BOYS' SOCCER PREVIEW: RESEDA IS THE ONE TO CATCH : RETURNING PLAYERS, NEW FACES PROMISE ANOTHER STRONG SEASON.Byline: Brian Dalziel Daily News Staff Writer It was last March when Reseda High's boys' soccer team captured its first City Section title since 1988. And on that bus ride home from East L.A. College, where the Regents beat Bell 3-2, co-coaches Julio Castillo and Terry Davila reminisced about the game and looked ahead to the next season. ``We were looking at how many guys we were going to have back,'' Castillo said. ``And we weren't counting the (incoming) freshmen. We were excited.'' Reseda, the Valley Pac-8 Conference champions, has 13 of the 17 players back from its championship squad - including Daily News Player of the Year Oscar Sims, a midfielder who scored 21 goals to lead the Regents to a 16-2-3 record. Add Sims to three other players who combined for 33 goals last season, and it's no wonder the Regents are the area's No. 1 preseason team. Is there any pressure to repeat? ``None,'' said Castillo, who added that his squad isn't thinking championship quite yet. ``The guys know it's not going to be easy to repeat, but they aren't looking at the finals right now,'' said Castillo, who is in his fourth season. ``They are looking at who's next on the schedule. They are taking it one game at a time.'' Castillo said that if the Regents are going to repeat, it will center around senior midfielder Carlos Morales Carlos Morales can refer to:
``Carlos is Carlos I may refer to:
n. A player in a sport with goals, such as a guard in basketball, who initiates offensive plays. play ,'' Castillo said. ``He's the one who creates everything for us.'' Besides Sims and Morales, Reseda has additional offensive weapons. Junior forward Jesse Servin - along with Sims, who will be rotating between forward and midfield - returns after scoring 11 goals and getting 16 assists last season. Juan Vega, a midfielder who transferred from Poly, scored 14 goals last season. ``We're very explosive,'' Castillo said. ``Jessie and Oscar with the ball at their feet can create things. Without the ball, they can run. When Jesse gets on a run, he's so quick and strong. He's like a tank.'' Junior sweeper Edwin Miranda Edwin Miranda (born January 28, 1981 in Zacatecoluca, El Salvador) is a Salvadoran-American soccer player, who currently plays defensive midfield for the Puerto Rico Islanders of the USL First Division. returns to lead the Reseda defense, which also includes returning starter Tibor Resnecky, a senior. The midfield is also strong with returnees Kenny Cepeda, a senior, and junior Allof Lima. ``We're looking forward to the season,'' Castillo said. ``We have a lot of experience and we don't have any superstars. Everybody is equal. That's one of the reasons why we won it last year, because everybody had a role and they made a commitment.'' Games To Watch Burroughs at Canyon, Jan. 5, 4:45 p.m. Monroe at Reseda, Jan. 13, 4 p.m. Westlake at Royal, Jan. 15, 5:30 p.m. Palmdale at Littlerock, Jan. 20, 6 p.m. Royal at Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. , Jan. 20, 5:30 p.m. Loyola at Harvard-Westlake, 3 p.m., Jan. 23 Thousand Oaks at Westlake, Jan. 27, 5:30 p.m. Birmingham at El Camino Real El Camino Real (Spanish for The Royal Road or The King's Highway) was the name of a series of pre-automobile highways linking the various New World colonies of Spain:
Reseda at Monroe, Feb. 5, 4 p.m. Players to Watch Name Year Pos. School Lindon Pecorelli Jr. F Crescenta Valley The Crescenta Valley is a small inland valley in Los Angeles County, California. Its name derives from its crescent-like shape, with the convex portion facing roughly northeast and the concave portion southwest. Western Regional ODP ODP - Open Distributed Processing player David Cervantes Sr. F Rio Mesa Scored 29 goals last season for Spartans Carlos Morales Sr. M Reseda Explosive playmaker who is the City's best Sean Henderson Sr. D La Canada All-CIF talent will key Spartans' success Sergio Renes Sr. F Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. Pioneers' leading scorer returns Darren Davies Jr. F Crespi 3-year starter hoping for a breakout season John Wall Jr. GK Birmingham U.S. junior national team keeper will keep Braves in game Edwin Miranda Jr. D Reseda Opponents have to worry about this tough sweeper Abdullah Safdari Sr. M Chatsworth All-area selection has true knowledge of the game Danny Corrales Corrales can refer to: People
Solid foot, proven scorer adds strength to Vikings offense Danny Sable sable, species of marten, Martes zibellina, found in Siberia, N European Russia, and N Finland. This carnivorous mammal is highly valued for its thick, soft fur, which is dark brown or black, sometimes with white underparts and sometimes flecked with silver. Sr. M Harvard-Westlake Scrappy scrap·py 1 adj. scrap·pi·er, scrap·pi·est Composed of scraps; fragmentary: scrappy evidence. scrap , versatile player one of 10 returning starters Oscar Sims Sr. F-M Reseda Last year's Daily News' POY provides talent upfront and in the midfield Jose Rivera-Otero Sr. F El Camino Real One of the Conquistadores' top goal/assist players Jared Weinryt Sr. F Chaminade Quick and fast - runs a 4.4 in 40-yard dash Matt Jordan Matt Jordan (born October 13, 1975 in Aurora, Colorado) is an American soccer goalkeeper who currently plays for the Montreal Impact of USL First Division. Jordan graduated from Overland High School in Aurora, Sr. GK Canyon Four-year starter had six shutouts for Cowboys Brian Criscuolo Sr. M-F M-F Monday Through Friday Burroughs Four-year starter makes transition from defense Daily News Top 10 1. Reseda All the elements to repeat as City champs 2. El Camino Real Powerful offensive attack 3. Birmingham Key transfers bolster lineup 4. Harvard-Westlake Should battle again for Mission title 5. Monroe Danny Corrales adds scoring depth 6. Westlake Midfield, defense will carry Warriors 7. Royal Another 20-win season is possible 8. Thousand Oaks Going for two straight Marmonte titles 9. Loyola Cubs are young, but strong 10. Canyon Four-year keeper Matt Jordan is Cowboys' backbone CAPTION(S): Photo, 3 Boxes Photo: Midfielder Oscar Sims, last year's Daily News Player of the Year, scored 21 goals to lead Reseda to a 16-2-3 record. The Regents have 13 of 17 players returning after last season's championship. Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News Box: (1) Games To Watch (See Text) (2) Players to Watch (See Text) (3) Daily News Top 10 (See Text) |
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