The Bishop Amat boys soccer team has started the season without five starters who are still competing in the MLS Next Academy program, but that hasn’t stopped the Lancers from winning and showing their depth.

Bishop Amat defeated Granite Hills 2-0 on Saturday to win the Sierra Vista boys soccer tournament. They got two goals from senior Matthew Ibarra, who was the Lancers’ player of the tournament with four goals and two assists over four games.

Ibarra didn’t play high school soccer the past two years. He started at Amat as a freshman, but went to the Elite Sports Institute in Pomona before returning this season.

Ibarra, who also plays for the Irvine Strikers club team, adds another weapon to an Amat squad that is 5-0-1 and ranked fifth by Maxpreps in the Southern Section.

“He (Ibarra) makes our team that much better,” Bishop Amat coach Steve Jimenez said. “He has leadership, scoring ability, and his tenacity in front of the goal is really good. Having that extra striker in these types of games is huge. He’s used to playing in big environments and big matches. If you saw the final against Granite Hills, they just didn’t have an answer for him.”

Junior Jancarlo Hernandez, who had 12 goals last season, also had a strong tournament. Alger Calderon is usually a right midfielder but because of the missing players, he has been used at center back and has been solid.

“Jancarlo has been taking control of our midfield,” Jimenez said, “and I can’t say enough about Calderon. He has held it down for us, doing a great job along with all the other backs.”

Bishop Amat lost to Loyola in the first round of the Division 2 playoffs last year, but it has nearly everyone back and wants to show that it can play with the best.

This is the first season the CIF-SS will place teams in the playoffs based on computer rankings. The CIF-SS will use the Massey Ratings system to place teams in divisions at the end of the year based on their performance during the regular season.

Amat is hoping it can qualify for the Open Division or Division 1.

“Our goal is to play as high a level as possible, because we believe we have those type of players,” Jimenez said. “It’s exciting, but it’s one game at a time. You have to stay focused, stay healthy and have things go your way. But I like what we have.”

Amat expects their players taking part in the MLS Next Academy to return next week.

“Can’t wait,” Jimenez said.”

WALNUT OFF TO STRONG START to the season

The Walnut boys soccer team finished third in its own tournament over the weekend. It showed its improved play with a 2-2 tie against Villa Park in the semifinals, a game they lost in penalty kicks.

Walnut (4-0-1) trailed 2-0 at half, but second-half goals from Oscar Feria and Isaiah Castenada tied the score.

Villa Park (4-0-1), which won the tournament, is ranked No. 1 in the CIF-SS by Maxpreps. Walnut is ranked No. 7.

Walnut beat ML King 2-0 in the third-place game and Sharl Gonzalez scored both goals for the Mustangs.

WEST COVINA’S SANGADEO LEADS CIF IN SCORING

The West Covina boys soccer team is off to a strong part and senior Ashton Sangadeo is a big reason why.

Sangadeo leads the CIF Southern Section in goals scored with 18 in just five games and the Bulldogs are off to a 4-1 start.

Fourteen of Sangadeo’s goals have come over the last three games. He scored three in a 5-1 victory over Keppel and scored five in a 10-1 victory over Southlands Christian. Sangadeo scored a season-high six goals in an 8-0 victory over Pomona.

“He was playing a different position last year but worked really hard during the summer and has a lot of confidence for sure,” West Covina coach Isaac Valdovinos said.

West Covina was 8-11-3 last season, so the quick start with a bonafide goal scorer is something to be excited about.

“For sure,” Valdovinos said. “We’re becoming more confident too. And I give a lot of credit to (Sangadeo) because he’s being a real leader too. Since the summer he’s the one who gets the team together and sets up practices before I get there. He makes my job a lot easier and has the respect of the team.”