Top-ranked and undefeated El Toro will face No. 7 but likely to rise Villa Park tonight at 8 in the finals of the Villa Park Classic.

That’s right – it also will be Griffin White vs. Josh Samuels, too.

But I have a feeling that Samuels’ defensive duties will focus more Russell Renteria.

The surging sophomore had a breakout effort in the semifinals as the Chargers edged Santa Barbara, 9-8. Renteria was a monster at 2 meters with a match-high five goals, including a spectacular bar-in backhander from 5 meters early in the fourth that gave El Toro an 8-7 lead. “He played like a man today,” said El Toro coach Don Stoll.

Even more impressively for the Chargers, they won despite playing without Nick Rascon, who missed the match because of a brutality in the quarterfinals, Stoll said. Because of administrative requirements associated with the brutality, Rascon will not play in the finals, Stoll said.

Villa Park edged Sacred Heart Prep of Atherton, 9-8, in overtime in the other semifinals. Dillon Fisher scored the game-winner at center with 56 seconds left in the second three-minute overtime.

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