CIF-SS BOYS SOCCER FINALS
SATURDAY’S GAMES
OPEN DIVISION
Mater Dei (16-1-3) vs. Orange Lutheran (13-3-4) at El Modena High, 6 p.m.
Outlook: It’s an all-Trinity League final in the CIF Southern Section’s top division. Mater Dei had a win (2-1) and a tie (1-1) in their two league meetings with Orange Lutheran this season. Mater Dei won the Open Division championship two seasons ago. Senior Santiago Schelotto has a team-high 13 goals and eight assists for the Monarchs. Senior James Obleda has 12 goals with 11 assists. Mater Dei coach Sean Ganey has admiration for Orange Lutheran soccer. “They’re great, super-talented, super-motivated and well-coached,” Ganey said. Orange Lutheran junior Kyler Firouznam has scored 14 goals with seven assists. Junior Noah Jacoby has nine goals with three assists. Orange Lutheran lost to Servite, 3-1, in the Division 1 final two seasons ago. The Lancers are in a CIF-SS final for the third time in four years, but this is their first time in the Open Division final.
DIVISION 2
Newport Harbor (16-3-2) vs. Bishop Amat (24-4-3) at Veterans Stadium, 6 p.m.
Outlook: Newport Harbor won the CIF-SS Division 2 championship in the 2023-24 season. The Sailors went 9-2-1 in the Sunset League to finish second, behind Edison. Newport Harbor advanced to this championship game with a 2-1 win over Downey in the semifinals as seniors Brandon Markert and Ali Omar scored in the final five minutes. Bishop Amat finished second to Cathedral in the Del Rey League with a 6-2 league record. Bishop Amat junior Noah Guillen has 19 goals and 11 assists.
DIVISION 3
Los Alamitos (14-15-2) vs. Calabasas (19-1-4) at Veterans Stadium, 1 p.m.
Outlook: Los Alamitos finished fourth in the seven-team Sunset League. The Griffins beat top-seeded West Torrance and fourth-seeded Godinez in the playoffs to advance to the championship game. The Griffins have won two CIF-SS boys soccer championships. In 2023 the Griffins lost to Quartz Hill, 3-2, in the Division 3 championship game. Calabasas won the Marmonte League championship with an 8-0-2 league record. The Coyotes’ only loss was to Del Sol in their season opener on Nov. 17.
DIVISION 4
University (14-5-1) vs. Granite Hills (16-4-5) at University High, 5 p.m.
Outlook: University finished fourth in the eight-team Pacific Coast League with an 8-5-1 league record. The Trojans are led by seniors Jake Rabold, who has eight goals with nine assists, Rayan Heyati, who has seven goals and seven assists, and Kasra Ghoddousi, who has six goals with eight assists. Top-seeded Granite Hills won the Desert Sky League championship with a 6-1-1 league record. Granite Hills junior Acxel Jimenez has scored 14 goals.
DIVISION 5
Santa Ana Valley (18-2-3) vs. Esperanza (9-8-6) at El Modena High, 10:30 a.m.
Outlook: Santa Ana Valley, which won the Grove League title, is in a CIF-SS boys soccer final for the first time since 2010. Valley senior Jose Alba Munoz has 15 goals and eight assists. Senior Marvin Villela has 15 goals and six assists. Valley junior goalkeeper keeper Sebastian Payan has 10 shutouts and 62 saves. Esperanza finished third in the North Hills League and is seeded third in this division. Esperanza freshman Adam Soror, sophomore Bruno Genotti, and seniors Andrew Vasquez Caicedo and Amilcar Zamora have scored four goals apiece.
DIVISION 8
Pacifica Christian (16-2-1) vs. Rio Hondo Prep (16-5-1) at Orange Coast College, 3 p.m.
Outlook: Pacifica Christian finished third in the San Joaquin League with a 4-2 league record. Tritons boys soccer had won only one playoff game, in 2019, before winning four playoff games this month to reach the Division 8 final. Freshman forward Dean Soldan has scored a team-high 21 goals with eight assists. Junior forward Shaun Soldan has seven goals with seven assists. Sophomore goalkeeper Kasper Batley has given up only nine goals this season. Rio Hondo Prep finished third in the Prep League. Several Rio Hondo Prep players also played on the school’s CIF-SS championship football team.
