HS: Winter FAB 50, Dec. 19

by Sheldon Shealer

December 19, 2017

The stage is set for what could be an interesting race for FAB 50 No. 1 in both boys and girls soccer.

On the boys side, Montverde Academy (Fla.) slips from the top spot but the Eagles certainly are not out of the running. Brophy Prep (Ariz.) leapfrogs Sam Houston (Texas), which has yet to play, to inherit No. 1 this week. Sam Houston stays No. 2 Servite (Calif.), coming off a strong performance at the Lotto Sport Western Showcase moves up to No. 3. Montverde Academy settles in at No. 4.

The order of Brophy and Sam Houston really doesn't matter at this point since the two teams will face each other on Jan. 4 in Texas, thus settling the issue on the field. Of course, Brophy will have to win the AZ Showcase to ensure a 1-2 showdown. Servite sits in the No. 3 slot, and could move up at least one spot by Jan. 9 depending on its late-December results coupled with the Brophy-Sam Houston showdown. Of course, if all current top three teams falter, Montverde Academy could return to the top ranking.

On the girls side, St. Johns Country Day (Fla.) and Oviedo (Fla.) are pretty well under way with their seasons and currently hold the Nos. 3 and 4 spots. JSerra (Calif.) remains No. 1 and Highland Park (Texas), which has yet to play, is No. 2.

BIG MOVERS: BOYS: El Toro (Lake Forest, Calif.). In what figures to be quite a revolving door of teams this year in California-South, El Toro made a big jump this week from No. 36 to No. 24. ... GIRLS: Mountain View (Calif.). Mountain View won the Fremont Firebird tournament over the weekend, jumping this team from No. 30 to No. 17 this week.

NEWCOMERS: BOYS: No. 25 Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.), No. 38 El Camino Real (Woodland Hills, Calif.), No. 39 Folsom (Calif.), No. 41 La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad, Calif.), No. 42 St. Augustine (San Diego, Calif.), No. 44 Capistrano Valley (Mission Viejo, Calif.), San Marcos (Calif.) and No. 47 San Clemente (Calif.). ... GIRLS: No. 24 Amador Valley (Pleasanton, Calif.), No. 25 Archbishop McCarthy (Southwest Ranches, Fla.), No. 30 Santiago/Corona (Corona, Calif.), No. 31 Sunny Hills (Fullerton, Calif.), No. 49 El Camino Real (Woodland Hills, Calif.) and No. 50 [Edison ca-w] (Huntington Beach, Calif.).