Five Teams Among State Top 12 As SCC Men's Soccer Begins Conference Play
If there was one sport that has exemplified the power of the South Coast Conference, it's men's soccer. Year in and year out, the SCC has produced a bevy of teams that have made the postseason and often the conference has sent teams to the CCCAA State Tournament final four. Last year, Mt. San Antonio captured the state championship, the ninth by a SCC school since 2006.
In 2022, already the first CCCSIA State Top 20 featured five South Coast teams ranked in the top 12 with Cerritos named #1 by sports information directors. The Falcons were followed by El Camino at #3, Mt. SAC at #5, surprising Los Angeles City tied at #6, and much-improved Pasadena City team at #12.
In early power points ratings (a formula that rates teams off of strength of schedule and is used to ultimately determine postseason seedings), South rankings saw Mt. SAC at #2, Cerritos #3, Long Beach City #5, El Camino #9, LACC #15, Rio Hondo #16, East Los Angeles #23, and Pasadena #24.
The SCC round-robin schedule begins today, October 4, with games between Cerritos at El Camino, ELAC at Long Beach, Pasadena at LA City, Compton at LA Harbor, and Rio Hondo at Mt. San Antonio.
NORTH PREVIEW
In the North Division, Mt. SAC is 8-1, including a win over power point #1 Oxnard (3-0). The Mounties only loss was against Richland, Texas, 2-1 in overtime. Mt. SAC brings a 5-game winning streak into conference play, paced by returning SCC North Offensive Player of the Year in letterman Alex Mendez, who has four goals and is tied for third in the state in assists with seven.
The Mounties also return the SCC North Goalie of the Year in Jacob Cardenas (currently 0.40 goals against average and two shutouts this year) and the star of the '21 state playoff run in Edward Castro, who scored the game-winning goals in both the state semifinals v. American River and the state finals v. Hartnell (in the final minute). Castro was named All-American and was the CCCSIA December State Men's Athlete of the Month for all sports. He has four goals in the early going this year. The Mounties are directed by SCC Men's Sports 2021-22 Coach of the Year in Juan Sanchez.
LA City (7-2-2) is led by Nicolas Magana with four goals and Felipe Alvarez, who has three game-winning goals for the Cubs. LA City ran off six straight wins at one point in pre-conference play.
Pasadena (6-2-2) was off to its best start since the 2003 season thanks to the scoring duo of Esai Matchan (tied for eighth in the state in points on seven goals and four assists for 18 points) and Osmar Rojas (four goals, five assists).
Rio Hondo (5-4-2) has won four of its last five games with solid play from midfielder Maximillian De Anda (three goals) while East Los Angeles (5-5-2) has a strong returning All-SCC defender in Alexander Guevara.
SOUTH PREVIEW
The South Division could very well become a 3-team race between Cerritos, El Camino and Long Beach. The Falcons are undefeated at 8-0-2 with a dominating defense that has allowed just three goals against in 10 games.
Ernesto Vergara and Jaret Rocha, returning All-SCC defenders, bolster the shutdown defense while the team's offense has been explosive at times behind the scoring of Pablo Caparelli, 10th in state scoring with six goals (four game-winners) and five assists. Another top player is Antonio Negrete with five goals. The two scorers also were All-SCC lettermen.
Cerritos won the Hartnell Tournament title and has rattled off five consecutive victories.
El Camino (8-1) is another defensive dynamo that has recorded six shutout wins and has a 7-game win streak going overall. The Warriors are led by returning All-SCC defender Brandon Galindo and high scorer Mario Carlos, who is tied with PCC's Matchan for the conference scoring lead with seven goals, four assists and 18 points.
Long Beach (4-1-4) features the returning SCC Defensive Player of the Year in Jonathan Grado and a talented scorer in Diego Albanez (six goals, three assists). The Vikings held the lead in three of their four ties and are undefeated in their last seven games.
Compton (2-4-2) is 2-1-1 in its last four games as the Tartars have played well going into conference action. Juan Macias, an All-SCC player last season, leads the offense with five goals.
LA Harbor (1-8) has struggled offensively, but broke an 8-game losing streak with a 2-0 win over Southwestern on Sept. 30. The Seahawks have an athletic goalie in Oliver Nava (28 saves).
SCC TOURNAMENT
Once again the 10 SCC teams take part in the South Coast Conference Tournament Nov. 4-11. While the division winners will be based on a 9-game, round robin schedule, the automatic qualifiers will be the winner of the tournament and the remaining division winner from the non-tourney winning division.
SCC 2022 Statistical Leaders
SCC 2022 Current Standings
Last year, Mt. SAC won the SCC North title and Cerritos the South title with Cerritos defeating Long Beach for the tourney crown.
Preview Release by Robert Lewis, SCC SID