The heat of league competition has ratcheted up the intensity in girls soccer, and the results have shaken up the county top 10.
The top three teams in last week’s rankings – Esperanza, Edison and Santa Margarita, in that order – all suffered losses, leading to a new trio at the top of the top 10 – Mater Dei, Aliso Niguel and Tesoro.
Canyon knocked off Esperanza, 2-0, in the Crestview League last week. The Comanches (10-8-1) have won four straight.
In the Sunset League, Fountain Valley upset Edison, 1-0, and Mater Dei beat Santa Margarita, 3-0, in a Trinity League game. The Monarchs (12-2-3, 3-0-0), the new No. 1, have won six in a row.
Aliso Niguel moved up to No. 2 in this week’s poll. The Wolverines went 3-0-1 through the first half of South Coast League games, but they face No. 8 San Clemente on Thursday. The two teams played to a 1-1 draw in their first meeting.
“I’m very excited,” Wolverines sophomore defender Maddi Desiano said of the matchup. “This game is obviously going to have a lot of impact. San Clemente is a very strong defensive team.”
Aliso Niguel is seeking its third consecutive South Coast League crown.
Other significant games this week include Cypress (9-4-4, 4-0-0) at Kennedy (10-2-4, 2-0-2) on Tuesday in the Empire League, and Canyon vs. Villa Park (11-2-4, 1-0-1) in the Crestview League on Wednesday.
– ANDREW TURNER, Contributing writer
GIRLS WATER POLO
League games take the spotlight this week in girls water polo. Here are three to watch:
No. 8 Santa Margarita at No. 5 Mater Dei, today, 6 p.m.: The winner of this Trinity League clash could emerge as the strongest challenger in league for top-ranked Orange Lutheran. The Monarchs almost cracked the top eight at the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions, while Santa Margarita upset Newport Harbor last week.
No. 7 Los Alamitos at No. 9 Newport Harbor, Thursday, 5 p.m.: The Sailors could take another major step toward the Sunset League crown with a victory. They defeated county-ranked Huntington Beach, 10-3, in December. Fans should stick around for the 6:05 p.m. game between No. 10 Huntington Beach and Edison. Both matches hold major playoff implications in CIF-SS Division 1.
No. 6 El Toro at San Clemente, Saturday, TBA: The South Coast duel moves to the weekend. The Chargers won their first meeting in league, 7-6, but the Tritons showed well last week in a 14-13 loss against Royal of Simi Valley. …
Huntington Beach sophomore Marina Hyham was selected the top goalie at the America’s Finest City Invitational after racking up 40 saves. Oilers sophomore center Julia Rozolis-Hill earned all-tournament honors as Huntington Beach finished second to Royal.
“I think we turned a corner,” said Oilers coach Mark Canner, whose squad features one senior, Sydney Preston.
– DAN ALBANO
WRESTLING
The Coast View Conference is the first up on the schedule for its league final, which is Saturday.
Over the weekend, two of the teams that will be competing, Laguna Hills and San Clemente, had good final tune-ups.
The Hawks scored 268.5 points to win the one-day Laguna Hills Invitational. Athony Le (120) and James Oliveros (152) were the Lower and Upper Weight MVPs, respsectively.
Junior Barraza (106), Steven Kroesen (113), Josh Fuentes (126), Phillip Zamora (145), Ramsey Cole (170) and Jaxon Cook (182) all finished first in their divisions.
San Clemente posted 210.5 points at the Rotary Invitational. Hunter Gallaher (126), Tyler Meisinger (152) and Kyle Marshall (170) won their weights, and Marshall earned Champion of Champions honors.
At Morro Bay, Calvary Chapel finished second to Mayfair, 204.5-199.5. Johnny Knowles (145), Jeremy Thomas (170) and Morris Wilner (182) were champions. Thomas earned Upper Weight MVP honors.
– DAMIAN CALHOUN
GIRLS WRESTLING
This weekend is the final one for tournaments before the process of qualifying for the state tournament begins.
Tustin will host the Southern Division qualifier, which features all county wrestlers on Feb. 6. There are four division qualifiers, with the top eight at each weight from each site moving to the CIF-SS Individual Championships, Feb. 12-13 at Roosevelt High in Eastvale.
– DAMIAN CALHOUN
BOYS SOCCER
Edison could take a big step toward winning the Sunset League championship on Friday when the No. 4 Chargers play host to No. 5 Los Alamitos.
When the teams met on Jan. 8, the visiting Chargers beat the Griffins, 3-0.
Since then, Los Alamitos has had little trouble finding the back of the net, scoring four goals in victories against Fountain Valley and Huntington Beach. Kevin Herring has scored three goals and Louie Arrelano added two in those triumphs.
Edison’s strength is its defense and Brendon Fix’s goaltending. The Chargers have only conceeded three goals in five league matches, and has shut out Newport Harbor and Los Alamitos.
– DAMIAN DOTTORE
RECRUITING
Servite All-County defensive back Keyon Riley (6-2, 195) has committed to UCLA, the senior announced on Twitter.
In other recruiting news, La Habra All-County offensive lineman Adam Tourville (6-4, 340) has committed to Sacramento State, the senior said.
– DAN ALBANO
FOOTBALL
Edison graduate Glenn Parker, an offensive lineman in five Super Bowls, will be part of the NFL’s Super Bowl High School Honor Roll presentation Wednesday night at halftime of the Chargers’ boys basketball game against visiting Newport Harbor. Edison and Coach Dave White will receive a commemorative Wilson Golden Football because of Parker’s contributions to the Super Bowl with the Bills (four times) and Giants (once). …
The Southern California Interscholastic Football Coaches Association honored recently retired coaches John Barnes of Los Alamitos and Mike Marrujo of Valencia with its Clare Van Hoorebeke Award during its clinic Saturday in Corona.
The SCIFCA also recognized Marrujo (308 wins), Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson (258) and former Orange Lutheran coach Jim Kunau (202), now at Rancho Christian in Temecula, for victory milestones. Register staff writer Dan Albano was given the group’s Bud Dyer Jr. media award.
