OCVarsity’s preview of the CIF-SS Division 5 boys soccer championship game.
DIVISION 5
SANTIAGO (19-4-5) VS. GARDEN GROVE (14-7-3)
Where, when: Warren High, Downey, Friday, 5 p.m.
Outlook: To defend their CIF title, the Cavaliers will have to beat a Garden Grove League rival, one that has proven particularly hard to beat. This will be the third meeting of the season for the two teams, with Santiago holding the edge in the series 1-0-1. In those two matches, the Cavaliers have outscored the Argonauts, 4-2. Three Santiago players have scored more than 10 goals this season. Ramon Yepez leads the team with 16 goals, Julio Garcia is one behind with 15, followed by Israel Celis who has 14 goals. But this likely won’t be one of the high-scoring matches that have become commonplace for Santiago as the Argonauts have shutout their last three opponents. Elian Areola scored the game winner in Garden Grove’s 1-0 victory in the semifinals.
