Soccer Schedule Cut by Marmonte

Marmonte League school principals decided Tuesday to reduce the number of league soccer matches from 14 to seven for each school.

Recent rains caused the postponement of almost every league match the past two weeks, and two teams, Agoura and Newbury Park, still hadn’t played a league match when the decision was made. Most schools have played only once.

“I’m not happy about it, but if they tried to squeeze all 14 games in, they would have to assume that it wouldn’t rain any more,” Royal boys’ Coach Kevin Corley said. “I really didn’t see any other choice. The other coaches are pretty angry.”

The eight league teams will complete one round of play instead of the standard home-and-home series. League play will conclude Feb. 5. Corley said the teams probably would schedule matches against league opponents after that date to enable playoff-bound teams to avoid a long layoff before the postseason begins Feb. 19. Those matches will not count in the league standings.