Boys’ soccer: So, is Santa Monica 4 real?
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Santa Monica is off to a 16-0-1 start, the best in school history. But how good are the Vikings?
Frank Gatell has been the boys’ soccer coach at Santa Monica for 11 years and during that time has seen his share of good teams, including the 2000 Vikings, who finished 26-2-1 and reached the Southern Section’s Division I quarterfinals.
This year’s team has a chance to finish undefeated, but ... in Division IV.
‘The division question always come up,’ said Gatell, pictured in sunglasses, who is well aware that there are doubters out there. Those who don’t believe his team is as good as its record indicates.
Well, if you don’t believe the record, then how about the polls? Santa Monica is ranked No. 1 in the nation by NSCAA/ADDIDAS, No. 6 in the nation by StudentSportsSoccer.com and No. 1 in Southern Section Division IV. I ranked the Vikings at No. 5 in the Southland last week, but after their impressive week of play coupled with Servite’s surprising loss, they moved up to No. 2.
Santa Monica boasts an impressive resume, including a tremendous victory over San Jose Bellarmine Prep in the quarterfinals of the South Torrance Holiday Tournament. Bellarmine (16-1-1), shooting for its 17th consecutive WCAL League title, is ‘the equivalent of a Loyola down here,’ said Gatell, who is familiar with Bay Area soccer, having graduated from California.
The Vikings began last week tied for first place in the Ocean League with Beverly Hills and Culver City. But after beating the Normans, 3-0, and the Centaurs, 6-1, they sit atop the standings by themselves.
Santa Monica’s top players are Loyola Marymount-bound Artur Jozkowicsm, who has seven goals and 12 assists, and Charlie Paris, who leads the team with nine goals.
Is Santa Monica the real deal? Can a Division IV team compete consistently with teams from Division I?
My Top 5
No. 1. Santa Margarita (12-1-4, 3-1-1 Trinity) -- The Eagles will be going for shutout No. 10 on Friday at Servite.
No. 2. Santa Monica (17-0-1, 6-0-1 Ocean) -- Vikings will work hard to maintain their undefeated status.
No. 3. Servite (18-2-3, 3-1-1 Trinity) -- Friars plays at Mater Dei, then host Santa Margarita on Friday.
No. 4. St. Francis (15-4-2, 4-0-2 Mission) -- The task this week is to not look ahead at the schedule.
No. 5. Crespi (9-3-4, 4-0-2 Mission) -- They stunned Loyola earlier this month, but can they do it again on Saturday?
-- Jaime Cardenas