Palos Verdes won CIF Division II titles in both the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons under Coach Bruce Myhre, but they were a little different from the championships the Sea Kings won before the school shut down.

The Sea Kings won consecutive CIF 4-A titles outright in the 1988-89 and 1989-90 seasons when Myhre was an assistant coach under Alan King, defeating Edison, 2-0, and Simi Valley, 1-0, in CIF championship games.

The latest back-to-back CIF champion Palos Verdes teams tied Katella, 1-1, in last season's title game, and Santa Ana Valley, 1-1, in the title game the year before. The Sea Kings technically are two-time CIF champions, but the feeling is not quite the same.

"It leaves a bad taste in your mouth," Myhre said. "The first year we were in the CIF final, we'd only been around a few years and we felt it was a great accomplishment to be there. Last year was different."

Katella scored with 2:43 to go in the game.

"It was pretty heartbreaking," Myhre said. "We just faded, which was hard to fathom, because that was not who we were. It was gut-wrenching because of what happened the year before. "

Palos Verdes is looking for an outright CIF crown. But will the Sea Kings, who lost 16 seniors and return just four starters, even be contenders to get back to the CIF title game for the third straight year?

"It'll be a tall order to do it again," Myhre said. "If we're healthy, avoid illness and letdowns ... everything would have to fall into place."

Everything has not fallen into place for Palos Verdes in early-season action, which has included a loss to North Torrance and a tie against Bishop Montgomery. Myhre said it's going to take some time for his squad to blossom.

Returning starters for Palos Verdes include senior sweeper Nick Hardy, senior midfielders Robbie Tulchin and Christian Paullin, and senior forward Kevin Morgan, who was the team's leading scorer last season with 14 goals despite an ankle injury that caused him to miss five games.

"We'll lean heavily on those four," Myhre said. "We lose 16 seniors off last year's team. But we think we have enough coming back to where we'll be very competitive."

Morgan, who leads a group of forwards that includes speedy senior Adam Coombs and sophomore Charlie Quackenbush, is expected to have a big year.

Tulchin is an attacking midfielder with a great shot. Paullin and senior Jonah Batista, who saw time off the bench last season, and sophomore Fernando Vargas also will play in the midfield.

Hardy, an All-CIF pick as an outside defender last season, moves to sweeper. Hardy had seven goals last season, mostly off set pieces. He leads a defensive unit that includes outside defenders Erik Forestell and Ricky Heitmeyer and freshman stopper Matt Mardesich. Senior Andrew Sakura, a solid backup last year, starts in goal.

"I expect Morgan to be somewhere close to 20 goals," Myhre said. "He has a hell of a foot, a great shot, a lot of experience and he has scored big goals for us. I'm hoping this will be a breakout year for him. Palos Verdes should be in the hunt for the Bay League title, but competition looks stiff. Mira Costa tied Palos Verdes the last four times the teams played. West Torrance and Peninsula are solid. Redondo finished last season strong after a slow start, and Leuzinger has skilled players.

always "I think we'll be right there," Myhre said. "Maybe I'm wrong, but I expect the guys up from JV to step in and be productive. If not, someone else gets a crack at it. Our goal is to get back to CIF. If we win the league on the way, obviously that would be ideal."

Sean Tracy (captain), and Danny Mishler, senior midfielders David Whinfrey and Keifer Greenlief, and senior forward Matt Bichlmeier.

Mira Costa is going with two new goalies in senior captain Cody Strange and senior backup Stephen Bateman, who will see considerable time.

"We have very good athletes," Smith said. "We are very skilled and athletic. I really think we're going to have a good season. This is the strongest team I've had in years."

Mira Costa, which always gives Palos Verdes a difficult time, returns six starters from a team that went 4-3-3 in the Bay League last year (12-10-4 overall). The returning starters include senior defenders Kincaid Wilson (captain) "I expect big things out of the three captains," Mira Costa coach Gary Smith said.

Mike Lanfre is expected to give the team a boost at sweeper.

Smith expects Whinfrey and Greenlief to have a major impact in the midfield. Seniors up from the JV squad include forwards Matt Keever and Kyle Dempsey, who provide speed.

West Torrance looks strong again under 10-year coach Mike Shimizu () after a 16-6-4 season, in which the Warriors reached the semifinals of the South Torrance Holiday Classic and finished tied for third in the Bay League with Mira Costa.

The Warriors are led by senior forward Tyler Krumpe, a returning All-Bay League player who has verbally committed to Loyola Marymount. West also is hoping for a big year out of senior goalkeeper Ryan Oster. Other key players for West include defenders Daniel Freitas and Matt Hazzard, midfielders Cameron Krumpe, James Rochlitz and Leroy Tung, and forwards Jaime Lara and Brendan Patel.

137-68-23 Coach Danny Pena has helped turn around Redondo and it expects to have a strong season. Redondo has 10 returning starters and are counting on senior goalkeeper Christian Lykke. Redondo has a stellar midfield with junior Nick Teshima leading the way. Junior Eddie Matei is a scoring threat on the forward line for Redondo. The Sea Hawks boast an experienced defense with three returning seniors, including stopper Michael Lunny.

Redondo is hoping to make the CIF playoffs for the first time in four years with a veteran group that has high expectations.

Peninsula lacks size but has a good amount of talent and a first-year coach in Francisco Diaz, who replaces Jim Lillie. Peninsula is led by senior forwards Adolfo Santos and Hiroki Maeda and senior defenders Shane Harris and Adam Jackson.

But Palos Verdes is the team to beat.

"You can't discount Palos Verdes; they are always first to the ball and they are so aggressive," Smith said. "Palos Verdes is the team everyone wants to outplay."