Tri-Valley girls’ soccer squads have star power

Three local teams ranked in preseason top 10


INTENSE ACTION—Oak Park High’s Katherine Chen, center, pushes the ball up the pitch during Tuesday night’s match against the Agoura Chargers. On the right, Agoura’s Jessica Ramirez attempts to dribble past Eagle defender Briana MacKey.

INTENSE ACTION—Oak Park High’s Katherine Chen, center, pushes the ball up the pitch during Tuesday night’s match against the Agoura Chargers. On the right, Agoura’s Jessica Ramirez attempts to dribble past Eagle defender Briana MacKey.

Some of the best girls’ soccer teams in Division 5 will have to claw their way into the playoffs.

How can that be?

Three Tri-Valley League squads are ranked in the CIFSouthern Section Division 5 preseason top-10 poll.

Oaks Christian, a semifinalist in 2008, is third in the poll while Oak Park (ninth) and La Reina (tied for 10th) are also ranked.

St. Bonaventure and Nordhoff are no slouches either.

“It’s a very good soccer league,” Oaks Christian head coach Jan Hethcock said. “It’s always been a tight race. We’ve won it the last two years, but we usually win by a few points. You get a tie here or there and that separates the top teams.

“It’s a great league to play in. There’s always great competition.”

The Lions may be young, but they have plenty of experience.

Eight OCHS sophomores from last season’s squad return along with two standout seniors, center-midfielder Kelly Johnson and midfielder Lauren Lindstrom.

Johnson has committed to Texas Christian while Lindstrom will be heading to Fresno State next fall, Hethcock said.

Junior defender Marlo Smith is another major contributor.

Oaks Christian began this season without two juniors, Jaci Mellow and Ally Courtnall. Both Lions are playing in a national soccer league in Texas this week.

Courtnall, the daughter of former NHL player Russ Courtnall, is also trying out for Canada’s national women’s soccer team, the coach said.

The Lions, who are working on a new defensive formation, got a little help from former U.S. men’s national team coach Steve Sampson. Sampson spent an hour and a half working with the Lions on defensive principles last week.

In addition to talent and experience, the Lions have depth.

“I’ve got the ability to move kids around all over the place,” Hethcock said. “The kids know what they’re doing, they’re smart, and they’ve adapted to the new defense we’ve thrown in there.”

Oak Park, which is coming off a second-round playoff appearance in 2008, is also deep at every position, said head coach Mark Zeolla.

Many players can play multiple positions on the pitch, making rotations easier.

“We’re looking forward to having a great season,” said Zeolla, now in his fourth year guiding OPHS.

Three seniors lead the Eagles: midfielder/forward Erika Kim, defensive stopper Rebecca Varley and center-midfielder Ciara Zeolla.

Freshman Nikki Herdegen and junior fullback Rachel Medina are also expected to take on important roles for Oak Park.

The Eagles are a ball-control team that hopes to win its first league title since 2007.

Mark Zeolla said it would be a challenge to unseat defending champion Oaks Christian.

“We really have to earn it and have an exceptional year,” the coach said. “We have to take advantage of every opportunity.”

La Reina may be in rebuilding mode, according to head coach Creighton Van Horn, but the Regents are talented and dangerous.

While La Reina was extremely tough on defense last year, fans should expect to see some more fireworks on offense.

“Offensively, I think we’ll be a stronger team this year,” Van Horn said.

Although the Regents are ranked, the postseason isn’t guaranteed. A year ago, LRHS lost a double overtime thriller to Valley Christian in the second round.

“It’s a fight just to make the playoffs,” the coach said. “If we can compete for one of the top three spots with a rebuilding team, that would be great.”

La Reina will lean on junior goalkeeper Ali Parisi, the league’s defensive most valuable player in 2008, and junior forward Jillian Degennaro, an allleague selection.

Sophomore Rebecca Koval, who is coming off a strong freshman campaign, will be a force at midfielder.

Senior captains Jenna Collins, a midfielder, and Brooke Ellias, a defender, will be counted on to lead on and off the field.

Bailey Rohlfing, Meghan Ray, Jordan Jeworski and Gabby Stevens are promising freshmen. Sophomore midfielder/defender Whitney Gould has played well in the Regents’ first few games.

Van Horn thinks La Reina may need five or six games to find the right mix on defense.

“Once we figure things out,” the coach said, “we’ll do well.”

 

 

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