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South Bay League Report:
Torreys deserve playoff berth but need strong finish

By Phillip Brents
Posted Feb. 2, 2006

While the La Jolla Country Day Torreys may have benefitted from the CIF/Metro Conference's softest schedule over the course of the 2005-06 campaign (the Torreys met no North County League team), few would argue at this juncture of the season that LJCD's skaters deserve to be a part of this year's Kiwanis Cup championship playoffs.

The Torreys hiked their overall record to 11-3-1 after Thursday's 11-2 South Bay League victory against the San Diego Jewish Academy. LJCD sits comfortably in third place in the league standings with a 6-3-1 record. The Torreys have Mar Vista, Hilltop, Southwest and Otay Ranch left on their league schedule as well as non-league make-up game against La Jolla.

LJCD has already surpassed last year's regular season win total of eight (the Torreys finished 8-13 after a first-round playoff loss to sixth-seeded Westview) and could conceivably finish with as many as 14 wins this season. But a very poor finish could just as easily throw some doubt on the team's post-season aspirations.

That's why Thursday's win against the Lions was so important and why LJCD's upcoming game against Hilltop will be even more so. The Torreys tied the SDJA academy in first round league play and edged Hilltop by a 4-3 score. Victories against both in second-round league play seemed must-do tasks in order to boost the team's playoff standing with issues about strength of schedule surely coming into play.

Hilltop finsihed the week 6-8-1 but has four losses against superior North County League opponents (Poway, Rancho Bernardo, Westview and Vista to -- teams with a combined 42-17-4 record. Take away that 0-4 inter-leauge mark and the Lancers are 6-4-1 against South County-based competition.

LJCD's six non-league games included and La Jolla. With the match-up pending against the Vikings, the Torreys sport a 5-0-0 record in five non-league games against opponents (all from the comparatively weaker Mesa League) with a combined 22-55-2 record. Those opponents include Sweetwater, Chula Vista, Montgomery (by forfeit), Bonita Vista and Eastlake.

The key wins against Bonita Vista (4-1) and Eastlake (6-5) are currently keeping the Torreys' heads above water in the playoff chase.

Thus the importance of Thursday's contest against the Lions and the upcoming Feb. 8 game against Hilltop, which desperately needs a victory against LJCD in the quest to keep its playoff hopes intact. The make-up game against La Jolla could also figure prominently in determing the two teams' playoff fortunes. Hilltop owns a win against La Jolla but lost to Eastlake.

For the moment, the Torreys have to be pleased with the otherwise outstanding season they have quietly put together. The team remains young, with a pair of impact freshmen -- goaltender Alex Corbin and skater Ben Sweeney -- figuring prominently in the team's success this season. Veteran leadership on the floor has come from junior returners Oren Siegel and Matt Mulligan. Chris Warren, also a junior, is another of the team's young guns that could have the squad poised for even greater future success.

Siegel had four goals and one assist in Thursday's win against the Lions wile Sweeney contributed three goals and two assists and Mulligan added a hat trick. Warren picked up two assists while Eric Gillman also had one assist. Eric Williamson was credited with one goal for the winners, who bolted out to a 6-0 first-period lead and took a commanding 10-0 advantage into the final period.

Josh Shinoff and Johnny Simkin scored single goals for the SDJA, which saw its league record dip to 2-3-2, and its overall record fall to 6-7-2. The Lions are also endeavoring a quietly successful season but remain -- barring a couple of upset wins against Hilltop -- likely on the fringe of the playoff race.

The final two weeks of regular season play surely look to be as interesting as they should be competitive, with a strong finish pushing the youthful Torreys into post-season play.


La Jolla Country Day scoring leaders
(Through 11 games)