Boys’ Soccer Preview: Crescenta Valley looking to get back into playoffs

In recent seasons, the Crescenta Valley High boys’ soccer team has won several Pacific League titles and a CIF Southern Section championship.

Unfortunately for Crescenta Valley, things went off the tracks following a fifth-place finish in league and an absence from the postseason for the first time in six seasons. Crescenta Valley would like to avoid a repeat of what happened last season.

“It felt strange not being in the playoffs,” said Crescenta Valley Coach Grant Clark, who led the Falcons to a CIF championship in 2012. “We’ve been so used to being a part of the playoffs.

“We’re going to be a very young team this season and we’re going to make mistakes. But the players are learning every day at practice and it will be interesting to see how things go. We’re going to try to make the playoffs, but we sure do have a lot to prove beforehand.”

However, Flintridge Prep, Glendale and St. Francis all made playoff trips and have eyes on returning to the postseason dance once again.

Crescenta Valley will rely on a group of returning junior and senior athletes to help get it back on track. The Falcons will bring back senior midfielder Joshua Moran and senior center backs Augustine Ahn and Armin Cardenas-Niño. The trio will be joined by junior goalkeeper Makan Afzali and junior forwards Jonathan Han and Henry Barkhordarian.

Clark said the league will be quite difficult again, led by Pasadena seeking a second straight league crown.

“Pasadena went undefeated last year in league and they always have some excellent players,” Clark said. “Glendale will bring back some very good players and Muir will be good again.

“We’re going to try to challenge for a playoff spot while also looking at the future of the team for the next two or three years.”

Glendale finished second in league under coach Artur Aghasyan. The Nitros then fell, 3-2, to Yucaipa in a CIF Southern Section Division III wild-card home match.

Glendale, which has qualified for the playoffs three straight seasons, will look a bit different throughout its lineup. The Nitros will feature senior midfielders Josh Arevalo and Rafi Hatamian and senior defender Abeh Vartanian.

“We did lose quite a few of our top players, but we want to keep our playoff streak alive and keep moving the program forward,” Aghasyan said. “We have some good new players on board and I like the make-up of our team. Most of our guys now play club, so they are already in good shape physically and athletically.”

Flintridge Prep finished second in the Prep League behind Firebaugh and reached the second round of the Division VI playoffs under coach AJ Yates last season. Flintridge Prep suffered a 5-2 home loss against Moreno Valley.

The Rebels plan to field 18 players, providing depth in front of senior goalkeeper Hamilton Evans. Flintridge Prep will also have junior midfielder Aidon Boyle and sophomore midfielders Tim Treinon and Andrew Lathrop in the fold to provide some offensive pop.

“Expectations are going to be high again,” Yates said. “We’ve got a lot of new players and we hope to get all of our players on the field.

“There’s a lot of excitement right now. We’ve got a top goalie in Hamilton Evans. We also know league will be tough again Every match will be super important against Firebaugh, Pasadena Poly and Chadwick.”

St. Francis returned to the Division I playoffs last season after missing the postseason in 2014. The Golden Knights lost to Corona, 1-0, on the road in the first round after placing fourth in the ultra-competitive Mission League.

St. Francis will be a relatively young team with just five seniors. Goalkeeper Mark Garcia, forward Alex Berberian, midfielder Clayton Green, forward/midfielder Neil Markey and midfielder Daniel Sultan will be counted on to provide leadership.

“We don’t have a lot of seniors, but we have a lot of players who have experience,” St. Francis Coach Glen Appels said. “Since they have experience, we know they can all contribute.

“We’ll look to be a little stronger and consistent. We know that Mission League will be tough again, so we can’t afford to take any days off.”

Back in the Pacific League, Hoover will also offer a new look, bringing in coach Anastasios Metallinos. Metallinos, a former Hoover player who took over the coaching responsibilities from Basile Pagourtzis, piloted the school’s girls’ team the past three seasons.

The Tornadoes will turn to senior sweeper Banik Housepian, senior goalkeeper Matthew Hartounian and junior midfielder Romio Sislian in their quest to escape the league’s cellar.

“We think we can turn things around,” Metallinos said. “We’ll try to break through and change some things and any improvements will be great.”