AHS boys’ soccer squad getting its kicks at Marmonte’s expense





Thomas Hampton of the Agoura High boys’ soccer team admitted the Chargers don’t have quite the individual talent of last season’s squad.

They are, however, a much better team.

“Last year we had even more talent but no one listened to each other,” said Hampton, a senior captain. “This year it’s a younger team but everyone’s listening. That’s been the biggest difference.

“It’s not just 11 guys thrown out there. It’s 11 guys playing as one unit.”

A renewed appreciation for teamwork has bolstered the egalitarian Chargers to the summit of the Marmonte League standings.

Entering Wednesday’s match against Thousand Oaks, Agoura was 8-6-4 overall and 5-1-2 in league. AHS plays host to Newbury Park on Friday. The Chargers are at Royal on Tuesday during a critical stretch. Both games start at 6 p.m.

Head coach Andrew Staiano said the key to the Chargers’ resurgence is simple.

“We’re scoring goals,” he said. “We’re finishing.”

The Chargers have developed trust and chemistry with each other. They work together for a common goal. And they actually like each other.

While many teams have a go-to scorer, Agoura shares the wealth on offense. Of the 20 field players, 13 have notched goals.

“ Everybody’s getting involved,” the coach said. “We don’t have one player we rely too heavily on.”

Staiano said Hampton is “probably the smartest player on the team.”

Hampton, a four-year varsity standout who has started for three seasons, has enjoyed the ride. The center midfielder raved about the dynamic between teammates.

He said he has enjoyed patrolling the midfield with upstart sophomore Matt Solomon.

The captain credits outside midfielders Doug Wong and Jaime Alvarado, who are both left-footed, with making strong runs. The defense has been stout while the forwards open up lanes by making deep runs into enemy terrain, he said.

“It’s an overall solid team,” Hampton said.

The senior said he wants to win league and section championships.

“ Aim big,” he said with a smile.

Hampton, who plays the trombone for the school band as well as a mean piano, is thinking about playing college soccer.

He said the Chargers must maintain consistency for the rest of the season.

“ We know how to win,” Hampton said, “but it’s a matter of consistency. We have to go out and not lose our focus in the last 10 minutes of the game.”

Fellow senior captain Peter Nelson, a sweeper, has been a pleasant surprise.

Nelson missed last season because of his involvement in a firefighting program. He was in and out of the lineup as a sophomore with a fractured ankle.

This is the first time he’s been healthy and playing regularly since his freshman campaign.

“It’s been good,” Nelson said of his return. “It’s been a lot of fun and really competitive. It’s a lot better than it’s ever been. I missed it a lot.”

Nelson, who turns 18 today, survived cuts at tryouts just to make the team. After manning forward for years, he decided to give defense a shot. He’s been a force at his new position.

“He’s saved a couple games for us by cleaning balls off the line that would have been goals,” Staiano said.

Nelson said he’s matured over the years, mentally and physically.

“My communication is better,” he said. “I never used to talk. Now I’m screaming my head off. Being a captain is a great responsibility.”

Nelson, who plays the guitar and drums, hopes to spend next year working in a music studio in Australia. After that he’d like to study music engineering at the Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences in Tempe, Ariz.

“It’s been a great year so far,” Nelson said. “We just have fun out there, and we know what we’re doing.”

Solomon, a savvy sophomore center midfielder, is one of the most consistent Chargers, Staiano said.

Nicknamed “Cap” by his teammates, Solomon enjoys working with this group of guys.

“We’re a united team,” said Solomon, whose sister Rachel played basketball at Agoura. “We don’t have any selfish players. No one cares about points or goals. We care about wins.”

Solomon, who played varsity soccer as a freshman, said his field vision and passing have improved. The sophomore, who has four goals and three assists this year, said a 3-2 road comeback win against Simi Valley on Jan. 12 was a huge boost for the Chargers.

Many other Chargers are playing well.

Twins Adam and Ari Gootnick are solid outside defensive backs. “They’re just tenacious,” Staiano said of the junior twins. “They’re scrappy little guys who play with a ton of heart.”

Liron Cohen is a natural striker. The sophomore has four goals and an assist, but he opens up the field and gives teammates opportunities to score.

“He’s unselfish,” the coach said of Cohen. “He’s not all about scoring and taking shots. He creates havoc on other defenses. We send him on runs early and that opens the door for other guys to score.”

Goalkeeper Nico Corti, a sophomore, is a beast at net. He had five shutouts in eight league starts last year, and he’s continuing the success this season.

Staiano said Corti is one of the top goalies in the Marmonte.

Eric Aguilar, Kris Bauman, Si Quan Ho, Noah Johnson, Grant Nishimura, Jordan Palmer, Yehyun Park, Gabe Polsky, Alan Saavedra, David Schatz, Alex Simon, Dylan Slater and Charlie Villa-Lovos round out the roster.

Walter Del Olmo is an assistant coach while Michael Uyehara is the trainer.

“These guys believe they can win league this year,” Staiano said. “Teams have said it before, but this team believes they can do it.

“These guys like each other. They play for each other and they work hard for each other.”



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