INLAND FIELDHOUSE

I’m covering the Mission Viejo Capistrano Valley-Riverside La Sierra CIF-Southern Section Division 2 Semifinal Round boys varsity playoff game of The Press-Enterprise. The best part of this assignment will be getting a look at the upstart Eagles, 10-0-1 on their home grass this season.

THE LOW DOWN:
The Cougars (7-9-3 overall), Sea View League champions, enter the semifinals following a 4-0 victory over Indio in the quarters last Thursday. In all, CV has outscored playoff opponents 8-2 thus far, but their roster and other statistics are not available.

The Eagles (18-4-5 overall) are in a CIF-Southern Section semifinal for the first time in school history after defeating defending Division 2 champ Claremont, 1-0, in the quarters. Senior striker Kenshiro Daniels leads the team with 26 goals, and Dominic Escalera had added 17 goals and 12 assists.

STARTING XIs:
Capistrano Valley — Not available

La Sierra — GK: Victor Rodriguez, Jr.; D: Henry Baltazar, Sr., Alexis Arias, Sr., Josh Nelson, Sr., Miguel Gonzalez, Sr.; MF: Dominic Escalera, Sr., Uriel Garcia, Jr., Danny Moreno, Jr.. Isaac Valencia, Sr.; F: Kensiro Daniels, Sr., Jessie Naranjo, Sr.

THE DIFFERENCE:
Capistrano Valley has defeated both the Golden West League champ (Santa Ana) and the Desert Valley League champ (Indio) to get to today so this team in definitely battle-tested. Conversely, La Sierra’s is coming off the biggest win in school history, so a let-down may be on tap.
PREDICTION: Capistrano Valley 2, La Sierra 1