Timing Couldn’t Be Worse for High School Players

No one was blaming Fountain Valley standout Cliff McKinley for leaving his team high and dry Friday in maybe its most important game of the season--a Sunset League clash with Huntington Beach. When Steve Sampson, former men’s national team coach and current technical director of the California Youth Soccer Assn.-South, invites you to an Olympic Development Program tournament in Arizona, what are you going do?

Play in a high school game or improve your chances of making the national team? Kevin Smith, Huntington Beach’s coach who coached McKinley for two years at Fountain Valley, wonders why McKinley had to make a choice at all.

“I’ve always thought ODP should be done during the club season, when the players are sharper and are already playing against the top competition,� Smith said. “If you want to see the players at their best, why not look at them when they’re at their highest level? This really puts them in a tough spot. High school soccer is a big deal to these guys.�

Smith would have lost his top player--Drew McAthy--to the same tournament. But McAthy injured his right ankle two weeks ago and had to skip the trip to Arizona. However, he was healthy enough to play in Friday’s 0-0 tie at Huntington Beach that left second-ranked Fountain Valley (13-2-3, 4-1-2) atop the Sunset League.

Smith’s brother Jason, the Fountain Valley coach, said he completely understood McKinley’s decision.

“I know Cliff feels bad about missing the game,� Jason said. “He’s been a real leader for this team. It’s a tough decision for a guy like that.�

WORTH A LOOK

Mater Dei forward Kevin Novak, a 5-foot-8 senior, leads the third-ranked Monarchs with 19 goals and 11 assists, but he has attracted little interest from Division I colleges.

Coach Martin Stringer, who has sent several players to Division I schools, said college coaches are making a big mistake.

“I see him every day, but I think others don’t look beyond his size,� Stringer said. “He’s really come through for us this year. He’s a wonderful talent. He’s got 19 goals and it’s not like we’re playing slouches.�

RATINGS BOOST

Maybe it’s only coincidence, but the week after we mentioned in this space that Fountain Valley’s and Estancia’s stellar seasons were being ignored by Southern Section pollsters, Fountain Valley and Estancia showed up in the polls. Fountain Valley (13-2-2) entered the Division I rankings at No. 3 and Estancia (11-1-1) entered the Division IV poll at No. 2.

The Division IV coordinator, Glen Appels, wrote to us that Fountain Valley and Estancia weren’t ranked because their coaches weren’t reporting their scores to area representatives.

“We have been told to leave out teams that don’t report,� Appels said. “This has been the system for years.�

If you have an item or idea for the boys’ soccer report, you can fax us at (714) 966-5663 or e-mail us at: [email protected]