PLAYERS OF THE YEAR : Reis Finds Place as Eagles’ Goal Stopper : Boys’ soccer: Player improved after moving to goal.

The numbers alone indicate how good a job Matt Reis did as Santa Margarita’s goalkeeper.

Thirty games. Nine goals. When you’re giving up less than a goal every three games, you’re doing something right.

But what makes Reis so exceptional is that his best days may be ahead of him.

Reis, The Times Orange County player of the year, has been a full-time goalkeeper for only three seasons. He became one to help the team and ended up helping himself in the process.

“The scary thing is, he’s only going to get better,” Eagle Coach Curt Bauer said. “And he’s already great.”

That was apparent throughout the season.

Reis was a big reason the Eagles were Southern Section Division IV co-champions. Santa Margarita and Corona Centennial tied, 1-1, in the title game.

It was one of the few games in which Reis gave up a goal.

“I was expecting a lot this season,” Reis said. “We had so many guys back, we had to do well.”

True, the Eagles had eight returning starters. But none were more important then Reis.

He set a school record with 20 shutouts. He also provided the leadership a championship team needs.

“The guys were really tight during the practices before the championship game,” Bauer said. “Matt started making light of the situation. . . . It loosened the guys up.”

Reis has always been a leader, but he wasn’t a goalie until he was a sophomore.

His brother Mike was a goalkeeper for Mater Dei and helped the Monarchs win a 4-A title in 1987. Matt Reis dabbled in the position but preferred to play the field.

He excelled as a forward. Reis led the Santa Margarita freshman team in scoring and even contributed on offense this season.

He scored a goal in each of the four times he played up front.

But Reis’ destiny was on defense. When he was a sophomore, the Eagles needed a goalkeeper and Reis was enlisted.

“It’s a real different frame of mind,” Reis said. “Up front, you don’t have the responsibilities. You can roam around and can make a mistake. You make a mistake as a keeper and it can cost you.”

He concentrated on learning the position and even began playing goalkeeper with his club team. Reis also got personal instruction from a goalkeeper coach.

The result was rapid improvement.

Last season, Reis gave up an average of 1.3 goals per game, but the Eagles were eliminated in the first round of the 4-A playoffs. This season, it was nearly impossible to get a shot past him.

“It’s more than just his physical ability,” Bauer said. “One of his greatest assets is the way he directs the defense. He positions defenders to stop shots that haven’t even been taken yet.”

Of course, when a save was needed, Reis generally provided one.

In the semifinals, he made two exceptional saves in the first half against Sonora. He dived to his left on one and broke up a corner kick on the other. The Eagles won, 2-0.

Reis also made several big saves in the title game.

“It wasn’t just me,” Reis said.

But the numbers don’t lie.

Said Bauer: “When you have 20 shutouts, you’re a pretty good goalkeeper.”

All-County Boys’ Soccer FIRST TEAM Matt Reis, Santa Margarita, Sr., Goalkeeper, School record 20 shutouts. Oscar Cisneros, Saddleback, Jr., Defender, Scored 4 goals; keyed solid defense. Kevin Coye, Ocean View, Sr., Defender, Signed with UCLA. Peter Schumerth, Esperanza, Sr., Defender, MVP of Empire League. Kyle Berger, Capistrano Valley, Sr., Midfielder, MVP of South Coast League. Chris Fernandez, Sonora, Jr., Midfielder, Had 16 goals, 18 assists. Josh Keller, Santa Margarita, Sr., Midfielder, Had 17 goals, 12 assists. Jorge Perez, Santa Ana, Sr., Midfielder, Had 8 goals, 12 assists. Jason Boyce, Corona del Mar, Jr., Forward, Sea View MVP scored 29 goals. Francisco Islas, Santa Ana Valley, So., Forward, Co-MVP of Century League. Rafael Mosqueda, Santiago, Sr., Forward, MVP of Garden Grove League. SECOND TEAM Brian Ritshell, Edison, Sr., Goalkeeper, First-team All--Sunset League. John Bamford, Santa Margarita, Jr., Defender, On under-20 national team. Tahj Jakins, Marina, Sr., Defender, Defensive MVP of Sunset League. Glen Larkin, Brea-Olinda, Sr., Defender, Defensive MVP of Orange League. Aaron Hennings, San Clemente, Sr., Midfielder, Had 6 goals and 7 assists. Alex Perez, Anaheim, Sr., Midfielder, MVP of Orange League. Greg Massey, Esperanza, Sr., Midfielder, Offensive MVP of Empire League. Cory Witt, Sonora, Sr., Midfielder, Had 23 goals, 15 assists. Tim Wilson, Tustin, Sr., Forward, Had 16 goals this season; 49 in career. Jose Miramontes, Sunny Hills, Sr., Forward, MVP of Freeway League. Bill Rimmer, Corona del Mar, Sr., Forward, First-team All-Sea View League. Honorable mention: Nick Chaviz (Trabuco Hills), forward; Jason Covarrubias (Western), forward; Brian Engesser (Ocean View), defender; Armando Hernandez (Santa Ana), forward; Oscar Lara (Santa Ana Valley), defender; Ricky Le (El Toro), midfielder; Mike Messinger (Laguna Hills), forward; Sean Novak (Santa Margarita), defender; Eric Olsen (Corona del Mar), defender; Mike Poirier (San Clemente), forward; Scott Schalliol (El Dorado), defender.