Boys’ soccer: Santa Monica is king of L.A. after beating Banning

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Santa Monica Coach Frank Gatell saw Thursday’s Southern California Regional Division I semifinal game against Wilmington Banning as the L.A. championship match.

Considering that Banning won the City Section title and Santa Monica, the Southern Section Division IV champion, is ranked No. 2 in the nation by StudentSportsSoccer.com, Gatell was on to something. Except the highly anticipated match turned out to be no match at all.

The Vikings (27-0-1) controlled possession for a large majority of the game. They also took 17 shots to seven for the Pilots (20-3-1), and outscored them, 3-0.

Santa Monica’s goalkeeper, Michael Freedman, who was playing in place of the regular starter Alex Kovacs, didn’t face a shot until there were only nine minutes left in the game. Kovacs, who was serving a one-game suspension, should be back for the final, but Freedman looked good while making only four saves to get the shutout. Eduardo Delgado, pictured, scored the first two goals and Loyola Marymount-bound Artur Jozkowicz added the other.

Santa Monica left no doubt as to the best team in L.A. And it wasn’t even close.

-- Jaime Cárdenas

-- Image by Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times