Nava Looks Past High School

Santa Ana senior Carlos Nava had just helped his team pull off a 2-1 upset of second-ranked Woodbridge. And now he was discussing his future, a task that appeared much more taxing than slicing through Woodbridge defenders.

“I haven’t decided what I want to do, where I want to go,” said Nava, who scored his fourth goal of the season in Monday’s victory over Woodbridge. “I haven’t thought much about it yet. A lot of things are going on right now.”

Santa Ana Coach Manny Penaflor tries not to get too involved in his players’ lives, but he knows some of the things that go on.

“Like many kids I have, he’s the breadwinner,” Penaflor said. “He comes to school early to get tutoring and to work with the computers. He’s a good student. Like a lot of kids I have, he wants to go to college. But there’s a family obligation. Soccer does not put food on the table right away.”

Sal Lopez, a former Santa Ana assistant and now an assistant men’s coach at Chapman, would love to have Nava in a Panther uniform next year. But Chapman does not offer athletic scholarships. Nava’s 3.8 grade-point average might make him eligible for an academic scholarship, and it might also make him attractive to some Division I colleges.

Nava, who scored 15 goals and had 15 assists in earning first-team Times all-county honors last season, said he has not spoken with any Division I college coaches.

“I know I have to work harder,” he said. ‘But I think I can play at that level.”

Former Santa Ana sweeper Mario Gonzalez earned a Division I scholarship and is a freshman at Tulsa. Lopez said Gonzalez is trying to convince his coach to recruit Nava.

“Most of these kids never make it out of here,” Lopez said. “That’s why I was so excited about Mario. I want Carlos to go to school too. But it’s up to him.”

Penaflor, who invited Nava out for the team his sophomore year after seeing him play in a club game, said he’s confident Nava’s situation will work out.

“I know he’s torn,” Penaflor said. “But I tell my kids, there’s no bad decisions. Whatever decision you make, make the most of it.”

SO FAR, SO GOOD

David Smart has coached men’s and women’s soccer in college and at the club level, but he had never coached in high school until this season.

So far, Smart is undefeated. His Edison team has already knocked off Foothill (2-1), ninth-ranked Santa Ana (1-0) and fourth-ranked Trabuco Hills (3-0). The Chargers began the season unranked but have jumped to seventh in the county poll.

Smart, who took over for Andy Strouse, isn’t surprised by his team’s start.

“A lot of people have high expectations for this team,” he said. “We had nine returners and a lot of talent.”

Some of that talent includes two-time All-Sunset League forward Devin Kato, Times all-county first-team defender Jeff Kunze, all-league midfielder Tim Trout and goalkeeper Joey Balbas. Senior midfielder Danny Collins leads the Chargers in scoring with three goals.

Smart said his biggest problem has been choosing a playing style that will appease everyone.

“We’ve got some kids who play three people in back in a man-marking style,” Smart said. “I’ve got a goalkeeper’s background and I tend to be more conservative with a 4-4-2 style. It’s a challenge, but not an impossible one.”

Smart’s previous coaching experience includes assistant men’s jobs at Clemson and Connecticut State. He’s now an assistant women’s coach at Long Beach State.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction into high school soccer,” Smart said. “Edison is a great program with a lot of history and a great pool to draw from.”

If you have an item or idea for the boys’ soccer report, you can fax us at (714) 966-5663 or e-mail us at david.mckibben@latimes.com