Here are the pairings and other information for the CIF-SS boy soccer playoffs.
DIVISION 2
Seeded teams: 1. Long Beach Cabrillo, 2. Anaheim, 3. Montebello 4. El Rancho.
Playoff dates: Wild card, Wedesday; first round, Friday; second round, Feb. 24; quarterfinals, Feb. 26; semifinals, March 1; final, March 5.
Dottore’s comments: Traditionally the Orange League is one of the most competitive in the county if not the entire Southern Section. This season, Anaheim emerged as the champion. The Colonists earned it with a 3-2 victory against Santa Ana Valley in the season finale. . . . Although, Century still had a chance to finish as co-champs that day. . . Anaheim is once again loaded and would be a worthy No. 1 seed. They were one of only two teams to spoil Valencia’s bid at a perfect season, tying the Tigers on Jan. 8, one of only two blemishes during the Tigers’ 21-0-2 season. . . . Eduardo Chavez scored in the opening minutes of the Valencia match, to give Anaheim an early 1-0 lead. Chavez leads the team with 19 goals this season to rank third in the county. . . . But is Anaheim’s path to the final guaranteed? Hardly. This might be the most difficult and competitive division in the Southern Section. Anaheim’s season could come to an end in the quarterfinals. That’s where a potential matchup with Golden West League champion Santa Ana could happen. . . . The Saints played for the championship this season, and have been playing like a title contender all season, waltzing through league undefeated and Oscar Navarro has scored 16 goals, which puts him in fourth place in the county, right behind Chavez. . . . Aliso Niguel, Sunny Hills and Laguna Hills can’t be counted out. The Wolverines won the Sea View League and have a great long-throw weapon in Ryan Souza, who can throw the ball 30 yards easily. He fired in the game winner against Laguna Hills that moved the Wolverines into first place in the Sea View League. Aliso also has a very capable keeper in Blake Sigler. . . . The Hawks finished in second behind the Wolverines in the league standings, despite having more talent and skill than Aliso. Laguna Hills is most dangerous when using quick precise passing to open up the width of the field for their many weapons up top. Four different players scored for the Hawks in a 5-2 victory against Dana Hills in the season finale. Willie Ospina knocked in a pair of goals while Efra Ardestani, Sean Rochford and Brad Jones each added one. . . . The Hawks lost to Sunny Hills in the playoffs last season, largely because they couldn’t break down the Lancers’ well-organized defense. The game was eventually decided on penalty kicks. Sunny Hills is defensively strong once again having shut out six of its 10 Freeway League opponents. But the Lancers hopes won’t rest solidly on the shoulders of the backline as in the past. They have a potent goals scorer too. Keven Perez has 11 goals, putting him in a tie for 13th in the county.
Dottore’s prediction: Santa Ana beats Aliso Niguel in the final.
WILD CARD
Wednesday
All Games 3 p.m.
A: Long Beach Wilson at Whittier
B: Palm Springs at Riverside Poly
FIRST ROUND
Friday
All games 3 p.m.
Schurr at Long Beach Cabrillo
Orange at Esperanza
Buena Park at Katella
Indio at Rancho Verde
Westminster at Aliso Niguel
Century at Palm Desert
Jordan at El Rancho
Fontana at Bell Gardens
Winner A at Montebello
La Quinta/La Quinta at Arlington
Foothill at Laguna Hills
Kaiser at Sunny Hills
Sonora at Santa Ana
La Serna at Millikan
Tesoro at Summit
Winner B at Anaheim
