Private/Small Schools Boys Soccer Preview: Animo is good on any levelPrivate/Small Schools Boys Soccer Preview: Animo is good on any level

Aztecs now are recognized as a legitimate soccer powerhouse, regardless of their small-school status.

By John Klima
DAILY BREEZE 

Coach Sergio Medrano has gradually built Animo into the South Bay's top small school boys soccer program.

An informal poll of participating area coaches revealed that Animo's stature has grown from simply being a good small-school team to a good team.

Medrano has a six-year varsity record of 77-11-6 that includes two trips to the CIF Division IV semifinals, including last season, when the Aztecs lost to eventual co-champion Palos Verdes.

Animo finished 23-1-1 last season while competing against a freelance schedule. This year, Animo moves into the small-school Harbor League, which features New Roads, Ribet Academy, Wildwood and Rolling Hills Prep.

Animo will have to find new sources of offense to replace forward Tiburcio Casillas, who scored 16 goals in only nine games in his injury-shortened senior season. Defender Alexis Lopez, who scored 12 goals, is also a key loss.

But there is plenty of talent this season, as well.

Senior forward Rafael Baca scored 19 goals and had 16 assists last year. Senior forward Johnny Aleman scored 17 goals in 25 games last year. The defense is led by fullback Raul Dominguez, a three-year starter and a senior. Goalkeeper Antonio Iniguez had 11 shutouts last year and had a goals against average of 0.84.

Medrano said he believes Iniguez is one of the best goalkeepers in the South Bay and said the senior is already being recruited by Loyola Marymount and Santa Clara. Iniguez has a 3.7 GPA as well.

Other returning starters include midfielders Alvaro Navarro and Fernando Barba, who have excellent passing skills, Medrano said.

"Our team's strengths are in the goalkeeper position, midfield and forwards," Medrano said. "We return a very talented group with experience."

But Medrano admitted that he is concerned about Animo's defense.

"Our team weakness is our defense," he said. "We lost 14 players from last year's team and most of them were defenders."

Look for Animo to have a great season.