CIF-SS PLAYOFFS: DIVISION 1

ORANGE COUNTY BREAKDOWN

San Clemente – The Tritons are having a year that might be better than when they made a perfect run through the playoffs a couple of years ago, winning both the CIF-SS Divison 1 and So Cal Regional titles. They have scored a school record 78 goals this season and shutout a record 18 teams. They are led by Gage Zerboni, who leads the county with 25 goals and has also tied a school record this season with 17 assists. Look for the Tritons to make it to the final.

El Toro – The Chargers and Carlsbad are the only two teams to knock off San Clemente this season, beating the Tritons, 2-1, in a nonleague game in January. James Suri scored the game winner of the Chargers that day. His nickname is Rooney, and when you see him you know why. He’s a husky forward that is built to score goals. But his size doesn’t slow him down. He’s always running around the field at 100 mph. El Toro has a great chance to meet the Tritons once again in the title game

Santa Margarita – They won the Trinity League championship for the first time since 2008, which was Curt Bauer’s last year coaching the team. Wade Fraser leads the team now, and he has done a masterful job keeping the team together under some trying circumstances. Recently, three players were kicked off the team for hazing, yet the Eagles went undefeated after that.

Dana Hills – The Dolphins are the surprise team of the season and were the best of the rest in the Sea View League which was ruled by El Toro this season. The Dolphins closed the season with three wins and two ties, outscoring their opponents 14-7 during that span.  That also included a 3-3 tie with El Toro, which shows you the quality of the Dolphins. This team should make it to the quarterfinals.

Fountain Valley – Clinched a spot in the playoffs with a victory against rival Edison on the last day of the season. A loss would have likely kept them out.  For finishing second in the Sunset League, the Barons get rewarded with possibly the longest trip in the first round. They get to face Santa Barbara, always a tough team. The Barons might have a short stay in the playoffs this time around.

Edison – They were second until Fountain Valley beat them on the final day of the season and are kind of backpedaling as they approach the playoffs. After beating Marina, Fountain Valley, Newport Harbor and Huntington Beach, the closed the season with two losses and a tie.

JSerra – The Lions have one of the best midfields in the county led by Santa Ana-transfer Ivan Canales and UCI-bound Andres Mendoza. They also feature one of the top goal scorers in the county in Jonathan Fabulich. The junior forward has scored 17 goals.

Tesoro – This could be a tough postseason for the Titans. The season that San Clemente ran the table in the playoffs, the Titans beat the Tritons for the South Coast League championship. This season, the Titans only won two league games and got shutout in five of its eight legaue games.

Servite – After changing coaches in the spring and losing county player of the year Conner Bevans to graduation, I didn’t expect the Friars to be here, but Coach Jon Spencer has put together a well-organized defense and finished third in the Trinity League after closing out the season with Orange Lutheran, St. John Bosco and Mater Dei

Los Alamitos – Defense is definitely the strength of the Sunset League champions, but they also have a proven goal scorer in Ozvaldo Yanez, who has scored 10 goals.

Capistrno Valley – The Cougars made it to the Division 2 championship matches the last two seasons, but that likely won’t be duplicated this season, not with the Tritons poised to make another perfect run through the playoffs. The Cougars do, however, have one of the best keepers in the league in Matt Bermudez. The senior who almost didn’t end up playing because of some injuries has made some of the best saves that I have seen this season, and kept the Cougars in their game with El Toro.

Newport Harbor – This is another team that has turned in some surprising results this season, beating Fountain Valley twice. Tamplin True leads the Sailors with 13 goals.

Laguna Hills – Finished third in the Sea View League this season after losing four of its first six league games. They do feature a rare-type of player – a goal keeper who can score goals. Ricky Brown, who has been playng in goal during the Sea View League, has scored nine goals for the Hawks this season

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Gage Zerboni, Sr., F, San Clemente

Oscar Vasquez, Sr., MF, San Clemente

Blayne Martinez, So. F, San Clemente

Colin McDermott, Sr., D

James Suri, Sr. F, El Toro

Michael Bryant, Sr. F, El Toro

Nicolo D’Amato, Jr., MF, El Toro

Roger Howard, Sr., D, El Toro

Abraham Becerra, Sr., D, El Toro

Joseph Soliman, Sr., F, Fountain Valley

Kenji Louer, Sr., D, Fountain Valley

Matt Bermudez, Sr., GK, Capistrano Valley

Jonathan Fabulich, Jr., F, JSerra

Ivan Canales, So., MF, JSerra

Andres Mendoza, Sr., MF, JSerra

Michael Cronk, Sr., D, JSerra

Sean Goode, Sr., F, Santa Margarita

Brenden Hickey, Sr., D, Santa Margarita

Chandler Kirby, Jr., GK, Santa Margarita

Mike Wolitski, Sr., MF, Servite

Kevin Engesser, Sr., MF, Servite

Colton Goodness, Jr., MF, Servite

Connor Gordan, Sr., MF/F, Edison

Ozvaldo Yanez Sr., F, Los Alamitos

Daniel Weis, Sr., D, Los Alamitos

Cory Yukihiro, Sr., D, Los Alamitos

Ricky Brown, Sr., F/GK, Laguna Hills

Derek Perez, Sr., F, Laguna Hills

Connor Dudas, Sr., D, Tesoro

Keaton Kaichi, Sr., F, Tesoro

Ian Rumbaugh, Sr., F, Tesoro

Derek Saunier, Sr., D, Tesoro

Izzy Reyes, Sr., MF, Dana Hills

Paul Romero, So., F, Dana Hills

Tamplin True, Sr., MF, Newport Harbor

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