Soccer Teams Fight for Space, Players : High School Squads Kick Off Season Early

Although the high school football season will begin playoffs Friday, local soccer coaches would like to uproot the goal posts and replace them with goalie nets, mark off new sidelines and get some of their best players out of football pads and into soccer uniforms.

It’s soccer season.

Or as the rest of the world would say, it’s football season.

The City Section will begin this year’s schedule one month earlier than last to accommodate more schools that are on a year-round schedule. By condensing the regular season from Nov. 2 to Dec. 14, teams can finish their seasons before the Christmas break. Playoffs begin Jan. 12.

Soccer coaches are competing with their football counterparts not only for space but for players too. Juan Contreras of South Gate, for example, has been attending football and soccer practice this month.

“Luckily, he does not need much practice to be a field goal kicker,” said Coach Tony Dauer.

But City Section teams cannot compete against Southern Section teams in holiday tournaments. Southern Section teams may begin practicing Monday.

“I find it strange that we can’t match up (our schedules) with the Southern Section,” said Mike Asfall, Washington High’s soccer coach.

“It takes away from the sport because we can’t challenge them. We will never know who has the best team.”

Asfall, a teammate of Houston Oiler quarterback Warren Moon at Hamilton High, has increased soccer’s popularity at Washington, traditionally a basketball school.

Still, one thing remains constant: The team to beat is Garfield.

The Bulldogs have won five City Section championships, including the first during the 1971-72 season and last year’s title. Coach Tony Critelli, one of the original organizers of City Section soccer, hopes Garfield will become the second team to win consecutive titles. Poly of Sun Valley became the first, winning in 1978-79 and 1979-80.

Belmont, last year’s runner-up, Fremont, Jefferson, Roosevelt and newcomer Washington are expected to provide the biggest challenge from urban schools.

Traditional football powers, including Crenshaw, Dorsey, Locke and South Gate, have improved soccer programs and are capable of making the playoffs.

In the Southern Section, Bell Gardens and Salesian were highly ranked teams that were eliminated early in the playoffs.

Meanwhile, girls’ soccer continues to grow, with five teams competing from the urban area. Fremont and Manual Arts will field teams for the first time while mainstays Bell and Garfield appear to have the best chance to unseat the sport’s four-time and only champion, Chatsworth.

Here is a look at the returning starters and newcomers from the area’s top 10 boys’ programs and top two girls’ teams.

Boys’ Soccer

1. Garfield (11 wins, 1 loss, 1 tie overall in 1991) entered the season having won the Watts Summer Games soccer tournament, extending its winning streak to 18 games. The Bulldogs have eight returning starters from last year’s championship team. Ricardo Salcedo, a senior midfielder who moves the ball well under heavy coverage, recorded seven goals last year. Francisco Corona, another senior midfielder, is very deceptive when he is on his game. He can split defenses with his dribbling and set up threatening offensive plays. Hector Villareal, most valuable player in the Watts Games, and Migel Gomez also are outstanding scoring threats. “We have some speed, a lot of ball control and a lot of seasoned veterans,” Coach Tony Critelli said.

2. Bell Gardens (23-1-1) was ranked No. 1 in the Southern Section 2-A division, but was upset by eventual champion Los Alamitos in the quarterfinals. In 1991, Orlando Brenes, who coaches the Bell Gardens High School and East L.A. College soccer teams, became the first to win a Southern Section and Community College State championship in the same season. Carlos Farias, a sophomore midfielder who is one of the area’s most exciting players, was selected to the all-Whitmont League first team as a freshman. He was the team’s third-leading scorer with 18 goals and 12 assists. Martin Castillo, a senior center-forward, was the team’s fourth leading scorer, while his brother, Sal Castillo, a junior sweeper, will anchor the defense. Another top defender is Francisco Samano, who plays stopper in soccer and running back in football. The Lancers registered 12 shutouts.

3. Belmont (15-2-1) has qualified for the playoffs six consecutive years and reached the finals twice under Coach Nancy Carr-Swaim. The Sentinels have four returning starters from last year’s team, which lost to Garfield, 2-1, in the championship game. Walter de Leon, a senior center-halfback, dribbles well and can set or make his own plays. Pablo Navas, who moves from stopper to sweeper, and fullback Jose Aguilar give stability to the defense. Carlos Morales, a junior center-forward, and captain Henry Mendez are the team’s top snipers. “We’re doing surprisingly well since we’re a new team,” Carr-Swaim said. “They are very coachable and their improvement seems rapid.”

4. Washington (12-2-3), in its first year under Coach Mike Asfall beat the preseason’s top-ranked team from San Fernando, beat Southern Section power Arroyo Grande and took Belmont to triple-overtime during the semifinals before losing, 10-9, in a shootout. The Diplomats return 15 players from last year’s 20-man team. Octavio Pandura, a junior sweeper, is a member of the U.S. Olympic development team. Hector Reyes, a senior forward, had 22 goals last season and Augustino Perea is one of the area’s top midfielders. Asfall is predicting nothing less than a City Section championship for his team. “That’s putting a lot of pressure on the guys,” Asfall said. “We respect the fact that Garfield is the champion, but I believe we’re as good as they are.

