Several local scholastic boys soccer teams hope to net league or CIF championships this season. At La Jolla Country Day (LJCD) School, the Torreys under head coach Jerry Fleischhacker went 22-3-4, 7-1 in the Coastal League (co-champs with Bishop’s, 20-1-1 against Division IV opponents) a season ago. LJCD reached the CIF semifinals, where it fell to Coronado 1-0 in double overtime. Key players this season look to include Zach Wolfenzon (All-CIF first team, 31 goals last year), Alex Poyhonen (All-CIF Division IV second team and All-Coastal South first team), Colin Young (All-Coastal South second team), Kees Thompson (12 goals and 17 assists during last three years), Alex Fleischhacker, Alistair Dobke, Philip Poyhonen, Lee Klitzner, Michael Bailet, Rodrigo Cuenca, Dillan DuBois, Mason Boxer-Capitano and Hunter Khaleghi, and newcomer Danny Rogers. “This is a skilled and experienced team,” Jerry Fleischhacker noted. “There is a lot of returning fire power, with well above 50 goals scored last year by players returning this year, led by Wolfenzon and Cuenca. The midfield returns three starters and should do a great job of play-making — but they are all small and will be challenged by big physical teams. A lot will depend on talented goalkeeper Michael Bailey, who will have to replace Kyle Reese, who was the defensive MVP in the San Diego High School All-Star game. We will also miss All-CIF players Adam Saven and Daren Blake, who also graduated.” In action over the last week, LJCD scored wins over High Tech High (7-3), Christian (4-0) and West Shores (7-0). Although Alex Poyhonen scored on a nice header, LJCDS had to come from behind in the second half against the surprisingly strong High Tech High eleven. Zach Wolfenzon made a 50-yard run, beating three players and finishing with a powerful shot to tie the game. Kees Thompson scored the winner of a great set-up by Colin Young. Lee Klitzner and Dillan DuBois played very good games on defense, and Hunter Khaleghi had a nice day in the midfield. In the victory over Christian, which was the opening game of the Parker Small Schools Tournament, Wolfenzon scored twice, Mason Boxer-Capitano earned a goal and an assist, Thompson added a goal and Alex Fleischhacker an assist. Will Craycroft and Bailey shared the Torreys’ first shutout of the year. In the win over West Shores, the effort was led by Craycroft, who made several fine saves in the second half. Michael Bailey shared the shutout. LJCDS defenders Alex and Philip Poyhonen, Danny and Doug Rogers and Lee Klitzner also played well, as the Torreys posted their sixth straight shutout over the last two years in this tournament. Wolfenzon scored two goals and now needs only three more to reach the school record of 63, held by John Hillman. Ryan French also tallied twice in his first varsity appearance, while Cuenca had a stellar day with a goal and three assists. At The Bishop’s School, the Knights under head coach Malcolm Tovey finished 16-3-1 a season ago, co-champions of the Coastal League South. Bishop’s lost in the semifinals of the CIFs. This year’s team is young, with only three seniors suited to play. Bishop’s will look to captain and four-year starter Zach Ostrup to lead the way, along with Tyler Evans (sophomore), Tucker Hughes (sophomore), Kyle Jesters (sophomore), Stefano Vidali (junior) and goalkeeper Justin Peabody (junior). “This is most definitely a rebuilding year for a very young team,” Tovey noted. “However, with skill, speed and tenacity they have the potential to surprise anyone in a game.” Finally, La Jolla High finished 10-6-3 last season for head coach Dan Berthiaume. This year’s team will be led by senior defenders Joey Matibag and John Selzer, senior midfielder Ryan Becker, and junior forwards Alex Jaziri and Alan Ampudia. “So far we are off to a rocky start, yet we have a decent record of 2-2-2 considering the strength of the teams we have played,” Berthiaume commented. “Our team is the strongest it has been in years, and we are definitely a top contender to win Western League and potentially CIF for Division III. We have a lot of talent at every position. It is just a matter of how well all that talent meshes together as a team.”