The Preps : SOUTHERN SECTION SOCCER PLAYOFFS : Today’s Boys’ Games : Edison Faces Hawthorne in 4-A Semifinal

When the boys’ soccer semifinals kick off today, Orange County schools will have one team in four of the five Southern Section playoff divisions.

Orange County will be without a representative in only the 1-A division. Troy enjoyed the most success of any county 1-A team, advancing to the quarterfinals before losing to top-seeded Agoura, 2-1, Friday.

In the 4-A, Edison (13-5-3) travels to Hawthorne (16-9-2). Edison advanced with victories over Rolling Hills and Chino.

The Chargers had the good fortune of being in the bottom half of the bracket--away from top-seeded Palos Verdes (31-0), which plays host to Newbury Park (20-3-1) in the other 4-A semifinal.

Top-seeded Mission Viejo is the only county entry in the 3-A. Mission Viejo (21-1-3) gets the home-field advantage against St. Francis (17-1-1).

The Diablos field a strong offensive unit that likes to spread out the scoring. Fifteen of the team’s 16 field players have scored at least once.

Midfielder Joe-Max Moore leads the way with 24 goals and 10 assists, followed by Andy Wortrich with 13 goals and 14 assists.

The Diablos also have Jeff Jurgemeyer, last season’s South Coast League offensive player of the year. Jurgemeyer has been hampered by a foot injury suffered during the football season and has only four goals and three assists. But he may be coming around just in time for the playoffs. He ran without a limp for the first time in the Diablos’ quarterfinal victory over Cerritos, Coach Cal Foster said.

In the 2-A, fourth-seeded Esperanza (15-3-2) faces Coachella Valley (22-5) at Esperanza. The Aztecs advanced with victories over Laguna Hills, Paraclete and Kennedy.

In the Small Schools division, top-seeded Whittier Christian (17-3-3) has a 200-mile plus trip to Morro Bay (19-3-2). All games start at 3 p.m.