As I was watching the La Habra/Troy match yesterday, I thought to myself, "Am I watching Saddleback wearing blue and white uniforms instead of green and white?" That is the first time that I have seen the Highlanders play since I picked up the soccer beat after an eight year or so motor sports hiatus, and I couldn't believe how similar the two teams are.

Soon I began to wonder who would win if the two county soccer powers met this season. The game would probably go deep into overtime.

Both have very talented midfielders/forwards who always seem to send the ball passing in the right spot, possessing a creative and spontaneous style that makes both teams hard to defend at times.

Jonathan Prieto did a marvelous job dribbling around and through multiple defenders yesterday and really dominated the midfield for the Highlanders during their 1-0 victory against Freeway League rival Troy on Monday.  He reminded me a lot of Saddleback's Edward Zepeda. I have seen Zepeda play four times now, and I believe he just might be the hardest player to defend in the county. He was able to run at will toward the goal during the Trabuco Hills Tournament championship, and if it wasn't for some stellar goalkeeping from Trabuco Hills' goalie, Justin Lannan, the Roadrunners would have won by a lot more than two goals.

On Monday, La Habra's Facundo Bruno and Alex Napoles tested Troy's defedners in much the same way Zepeda did in the Trabuco tournament. Tremendous goalkeeping kept the duo at bay for a while until Napoles finally converted a pass from Bruno in overtime. Bruno twice fired great shots at the goal but both were turned away at the last moment.

Each team just has so many potent offense weapons. Besides Zepeda, Saddleback has got Omar Laris, who scored two goals against Westminter on Monday, David Perez and Juan Pablo Ocegueda. The Roadrunners have outscored their opponents 49-9!

That stat also brings up another interesting point about both teams. They have great defenders as well. Saddleback has eight shutouts this year. La Habra posted its 11th shutout.

Picking a winner of a potential matchup between the two teams, who right now are probably the two best teams in the county, is very difficult, but right now, I'd have to give a slight edge to Saddlebackjust because of their consistency.

On thing that it didn't take me long to realize on Monday, though, is that it would be a great game, a game that would prove that Orange County is home to some of the best high school soccer in the country.

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