5. Fremont (10-2-2) is rich in skilled players and will offer a strong challenge to Garfield in the Southeastern Conference. Cesar Villalobos is the top player, starting his second season at sweeper. Hector Moreno, who plays center-forward, has six goals and two assists in the first two non-league games. Hector Galdamez and Ramon Avendano are the team’s top midfielders. “I really believe if we reach our potential, we’ll be one of the favorites in the playoffs,” Coach Louis Rosales said. “But we’re in the most difficult conference in the city.”

6. Bell (6-4-2) has qualified for the playoffs 23 times and has reached the finals three times under Coach William Albano. Bell won the city championship in 1990. The Eagles did not make the playoffs last season, partly because Albano was sidelined by shoulder surgery. Albano will have to work miracles again, because eight players have been declared academically ineligible, including multitalented scorer Oswaldo Williams and left wing Gonzalo Figueroa. Ernesto Serratos, who led the team with 12 goals last season, will have to increase his offensive production and Raul Gutierrez, a senior sweeper, will have to provide stellar defense to keep Bell in the championship hunt.

7. Salesian (14-4-0) relinquished its share of a three-way tie last season for the Santa Fe League championship for using an ineligible player. Albert Jovel, a three-time all-league goaltender, had played for a club soccer team, which is illegal during the Southern Section season. Salesian was upset in double-overtime by Whitney during the first round of the 2-A Division playoffs. Salesian has been a traditional power, winning 15 league championships and two Southern Section Small Schools Division championships in 1968 and 1969. Coach Sal Sarmineto has won 99 career games and the Mustangs have not lost a regular season game at home since 1986. Sal’s younger brother, Rudy, is the team’s leading scorer with 15 goals. He is an excellent dribbler and can shoot well with either foot. German Barjas, a junior forward, had 10 goals and was selected to the Southern Section honorable mention team. Jose Presa, a senior sweeper, and Octavio Alvarez, a sophomore striker, also are outstanding players.

8. Roosevelt (13-5-2) lost to traditional power San Pedro in the second round of the playoffs last season and has five returning starters. The Roughriders’ leading scorer is Froilan Ortega, who had 13 goals last season. Salvador Guerrero, a senior center-halfback, is a returning three-year letterman and was selected to the all-City second team last season. Jesus Moreno, who was selected to the all-Southeastern Conference team, moves to fullback after starting two years as a center-forward.

9. Jefferson (6-3-3) finished second to Belmont in the Northern Conference and lost to Garfield in the first round of the playoffs. The Democrats move back to the Southeastern Conference, arguably the strongest in the city. Welter Martinez, a senior center-forward, had 24 goals last season. Cruz Martinez, who had five goals, and Jose Baragas, who had three goals, are expected to control the middle of the field on defense. Coach Eduardo Casas has three players to choose at goalie and said he has had trouble making a decision. If Jefferson finds a hot goalie, the Democrats should challenge for the conference title.

10. South Gate (7-3-4) has one of the best brother combinations in Juan and Jesus Contreras. When he is not kicking field goals, Juan Contreras is a sweeper in soccer. Midfielders Jesus Contreras, Osbaldo Macedo and Freddie Campos are the key players in the Ram offense. Gerardo Rodriguez, a right forward, has already scored two goals with his head this season. South Gate, which lost to Kennedy in the first round of the playoffs, moves from the Southern Pacific to the Southeastern Conference.

Other players to watch: Gustavo Amador (Lincoln), Ruperto Ayala (Lincoln), Hiram Andrade (Lincoln), Jose Buenroster (Locke), William Perez (Manual Arts), Pablo Puga (Manual Arts), Juan Ramirez (Lincoln) and Oscar Zendejas (Locke).

Girls’ Soccer

1. Garfield (7-2-2) had an inexperienced team last season with only two returning seniors and lost to El Camino Real in the first round of the playoffs. This season the Bulldogs should be much improved. Goalkeeper Julissa Medina recorded two shutouts and was selected to the all-City Section team as a sophomore. Captain Maritza Tamayo, a senior sweeper, was selected to the all-Central Conference first team, while senior left wing Rosalba Garcia made second team. “Our midfielders must develop enough to control the pace of the game against good schools,” Coach Tom Hutton said. “That’s the key to our season.”

2. Bell (4-6-2) has three outstanding players in sophomore center-halfback Maria Suarez, junior sweeper Brenda Zapata and senior Rosa Mesa, who moves from goalie to right halfback. Multitalented Rosa Delgado, a setter on the junior varsity volleyball team, will be the Eagle goalie.