AHS girls' soccer team can't close gap on T.O.

The two best girls' soccer teams in the Marmonte League staged a defensive battle Monday night at Thousand Oaks High.

Agoura went on the road needing a win to maintain a legitimate shot at the league championship. A Thousand Oaks victory would've given the Lancers back-to-back Marmonte titles.

Naturally, the teams tied, 0-0.

"It was a defensive struggle, which I kind of expected," Agoura head coach Mike Skene said. "I thought our defense really stood up to their challenges."

According to the coach, the Chargers' game plan was to mark-up on Michelle Cruz, Thousand Oaks' standout sophomore forward.

"We continued to put different players in on her, rotating them every 10 minutes or so," Skene said. "I think that worked in tiring (Cruz) out and making her less of an offensive threat."

While it was a valiant effort by the Chargers, especially on the defensive side where AHS stymied Cruz and Lancer junior midfielder Sam Rivera, what the tie did was make Thousand Oaks' league championship a mere formality.

Thousand Oaks needed only a tie in either of its final two league matches- the Lancers played Wednesday night at home against Simi Valley and are on the road Friday at Newbury Park- or a tie or loss by Agoura to wrap things up.

TOHS entered Wednesday's match with a 13-4-2 overall record and a 9-1-2 mark in league. Agoura (14-2-4, 7-2-3 in league) hosted Moorpark Wednesday night. The Chargers play Friday at home against Calabasas at 6 p.m.

Although somewhat disappointed with his team's overall intensity against Agoura, Thousand Oaks head coach Geoff Raives was willing to accept the result as a positive one for his squad.

"We didn't come away with what we wanted to come away with, but we came away with what was necessary- a tie," Raives said. "It didn't kill us, and to be honest with you, it hurt them more than it hurt us."

As the Marmonte League's top two playoff seeds, Thousand Oaks and Agoura could make noise in the CIFSouthern Section Division II postseason. Playoff pairings will be announced Monday.