Boys’ soccer: Bell, South East in big-time Eastern League match today

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The boys’ soccer match between visiting South East and Bell today/Thursday will go a long way toward deciding the Eastern League champion. And it could have a large impact on the City Section playoff seedings as well.

Each team is 6-1-1 in league play. South East’s lone league loss was to Bell, 2-1, on Jan. 7. The Jaguars also lost to the Eagles in the Locke Winter Tournament, 1-0, on Dec. 29.

Bell dropped a 1-0 league decision to South Gate on Dec. 10. But since Dec. 29, starting with that victory over South East, the Eagles have gone 11-1-1 overall. Their only loss was 1-0 to Reseda in the San Pedro tournament final on Jan. 12.

South East Coach Felipe Bernal said even though both teams will make the playoffs, he wants the Jaguars to treat the game as if it were a championship final.

‘We’re going to do some things different offensively,’ Bernal said. ‘But the main thing is we have to be smart. They have great chemistry and experience. They’ve played in tougher situations than we have.

‘We’re a younger team, and we haven’t always made good decisions. If we make the right decisions against them, we have a chance.’

-- Mike Terry