Soccer: SoCal Regional thoughts and observations

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The SoCal Regional brackets were announced Sunday -- to see the boys’ bracket click here, for girls’ click here.

The SCR, which is in Year 1 of a two-year testing period, is an enrollment-based tournament that is divided into three divisions. Originally it was supposed to be a state tournament, but it’s only being held in Southern California. The fact that is not a state tournament ‘took the luster off,’ La Habra Coach Steven Aanderud said.

This tournament could definitely use some tweaking, making it a state tournament is one way to improve it, but that’s a topic for another blog. Right now, let’s talk about some of the surprises and matchups that resulted from the release of the pairings.

Who can benefit the most from the SCR? Santa Monica and Long Beach Wilson -- and fans of high school soccer, of course. The Vikings’ boys team and the Bruins’ girls could ended up winning not one, but two mythical national championships -- the studentsports.soccer.rivals.com and the NSCAA/ADIDAS titles -- based on their winning the SCR. Without the extra games, they would have finished No. 2.

Biggest shocker: La Habra boys’ team declining the invite. Read about it here. The Highlanders’ departure deprives high school soccer fans of another chance to watch Hope International-bound forward Edgar Bran, one of the top strikers in the Southland. He has 74 goals in the last two seasons.

Best quarterfinal matchup: No. 5 Woodland Hills El Camino Real at No. 4 San Clemente, Tuesday at 5 p.m., in Girls’ Division I. The match pits the eight-time defending City Section champion against the reining Southern Section Division I co-champion. San Clemente Coach Stacy Finnerty was very surprised to find out that the Conquistadores had won eight consecutive titles. ‘Eight?’ she asked, hoping she had heard wrong. Yes, eight, I assured her. ‘Wow,’ she added. Wow, indeed. This is a great matchup.

Second best matchup: No. 1 Santa Monica vs No. 8 Newbury Park at Santa Monica College, Tuesday at 5 p.m., in Boys’ Division I. Not many are believers that Santa Monica, the Division IV champion, is really that good. Some believe Santa Margarita, which beat Newbury Park on Saturday for the Division I title, is better. This match will be a good measuring stick.

Best non-Southland team: Torrey Pines from the San Diego Section in Girls’ Division I. The defending three-time San Diego champions come in ranked No. 1 in the nation by studentsports. The Falcons have allowed only 23 goals in the last two seasons and have compiled a 45-0-3 record during that stretch.

Best potential semifinal matchup: No. 1 Santa Monica vs. No. 4 Wilmington Banning in Boys’ Division I. It’s the Southern Section’s best against the City Section champion. Can you tell I like the whole, City vs. Southern Section thing? Hopefully it happens. Other matches I would like to see would be Santa Margaritavs. Canoga Park in Boys’ Division II and Mayfair vs Long Beach Wilson in Girls’ Division I.

Out for revenge: Salesian boys’ team is on the prowl for Lions -- Oaks Christian Lions. The Mustangs, seeded No. 3 in Division III, had their two-year 34-game winning streak ended by Oaks Christian last week. If Salesian can make it to the finals, who might they face? Those same Lions, of course, who are seeded No. 1 in the division. It’s said revenge is a dish best served cold, but it might be best served in the SCR finals.

Final I would most like to see: This is easy, No. 1 Torrey Pines from the San Diego Section vs No. 2 Long Beach Wilson in Girls’ Division I. Not only are they No. 1 and No. 2 teams in this tournament, they are also No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the nation, according to the studentsports rankings. In other words, this would be a national championship game. Who wouldn’t want to see that? Well, the other six teams in that bracket, maybe.

-- Jaime Cardenas

-- Image by Lori Shepler/Los Angeles Times