Daily Breeze Boys Soccer Preview 12-11-07Daily Breeze Boys Soccer Preview 12-11-07

Originally published Tuesday, December 11, 2007 Private schools soccer preview: Animo has tough task repeatingAztec Eagles have a lot to live up to after losing much of their dynamic offense.  

By Dave Thorpe
Staff Writer

 You can’t do it better than Animo did it last year. Animo went 30-0, won the South Torrance Holiday Classic, captured the Harbor League crown and won the CIF Southern Section Division VI championship.  So what are the Aztec Eagles going to do for an encore?“We want to accomplish similar things,” Animo coach Sergio Medrano said. Animo has lofty goals again, but boasts just four returning starters from last season’s undefeated squad, including senior midfielders Robert Alvarez and Fernando Barba. Alvarez had 17 goals and 11 assists last year. Barba had 15 goals and 18 assists and was an All-CIF Division VI selection.  Senior defenders Francisco Arias and Eduardo Perez were part of a defensive unit that allowed just 14 goals . “We’re returning defensive starters, which is always a plus,” Medrano said. “And our midfield is pretty much intact.”Despite losing All-CIF goalkeeper Antonio Iniguez, Animo should be solid between the posts with senior Hector Gomez, who had two shutouts in four appearances last season.Where the Aztec Eagles lost the most is on the forward line, where they will try to figure out how to replace the 99 goals they received from Rafael Baca (Loyola Marymount University) and Johnny Aleman (Cal State Dominguez Hills). Animo figures to get a lot of offense from its midfield, and hopes to get help up front from senior Damian Hidalgo and junior Celestino Diaz, both of whom saw limited action last year.“They have to be our go-to guys up front,” Medrano said. Junior Billy Gomez could also contribute up front.   Also stepping into the starting lineup this season are senior defenders Rudy Valencia and Cristian Ayala, and midfielders Andy Payeras and Francisco Aguirre. Payeras had eight goals and three assists off the bench last season. “Our strengths are our midfield and defense,” Medrano said. “We are solid with key returners in those positions.”Animo, ranked No. 1 in Division VI, should not have a problem repeating as champion in the otherwise weak Harbor League. But winning the South Torrance Holiday Classic and Division VI will be difficult with so much offense to replace. Still, the Aztec Eagles figure to be one of the top teams in the South Bay again.