For the full Boys’ & Girls’ brackets, go to CIFSS.ORG, click on SPORTS, go to SOCCER, and click on PLAYOFF BRACKETS. Here are the previews for all the Moore League teams who will be in action this week.
Also, click here for all the LBPostSports.com Moore League soccer coverage…
Girls’ Coverage
Boys’ Coverage
Girls’ Soccer Division I
Round I, Thursday February 19th
LB Poly (Moore League #1) vs. Santa Margarita (Trinity League #3)
The Jackrabbits come into the post season riding high, but more importantly, riding healthy. Their bye on the last day of league play was just what the doctor ordered. Sophomore goalkeeper Sylvia Nunez has had to adjust all season because of injury. Her defense has been a revolving door, but now coach Teri Collins has her full defensive arsenal ready to go. Poly might need all that defensive power against a Santa Margarita team with playoff experience. The Eagles lost in the second round last season, but graduated only a few key players. The returning seniors make up a very disciplined and effective unit, especially three-year starter in goal Parris Wells. The team captain has helped her team win some close games in league play, and the Eagles haven’t lost in almost two weeks.
Lakewood (Moore #2) @ El Toro (Sea View #2)
Coach Scott Manson was matter-of-fact after his team beat Cabrillo last week to secure the Moore League second seed, “Yeah, we’ve gotten better, but we had to. We’ve graduated our entire varsity lineup in the last two years… I think the sophomores and freshman have made the difference, and we’re getting better every day.” Manson is talking mostly about first-year varsity players like sophomore Sarahvanni Bunma and freshman Kendahl Fisher. Bunma, playing out of her regular position up top, has become the leader on defense. The diminutive sweeper has become a play maker in the back line, and will routinely push up along with Fisher, who has shown growth in her confidence as the go to scorer the Lancers were sorely missing early in the season.
LB Cabrillo (Moore #3) @ Temecula Valley (Southwestern #1)
The Jaguars are celebrating their first trip to the playoffs, but CIF didn’t do them any favors. Cabrillo has to travel to the 951 on Thursday to take on the Golden Bears of Temecula Valley, a team that hasn’t lost in a month. Coach Jorge Polanco will need top performances from his players to surprise the Bears at home, namely junior goalkeeper Leslie Navarro and senior forward Claudia Toledo. Navarro will have to keep an eye on Temecula’s junior striker Bernie Witz, who has 17 goals on the season. Toledo will have to help the Jags maintain possession in the offensive zone, something Cabrillo has struggled to do recently.
LB Wilson (Moore #4) vs. Chaparral (Southwestern At-Large) Wild-Card, Tuesday @ 3:00pm
Make sure you go read our story on why Wilson has to play its way into the field of 32 before reading any further. The winner of this game will go on to play Los Osos (Baseline #1) in the first round, but the Bruins can’t look past a Puma squad that tied Temecula Valley, 0-0, just two weeks ago. Wilson will need more stellar play in the air from midfielder Kim Marshall, whose 5-10 size and strength has terrorized the Moore League all season. More importantly, the Bruins will need a big game from striker Emily Dillon. The popular game plan against has been to try and neutralize Dillon. That means other forwards like Kaitlin Hellmann will need to step up and keep Dillon free.
Boys’ Soccer Division I
Round I, Friday February 20th
LB Millikan (Moore #1) vs. Capo Valley/Fountain Valley
The Rams will take on the winner of Wild Card game “C” between the South Coast and Sunset At-Large bids, who play on Wednesday. No matter who Millikan plays, the Rams success will rest on the defense and goalkeeper Jorge Bacerra. The junior keeper has only allowed three goals during league play (one own goal) and for a team that hasn’t lost by more than one goal all year, coach Rod Petkovic will need more stellar play form Bacerra. He will also need more quality minutes from guys like Manuel Estrada on the back line, and Jose Torres up top.
LB Wilson (Moore #2) vs. Aliso Niguel (South Coast #2)
The Wolverines of Aliso Niguel are very similar to the Burins of Wilson. Like the Moore League, the South Coast is full of soccer talent, and Niguel battled all year to a three-way tie for first (7-2-1) with Mission Viejo and San Clemente. And also like the Bruins, the Wolverines have had a lot more chances than goals, especially in league play. “We haven’t made good on so many of our chances,” says Wilson coach Mark Hervin. “At some point, I think the luck is going to turn around, and someone is going to be on the wrong end of a 3-0, 4-0 decision.” For that to happen, Hervin will have to get some inspired play from forwards Ricardo Alvarado, Brian Arguello, and Carlos Quinones to match the physical defense from the Wolverines.
LB Jordan (Moore #3) @ Jserra (Trinity #1)
The Lions have looked unbeatable at times this season, and that’s not good news for the Panthers. It’s been an up-and-down campaign for a veteran Jordan team on its way to third place finish in the Moore League. In the middle of January, it looked like anyone could grab the ML title, and Jordan was right in the think of it. But, before their game against Millikan, the skies opened up and made the Jordan pitch more of a mud pile. The Rams won 4-0, and the Panthers never fully recovered. They beat the teams below them, but never again threatened any teams above them in the standings. This first round game against the Lions is one last chance at an upset.
LB Cabrillo (Moore #4) vs. Moorpark (Marmonte At-Large) Wild Card, Wednesday @ 3:00pm
The Jaguars and coach Pat Noyes have been slowly sliding in the rankings since their 1-1 tie with Wilson in January. Their speed was effective in counter attacks, and lead to scoring opportunities, but, as Noyes says, “I’ve got a lot of speedy midfielders. I need that one scorer.” There are more than a few guys that can step up to fill that role, like Phil Regalado, Miguel Hernandez and Charlie Guarneros. The winner of this game will move on to play Sea View Champion El Toro on Friday.