Inderkum looking to backup, protect No. 2 State ranking

<h2>League Rival Bella Vista seeks to spoil the party</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/01/Inderkum-team-crop-764x502-1673304562.jpg?w=763" alt="" class="wp-image-79465" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Michelle Nicole Balzouman</figcaption></figure>   Two decades ago if you were driving on Interstate 5 and were north of Sacramento, there is an excellent chance you wouldn't know what Natomas was. That's because this northern Sacramento community was a whole lot of undeveloped, open space.   Now it's a growing, sprawling, burgeoning part of Sacramento and it just happens to be home to one of the best high school soccer teams in the State of California. So good, in fact, that Inderkum High is ranked No. 2, behind only Servite of Anaheim.   The buzz was slow at first, and started locally, but has started to grow as the Tigers have gone unbeaten in 14 matches, 12 of them wins, including a win in early December over Rio Americano, a team at the time being considered as the best team in Northern California. Rio has a win over Bellarmine College Prep, as well as beating Jesuit, Oak Ridge and Reedley.   This win has bode well for Inderkum, who gained traction and then that traction became notoriety which became national recognition.   "Being ranked highly and the growing buzz doesn't surprise me because of how much work our team has put into it," Inderkum coach [player_tooltip player_id='32891' first='Diego' last='Rodriguez'] said. "I have to give credit to the boys. This year's team is as close as brothers and there is a great chemistry which is why we are where we are."   As for what the Tigers are capable of achieving this season, a Sac-Jaoquin Section Division II title as well as a NorCal title are not unreasonable, and are exactly what they are shooting for.   "We are capable of winning the section and winning NorCal's," Rodriguez said. "We know to do that we might have to go through Rio again and our first game was one that could have gone either way."   Inderkum is not putting the cart before the horse as it knows it starts with winning a Capital Valley Conference Title, and to do that it has to go through perennial league and DI power Bella Vista.   The Tigers play the Broncos tonight, on the road, which is sure to be a true test of where they are at. Bella Vista knows that it has its hands full.   "They are a very, very good squad," Bella Vista coach Matt Contreras said. "They are fast, they keep their shape and they come right after you. They've had some good teams in the past but this year they seem more organized and together."   Beating them will be a tough task but it will require a good performance from senior striker Nate Ionescu, who is tough to take the ball from and is very technical, as well as from senior forward Owen Dismukes who is lightning fast.   Contreras knows it's gonna take more than just those two players as it will require a lot of work as a team.   "We need to keep our spacing and keep passing the ball in order to endure their pressure," Contreras said.   There will be a lot of good players for Bella Vista to contain, because Inderkum is loaded with talent. Here are six Tigers players to watch for.   Rodrigo Alvarez, Junior, Central Midfielder   Alvarez is a player that demonstrates great ball control, and has flair to go with it. You can't teach the kind of ability he has, which includes touch passes that are perfectly floated in the air. He has great touch and is a playmaker in the middle of the pitch.   Nathan Bell, Junior, Central Defender   Bell, a junior, is already getting looks from colleges, and for good reason. He is 6-2, he is durable and a true leader who takes control of the defense. He is good in the air and is an excellent communicator which helps him keep his back line organized. He's also very good with the ball at his feet.   [player_tooltip player_id='7134' first='Benjamin' last='Elkins'], Senior, Forward   Elkins is a special player and is committed to play at Gonzaga. He has great speed and makes cuts so quickly that you can't stop him even if you know which foot he likes to cut with. His ability to cut so quickly allows him the ability to get separation from defenders. He can use both feet to score with or distribute with, and as good a scorer as he is, he is very unselfish.   Yegor Myronkenko, Senior, Striker   A transfer student from Eastern Europe, Myronkenko brings a European style to this Inderkum side. He can really control the ball well. He's also got a great strike and is very fast. He's an ultra competitive player and really fires his teammates up.   Paul Nealy, Senior, Attacking Midfielder   Nealy is a smaller midfielder, but do not overlook him. He is very, very strong and since he can use both feet, you can't get him off the ball. He's also very quick and hard to keep up with for defenders. He has a great shot with ability to score from distance with regularity.   Noah Wells, Senior, Central Defender   Wells is 6-2, just like his center back counterpart in Bell, and is also a very good dribbler and can play out of the back. He can bring the ball up the pitch and help move the attack forward. He's a fiery competitor, very good in the air and a good tackler and communicates well.   The three keepers for Inderkum really standout, and it is impossible to consider any of them the top keeper because they are all very good and all have played excellently this season. [player_tooltip player_id='8241' first='Mateo' last='Cervantes'] (Junior), Danny Salas (Junior), and Jayden Vazquez (Senior) are all capable of being a No. 1 and have done a great job of bonding together and sharing the playing time with no complaints.   "At anytime, with any of them, you can feel 100 percent confident with them in goal," Rodriguez said.