BOYS SOCCER

PRESEASON TOP 10

1 Santa Margarita: Div. III champions young but talented.

2 Saddleback: How much will they miss Serna?

3 Woodbridge: Defense solid, scoring a question.

4 Santa Ana: No superstars, plenty of depth.

5 Capistrano Valley: Might start 3 sophomores, 2 freshmen.

6 Fountain Valley: New coach, same winning tradition.

7 El Toro: Looking for return trip to finals.

8 Esperanza: First-round loss still stings.

9 Laguna Hills: PCL champions loaded with talent.

10 Mission Viejo: Hoping summer success carries over.

Players to Watch

* Steve Adams, Foothill, midfielder, Jr.

* Doug Allan, Woodbridge, goalkeeper, Sr.

* Robby Balogh, Laguna Hills, midfielder, Sr.

* Eric Butler, Mater Dei, goalkeeper, Sr.

* Daniel Flores, Brea Olinda, forward, Sr.

* Kevin Friedland, Woodbridge, defender, Sr.

* Julian Gaitan, El Toro, forward, Sr.

* Spencer George, Santa Margarita, midfielder, Jr.

* Ryan Johnson, Laguna Hills, forward, Sr.

* Alex Licea, Saddleback, halfback, Sr.

* Justin Lyons, Capistrano Valley, defender, Sr.

* Jackson Petry, Capistrano Valley, striker, Sr.

* Cliff McKinley, Fountain Valley, forward, Jr.

* Brandon Meeks, Santa Margarita, midfielder, Sr.

* Carlos Nava, Santa Ana, midfielder, Jr.

* Peter Padayachee, Trabuco Hills, midfielder, Sr.

* Oscar Retiz, Saddleback, halfback, Sr.

* Josh Saunders, El Toro, goalkeeper, Sr.

* Matt Terry, Servite, forward, Sr.

* Justin Waldrop, Los Alamitos, forward, Sr.

League Favorites

Century: Santa Ana Valley; Empire: Kennedy; Freeway: Sonora; Garden Grove: Pacifica; Golden West: Saddleback; Olympic: Orange Lutheran; Orange: Brea Olinda; Pacific Coast: Laguna Hills; Sea View: Santa Margarita; South Coast: Capistrano Valley; Sunset: Fountain Valley.

Key Dates

Dec. 15-19, Brea Olinda Tournament; Dec. 26-30, Marina Tournament; Dec. 28-30, Trabuco Hills Tournament; Feb. 17, 20, 23, 25, March 2, March 5-6, Southern Section playoffs.

1998 Final Poll

1. Saddleback; 2. Capistrano Valley; 3. Woodbridge; 4. Santa Margarita; 5. San Clemente; 6. Laguna Hills; 7. Santa Ana; 8. Esperanza; 9. Fountain Valley; 10. Santa Ana Valley.

Notes

Newport Harbor senior Zach Wells, one of the county’s top goalkeepers, will miss the season after breaking his collarbone two weeks ago during an Olympic Development training session. Sophomore Duke Burchell will replace Wells, who is being recruited by Indiana and UCLA. “This really sets us back,” Coach Matt West said. “He was really the foundation.” . . . Laguna Hills, which was upset by Sonora last season in the Division III quarterfinals, won the South County Summer League. Matt Chandler, a 6-2 forward, will be the first freshman to start for Coach Scott Johnson in 10 years. “He’s really good in the air,” Johnson said. “He’s kind of a clone of [senior] Ryan Johnson. He’s going to be a big-time player.” . . . Jason Smith will take over for his brother, Kevin, at Fountain Valley. Kevin, who led Fountain Valley to two Division I finals the last four years, takes over the program at Cypress, where he will also teach. . . . Santa Margarita’s Curt Bauer is coaching his third George brother, junior midfielder Spencer George. Bauer had Seth at Santa Margarita and Sam at Mater Dei. “He’s the most technically sound player I’ve ever had,” said Bauer of Spencer George. “We were so deep in talent last year that he just didn’t get much chance to play. This year he’s a lot stronger.”

League Favorites

Century: Canyon; Empire: El Dorado; Freeway: Sunny Hills; Garden Grove: Pacifica; Golden West: Ocean View; Olympic: Calvary Chapel; Orange: Brea Olinda; Pacific Coast: University; Sea View: Santa Margarita; South Coast: Capistrano Valley; Sunset: Marina.

Key Dates

Dec. 28-30, Excalibur tournament at Foothill High; Dec. 28-31, Ocean View tournament; Feb. 17, 19, 23, 25; March 2, Southern Section playoffs.

1998 Final Poll

1. Capistrano Valley; 2. Mission Viejo; 3. Edison; 4. Santa Margarita; 5. Mater Dei; 6. Los Alamitos; 7. Esperanza; 8. University; 9. Canyon; 10. Woodbridge.

Notes

Mater Dei has been devastated by off-season knee injuries. Senior midfielder Tracey Winzen, who has signed with UCLA, tore an anterior cruciate ligament playing with her club team, but is expected back by the time league play begins. Junior sweeper Kelsei Ganshert has a torn ACL and might be out for the season. Sophomore midfielder Nicole Rothwell, who tore her left ACL after tearing her right ACL the year before, is hoping to be back by the time league play begins. Rachel Svoboda, a senior stopper, sprained her medial collateral ligament and is out for at least a month. “I have no idea why us,” Mater Dei Coach Austin Sharp said. . . . Canyon returns seven starters from its Century League championship team. The Comanches will be helped by junior midfielder Leah Dawson and junior defender Patricia Romano, who transferred from Villa Park and Esperanza, and senior forward Kimberly Mallory, who missed most of last season with torn ligaments in her right ankle. . . San Clemente hadn’t won a South Coast League game in 10 years until last season. But with eight starters back--including all-league forward Alison Halpern (15 goals, nine assists) and all-league midfielder Tracy Walla--the Tritons should qualify for their first playoff appearance. . . . Jenni Branam, the Empire League’s MVP last year for El Dorado, had shoulder surgery last month and will miss about half the season.