HS Polls: Soccer 'Teams to Watch' include J.Serra, La Salle

Familiar names were among the “Teams to Watch” listed in the initial CIF-Southern Section soccer polls for the 2019-2020 season released Nov. 4.

Among girls’ teams, three-time defending Division 1 champion J.Serra is listed in the D-1 rankings, along with Trinity League rival Santa Margarita. La Salle, last year’s D-4 champion, and Bishop Montgomery are among the teams listed in D-3. And Flintridge Sacred Heart, runner-up in D-3 last year, is listed in D-2 as is Bishop Amat.

Also making the “Teams to Watch” list are St. Genevieve (D-4), Pomona Catholic (D-6), and Alverno Heights, Santa Clara and St. Monica/Santa Monica (D-7). The first “top ten” polls will be issued in December; the season begins Nov. 18.

In boys’ soccer, last year’s D-1 runnerup Cathedral is listed among the top D-1 teams for this season, as are Loyola, Mater Dei and Servite. Salesian (D-3), Bishop Diego (D-6) and St. Anthony (D-7) are also “Teams to Watch.”

Girls’ Water Polo

Defending Division 2 champion Santa Margarita is among ten Catholic school “Teams to Watch” listed in the first CIF-SS girls’ water polo polls of 2019-2020.

With the regular season beginning Nov. 18, the Eagles and Trinity League foe Mater Dei are among the teams listed in the combined Divisions 1 & 2 poll, with teams to be separated at playoff time next February. In D-3, Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks, Rosary and St. Lucy’s are listed.

Other “Teams to Watch” are Alemany (D-5), Flintridge Sacred Heart and J.Serra (D-6), and La Salle and St. Joseph/Lakewood (D-7).

Cross Country

A sixth, a seventh and four eighth place standings were the top Catholic school placings in the Nov. 4 CIF-SS cross country divisional polls.

In boys’ Division 4 rankings, J.Serra (sixth) and Cathedral (seventh) both held their sports from a week ago, as did St. Francis (15th). Loyola remained eighth in D-2, while in D-3 St. John Bosco slipped from seventh to eighth, Damien from ninth to tenth, and Servite from 12th to 16th.  

In D-4 girls, Mayfield stayed in eighth, Bishop Amat climbed to tenth from 12th, J.Serra slipped from 13th to 14th, and St. Lucy’s dropped from 15th to 16th. In D-5, Sacred Heart rose from ninth to eighth and St. Paul held at 15th.