SIMA FAB 50: Monte Vista inherits No. 1

by Sheldon Shealer

December 17, 2019

Sometimes it's hard to penalize a team for a loss when it plays shorthanded on purpose.

But in the rankings game, a loss is still a loss.

Such was the case in girls soccer this week as last week's No. 2 Los Alamitos (Calif.) split its roster to compete in two varsity tournaments at the same time while No. 1 JSerra (Calif.) held out most of its key players in a group match. As a result, both powerhouse programs took losses.

The net result, both drop in this week's SIMA FAB 50, but very much remain in national title contention. But for now, the balance of power shifts from SoCal to NorCal as Monte Vista (Calif.) inherits the No. 1 ranking.

Monte Vista has played only two matches, but has a clash with Top 20 ranked Archbishop Mitty (Calif.) this week in a real test to its new No. 1 ranking. Coppell (Texas) jumps to No. 2, followed by Montverde Academy (Fla.). In an interesting twist, three of Montverde's upcoming opponents have cancelled matches with the Florida No. 1 team. Since Montverde is not participating in this year's state tournament series, all of the sudden the number of matches and contests against quality opponents have been diminished. Without quality wins, Montverde might get jumped in the rankings by California or Texas programs that have put together stronger resumes come March or April.

On the boys side, the Lotto Sport Western Showcase has led to a reshuffling of the Top 20. San Antonio LEE (Texas) remains No. 1, followed by Alief Elsik (Texas) and St. Paul's (La.).

Now, on with the rest of the rankings ...

BIG MOVERS: BOYS: Santa Barbara (Calif.). A four-win week helped vault Santa Barbara into the Top 25 for the first time this season. The team moved from No. 36 to No. 22. ... GIRLS: Aliso Niguel (Aliso Viejo, Calif.). Aliso Niguel, a former FAB 50 national champion, moved from No. 15 to No. 7 this week after the squad advanced to the final of the Aliso Cup. The final was scheduled for Monday between Aliso Niguel and fellow Top 10-ranked Los Alamitos (Calif.).

NEWCOMERS: BOYS: No. 26 Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.), No. 47 Hart (Newhall, Calif.), No. 48 Millikan (Long Beach, Calif.), No. 49 Carl Hayden (Phoenix, Ariz.) and No. 50 Naples (Fla.). ... GIRLS: No. 21 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), No. 38 Pembroke Pines Charter (Pembroke Pines, Fla.), No. 41 San Clemente (Calif.), No. 42 Buchanan (Clovis, Calif.), No. 44 Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.), No. 47 Round Rock (Texas) and No. 48 Mandeville (La.).