether or not he returns for another season as coach the reigning Southwestern League champs.
LAST RANKED: (No. 8).
FINAL 2010-’11 RECORD: (8-2-0 Southwestern League, 1st; 15-7-2 overall).
LAST GAME: lost, 3-0, to No. 2 Riverside King in CIF-SS D2 first-round game on 2/25.
NEXT FIXTURE: at Hemet on SATURDAY.
7. Perris Citrus Hill (0-0) — The Hawks came out of nowhere to win the CIF-Southern Section Division 6 title, and goalkeeper Sergio Paz returns as senior captain of a team bringing back 13 varsity players.
LAST RANKED: (No. 7).
FINAL 2010-’11 RECORD: (4-3-2 Mountain Pass, 3rd; 11-5-5 overall).
LAST GAME: lost, 2-0, to San Diego University City in CIF-State SoCal Regional first-round game on 3/7.
NEXT FIXTURE: at Rancho Cucamonga Alta Loma on 12/7.
8. Riverside Arlington (0-0) — The Lions will hang around so long as they score goals. Junior GK Ivan Hernandez just continues to get better, and he was already one of the best keepers in the Inland Area.
LAST RANKED: (No. 6).
FINAL 2010-’11 RECORD: (9-3-4 Inland Valley, 2nd; 16-4-4 overall).
LAST GAME: lost, 2-1 in OT, to Capistrano Valley in CIF-SS D2 quarterfinals on 2/25.
NEXT FIXTURE: at No. 2 Riverside King TODAY.
9. Lake Elsinore Lakeside (1-0) — The Lancers scored seven goals in two playoff games last season, and have started the 2011-’12 season by tallying twice more in a victory over a regional rival. Coach Colin Gilliland may have a budding dynasty on his hands.
LAST RANKED: (No. 9).
FINAL 2010-’11 RECORD: (8-1-1 Sunbelt, 1st; 17-2-4 overall).
LAST GAME: def. Murrieta Valley, 2-1, on 11/28.
NEXT FIXTURE: vs. Victorville University Prep on THURSDAY.
10. Corona Santiago (0-0) — The Sharks have 11 of 18 varsity players returning from a year ago, when they went unbeaten en route to a Big VIII League title. Pity they fell in the first round of the playoffs. Will this next group be better?
LAST RANKED: (No. 4).
FINAL 2010-’11 RECORD: (12-0-2 Big VIII, 1st; 15-3-2 overall).
LAST GAME: lost, 3-0, to No. 3 Moreno Valley Canyon Springs in a CIF-SS D2 first-round game on 2/18.
NEXT FIXTURE: at Murrieta Valley on 12/6.
JUST MISSED: Vista Murrieta (2-0), Riverside Poly (0-0), Fontana (0-0).
INLAND FIELDHOUSE 