Soccer Teams Get Local Test in Playoffs

It’s nail-biting time for area boys’ soccer teams as the first round of both the City and Southern Section playoffs begins today with a number of local schools playing each other.

Ten area teams are in the City’s 32-team draw. Local matchups include No. 27-seeded Sylmar at No. 6 Birmingham and No. 19 North Hollywood at No. 14 San Fernando. Reseda and Chatsworth are the highest-seeded area teams at third and 10th, respectively.

In the Southern Section, Rio Mesa visits Burroughs and Buena is at Saugus in Division II, Notre Dame travels to Quartz Hill in Division III and Moorpark has the unenviable task of playing at undefeated La Canada, the No. 1 team in Division IV.

“I think the first round is the toughest,” said Burroughs Coach Mike Kodama, who guided the Indians to the Southern Section Division II finals last season. “You don’t know what to expect from either team.”

Kodama can expect a dogfight against Rio Mesa (11-7-5), which received an at-large bid and is in the playoffs for the first time in 14 years.

Two years ago, 23 candidates tried out for Rio Mesa’s team. This year, 97 tried out.

Twins Brian and Devin Normington anchor Rio Mesa at striker and fullback, and first-year Coach Brent Kruk credits physical play and attitude adjustment in bringing the Spartans this far.

“Our guys will hammer you until the whistle blows,” Kruk said. “I promised the boosters before the season that we would go to (the playoffs). That was kind of a bold statement but that’s how much I believed in these guys.”

Burroughs (14-4-6), which has won four consecutive Foothill League titles, will counter with striker Jesus Diaz, who has 22 goals, and goalie Gustavo Palomares, who is undefeated in his last 13 starts.

Quartz Hill (17-2-2) won the Golden League title behind midfielder Danny Nishiyama (17 goals). Coach Mike Kuper said the home-field advantage will be significant.

“We’ve played in the wind and the rain all year,” said Kuper, whose team is undefeated at home the last two seasons. “I don’t know how adaptable (Notre Dame) will be to 35 degrees plus the wind chill.”

Notre Dame Coach Colm McFeeley laughs at such forecasts, though the revolving lineup he’s had this season has been no joke.

“This Northern Irishman knows a little about the cold,” said McFeeley. “We’ve had players out and in. Now it’s a matter of everyone pulling together.”

Midfielder Chris Sailer is back for the Knights (12-7-1) after missing a few games because of football recruiting trips, but injuries will limit striker Steve Lee and keep forward Pat Thomsen out of the Division III match.

Unfortunately for Moorpark (12-5-6), La Canada is healthy and strong. The Spartans (20-0) have outscored opponents, 104-4, and Coach Lou Bilowitz wastes no time with false modesty .

“It’s the best high school team I’ve ever seen,” said Bilowitz, who won the Division I-A Southern Section title with La Canada in 1988-89.

Spartan forward Josh Henderson (31 goals, 25 assists) recently signed a letter of intent to play at Duke. But the strength of the team is in junior defenders Nick Paneno, Gaston Haupert, Derrick Dyslin and Chris Sawicki.