Montverde opens winter ranks as No. 1

by ESNN

January 8, 2014

The first winter NSCAA boys high school poll was released this week, and the season's initial No. 1 is hardly a surprise.

Orlando-area juggernaut Montverde Academy starts the winter off with a deserved top rank as it continues to preserve the nation's longest unbeaten run for a high school program. The streak, which began when current coach Mike Potempa took over in 2010, is nearing 100 games. The program announced earlier this year its developmental parnership with former Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard, and it will unveil the nation's first Cruyff Court later this month.

Montverde hosts the third annual Montverde Academy Soccer Tournament this weekend, which presents the first few tantalizing top 10 matchups of the season. Montverde kicks off the tournament with No. 10 North Broward, and it's conceivable No. 4 Coppell will have to go through No. 2 San Clemente in the second round to get to No. 1 Montverde in the final. Talk about a good weekend of high school soccer.

1. Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) (15-0-1)

t2. San Clemente (San Clemente, Calif.) (12-0-0)

t2. St. Paul's School (Covington, La.) (13-0-1)

4. Coppell (Coppell, Texas) (0-0-0)

t5. Sunlake (Land O' Lakes, Fla.) (16-0-1)

t5. Loyola (Los Angeles, Calif.) (14-0-0)

7. Edison (Huntington Beach, Calif.) (12-0-0)

8. Marcus (Flower Mound, Texas) (0-0-0)

9. Brother Martin (New Orleans, La.) (11-0-0)

10. North Broward Prep (Coconut Creek, Fla.) (14-0-1)