Three reasons why Servite can win a CIF title

<img class="size-medium wp-image-36049 alignleft" src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2021/12/Justin-Faison-1-300x214.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="214" />After winning the Southern Section Division I championship and reaching the semifinals of the Southern California State tournament in 2020, and reaching the DI semifinals in the 2021 spring season, the Servite (Calif.) boys soccer team is looking to scale the mountain again, and this time are intending to reach the top. The Friars have the pieces to win a SoCal state title in 2022, and there are three major reasons why they can do so. <h5><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Best Players Play</span></h5> Since taking the program over last season, head coach Eddie Soto treats his team like a college program in the sense that if you are talented, put the work in and have the ability, you will play, regardless of your year in school. Soto coached at UCLA for eight years and was the head coach at the University of San Francisco for five years. He is the current coach at Cal State Dominguez Hills and that’s how things are done at that level. "I have always had the philosophy of letting the best kids play," Soto said. "I am always looking to the future and I will play freshman and sophomore if they are ready. Getting playing time will benefit them and benefit the team now and going forward." <h5><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Depth</span></h5> <img class="size-medium wp-image-36050 alignright" src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2021/12/Merrick-Cook-1-300x214.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="214" /> Soto also trimmed down the roster to 22 players, which might sound like an opposing view to the depth argument, but what he has done has created a leaner, meaner team. One where there is a more competitive environment in training, which leads to more kids being ready to play and more kids playing more minutes in matches. "One thing I did was balance things out," Soto said. "I put the kids in the best position to get minutes and to develop." <h5><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Experience</span></h5> Soto gave the underclassmen playing time last season, which means they have varsity experience. They won’t be overwhelmed by the challenge. These are also kids that come from truly powerful club teams, playing in the ECNL or MLS Next. "They are always striving to get better," Soto said. "They are hungry and want to play in college. Everyone has bought in, everyone is competing and it makes it a very fun culture. It also helps to have good players, and the Servite roster is loaded. In particular, they have three seniors who are Division I commits who will be key pieces to a state title run. <h5><img class="size-medium wp-image-36051 alignleft" src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2021/12/Eddie-Villeda-3-300x214.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="214" /><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[player_tooltip player_id="7514" first="Eduardo" last="Villeda"], Senior, Midfield</span></h5> Villeda is committed to play at UC Santa Barbara. He is a midfielder who can do it all and is great all-around. He is technical, powerful, and a playmaker. He’s very good with the ball. <h5><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[player_tooltip player_id="8016" first="Justin" last="Faison"], Senior, Outside Back</span></h5> Faison can play anywhere on the outside. He can play right back, left back as well as on the wing on either side. He’s athletic and dynamic. He can defend, he can attack and he has the stamina to go box-to-box. He is committed to Sacramento State. <h5><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[player_tooltip player_id="8297" first="Merrick" last="Cook"], Senior, Keeper</span></h5> Cook is a CSU Northridge commit and is a very big presence in between the posts. He’s a great shot stopper, a great distributor, and is very comfortable with the ball at his feet. He is a keeper that can help you build out of the back.