BOYS’ SOCCER

Second-ranked Mater Dei has already lost two players for the season--midfielders Blake Corbin (broken leg) and Ed Jensen (broken arm)--and another player, defender Luis Inga (torn hip ligament), is out for a month. But the Monarchs are off to a 3-0-1 start and they meet defending Division II champion Riverside Poly at 3 p.m. today in the semifinals of the Corona Centennial tournament.

If they win, they get a half-hour break before the 5 p.m. finals. The injuries have been so bad that Mater Dei Coach Martin Stringer had to bring up a freshman sweeper--Matt Natelborg--to play some significant minutes early in the tournament. Forward Kevin Novak (three goals) and surprise starter Ruben Rosales (two goals) have sparked the Monarchs offensively.