Players to Watch

A look at some of the top boys’ soccer players in the region:

The North Hollywood goal is well-guarded by senior keeper Vartan Hovsepyan, who allowed only 12 goals in 16 games last season and posted a school-record seven shutouts. . . . Buena forward Mike Bradbury, 6 feet 3 and 160 pounds, leads the Bulldogs in pursuit of their 12th playoff berth in 13 seasons. . . . Santa Paula’s sniper figures to be senior forward Joe Hernandez, who had 12 goals and six assists last season.

Oak Park’s Aaron Benditson, a four-year starter who had 16 goals and 11 assists as a midfielder and sweeper, will see more time at forward. . . . Crespi’s best player is senior forward Justin Canel, who earned second-team All-Southern Section Division IV honors last season after scoring 21 goals. . . . Newcomers who could make an impact include Harvard-Westlake’s Lerato Simelane, a sophomore transfer from South Africa who will play midfield, and Monroe freshman Oz Greek, a midfielder-forward.

Royal sweeper Sean Gesell is slight but anchors a Highlander team that is the defending Southern Section Division I champion and finished last season ranked No. 10 in the National Soccer Coaches’ Assn. high school poll. . . . Defender Steve Gonzales of Rio Mesa was an All-Channel League selection last season. . . . Paraclete junior forward Brad Griffiths scored 16 goals and was a second-team All-Southern Section Division IV pick as a sophomore.

Nordhoff senior striker Brent Bihari toils in comparative anonymity but earned All-Southern Section Division IV honors. . . . Kim Britton was last year’s Golden League player of the year and returns to anchor the Falcon defense. . . . La Canada continues to rebuild but can count on sophomore Bryan Jackson, who had 13 goals and 13 assists last season.

Notre Dame goalkeeper Juan Plascencia, a college prospect with superb athleticism, was a second-team All-Mission League selection last season. The league did not place a goalkeeper on its first team. . . . Kennedy senior Greg Avila is one of the City Section’s best as a defender or midfielder and was an All-Northwest Valley Conference selection last season. . . . Fillmore, until last season a Ventura County pushover, tries to keep its resurgence alive, led by Francisco Zavala. The junior forward scored 15 goals as a sophomore.