Press-Telegram boys soccer rankings: Long Beach Poly starts off at No. 1

The Press-Telegram start-of-season apical 10:

BOYS SOCCER TOP 10

1. LONG BEACH POLY

The Jackrabbits person go the Moore League’s premier broadside nether Eric Leon, and the beingness of 3 superb elder forwards — Omar Juarez, David Huerta and Luke Brown — offers possibilities beyond astir of their challengers. This year’s radical is deeper and much technical, and if everything clicks defensively, it mightiness situation the large Division 1 sides successful the CIF Southern Section playoffs.

The pugnacious early-season docket is designed to hole Poly for the conception playoffs aft it failed to scope the quarterfinals successful Leon’s archetypal 3 postseason trips. Going further volition beryllium connected defense, wherever elder Christian Mendoza is simply a standout successful beforehand of speedy inferior goalkeeper Amir Diaz Espinoza.

2. DOWNEY

Vikings girls manager Javier Aguinaga takes complaint of the boys, and helium looks to adhd an diversion magnitude to the deep, skilled squad helium inherits. Downey went 13-3-3 and reached the Division 1 quarterfinals successful the spring, and the purpose is to spell further.

Vital to that effort are prima elder striker Diego Cortez and 2 cardinal midfielders, elder Jason Garcia and sophomore Alex Gomez. Senior Drew Zevallos leads the defence successful beforehand of goalkeepers Saul Hernandez and Eric Barba.

3. LONG BEACH WILSON

The Bruins volition beryllium pugnacious to bushed down a gangly and experienced backline and, successful inferior Gavin Pool-Harris, the area’s champion goalkeeper. If they people goals, large things are possible.

A changeable by Millikan’s Donovan Espinoza (14) goes wide arsenic Wilson goalie Gavin Pool-Harris defends his extremity successful Long Beach connected Tuesday, Apr. 27, 2021. Millikan and Wilson ended with a 1-1 tie. (Photo by Scott Varley, Contributing Photographer)

Senior Beck Peterson anchors the defense, which mislaid conscionable 1 starter to graduation, and elder midfielder Cole Worden directs an onslaught topped by inferior guardant Brian Calderon. Senior Anthony Garcia, who missed the past 2 seasons with a breached limb and COVID-19 concerns, provides different attacking magnitude successful midfield.

4. MILLIKAN

Jeff Schofield’s 2nd Rams squad has the endowment and extent to spell far, if their goals-by-committee program falls into place. It’s a much balanced squad with ascendant playmaker Jesus Moreno’s graduation, and relies heavy connected seniors.

Pierre Khoury and Samani Villanueva are the pivotal figures successful midfield, Anton Moore is adept astatine stretching defenses connected the flanks, and inferior David Villanueva — backmost aft missing past play — offers mobility up front. Heath Pablico, cardinal successful midfield past year, is among the area’s champion halfway backs, and Connor McCoy is simply a good two-way extracurricular back.

Long Beach Poly’s Bryant Amador and Millikan’s Pierre Khoury conflict for the shot successful Long Beach, CA, connected Thursday, March 18, 2021. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)

5. LONG BEACH CABRILLO

Enrique “Kique” Temores mightiness beryllium the astir talented subordinate successful the area. He’s a wizard with the shot astatine his feet, possesses uncommon vision, and is adept astatine putting teammates into unsafe spots. Can helium people more? If so, Cabrillo could beryllium successful the hunt for the Division 2 title. The Jaguars are ranked No. 1 successful the latest poll.

Temores’ superior spouse is playmaker Martin Robles Ruiz, and sophomore Duanne Baker is simply a dynamic beingness connected the near flank. Junior David Cruz is simply a beardown and decisive backline person successful beforehand of elder goalkeepers Kevin Ventura and Daniel Martinez.

6. NORWALK

The Lancers are ever precise good, but this radical could beryllium the champion Vinson Pluma has fielded. They’re dynamic everywhere: successful attack, with inferior guardant Saul Hernandez, connected the flanks with inferior Adrian Guerrero and elder Lucas Paz, successful cardinal midfield with seniors Antonio Bautista and Juan Carbajal and inferior Diego Martinez, successful cardinal defense.

7. LOS ALAMITOS

The senior-heavy Griffins fig to combat it retired with Edison for the Surf League title, and their acquisition could beryllium decisive. They’re exceptional up the middle, successful beforehand with potent attacking midfielders Jakob Singh and Brian Arens, with 6-foot-3 Noah Walker holding down them, and astatine the backmost with fourth-year standout Logan Manfro. Junior guardant James Metcalfe, sidelined by wounded the past 2 years, could beryllium a difference-maker.

8. WARREN

The Bears person capable endowment to situation Downey successful the San Gabriel Valley League. Warren prospers from a strong, mostly elder spine, from goalkeeper Matthew Bello to halfway backmost Rafa Martinez (paired with promising sophomore Giovanny Villagrana) to inferior attacking midfielder Edu Beltran to large people guardant David Cruz.

9. ST. JOHN BOSCO

If the Braves tin past a brutal Trinity League schedule, they could contend for a CIF rubric present that they’re backmost successful Division 2. They are young but skilled and person a greater enactment ethic. A superb inferior people is led by gangly striker Felipe Moreno, speedy winger Francisco Melendez and inferior halfway backmost Ivan Orozco. Also cardinal are sophomore goalkeeper Kelvin Vargas and versatile elder Christian Morales.

10. ARTESIA

The Pioneers could beryllium astatine their champion with a heavy and talented roster. Senior Raul Pantoja offers versatility and accomplishment up top, and he’s supported by inferior playmaker Juan Valdez and elder wingers Ricardo Gonzalez and Joshua Lizarraga. Junior Adrian Palacios and sophomore David Ramirez are a beardown center-back tandem.

OTHERS TO WATCH

Hector Rodriguez takes complaint of longtime powerhouse Paramount aft Rafa Villaseñor’s promotion into administration. Attacking midfielders Jose Bautista and David Hernandez and winger Fabian Saavedra are key. … Valley Christian is simply a Division 5 contender down guardant Josiah Alvarez, midfielder Landon Vander Meulen and midfielder Mickyas Deyene. … Watch retired for rising Lakewood, which has a potent onslaught led by seniors Alberto Muñoz, Santiago Sandoval and Jose Jimenez. … Keys for Jordan see midfielder Victor Monterrola and guardant Carlos Rodriguez. … Center backmost Andrew Kaminsky, midfielder Gabe Suarez and guardant Jacob Haskill pb St. Anthony. … La Mirada looks to situation Norwalk successful the Suburban League.