2002 PREVIEW GIRL'S SOCCER: SAUGUS GETS MENTALLY PREPARED GIRLS' SOCCER TEAM HOPES TO BREAK INTO LEAGUE ELITE.Byline: Chris Cocoles Staff Writer Once a week during the fall, the Saugus High girls' soccer team took a break from conditioning and other physical preparations for its season. Instead, the Centurions took a mental approach to the game. The team gathered in a circle and talked about a variety of subjects. ``We'd either do imagery talk, or we'd talk about what makes a team succeed and fail,'' Saugus coach Mike Koons said. ``A lot of it is just playing little games in your mind. We hope what was said might help us.'' The Centurions have enough talent to physically be a force in the Foothill League. Saugus has to be considered one of the favorites for the championship, with Valencia right alongside. But defending champion defending champion n (SPORT) → defensor/a m/f del título defending champion n (Sport) → champion(ne) en titre Canyon is plenty good despite heavy graduation Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the associated ceremony. The date of event is often called degree day. The event itself is also called commencement, convocation or invocation. losses, and perennial perennial, any plant that under natural conditions lives for several to many growing seasons, as contrasted to an annual or a biennial. Botanically, the term perennial power Hart figures to contend. With four strong programs among all rival schools in the Santa Clarita Valley The Santa Clarita Valley is the valley of the Santa Clara River in Southern California. It stretches through Los Angeles County and Ventura County. Its main population center is the city of Santa Clarita. The valley was part of the 48,612-acre (19,672. , winning this league won't be easy. A mental edge could make the slightest of differences. That's been a major hurdle for Saugus. The Centurions' current senior class finished fourth to Hart, Valencia and Canyon their first two seasons. Last season as juniors, they'd yet to beat any of them in varsity games, let alone make the playoffs. But Saugus' run to third place and the elusive playoff play·off also play-off n. Sports 1. A final game or series of games played to break a tie. 2. A series of games played to determine a championship. Noun 1. bid included a first-ever victory against Hart and a tie with the Indians. The Centurions also played Canyon and Valencia to early-season draws. And though Saugus lost to the Cowboys cowboys, in American history. 1 Tory marauders, adherents to the British cause in the American Revolution, who fought in the contested area of Westchester co., N.Y. and Vikings in rematches, the notion the Centurions clearly were fourth best in Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, was dismissed from the players' minds. ``The win against Hart was a big breakthrough. And I think scoring four goals against Canyon (in the two matches) was a great confidence builder,'' said Koons, whose debut at Saugus last season included a 17-4-4 overall record and 5-2-3 Foothill League mark. ``We didn't score against Valencia (a 0-0 tie and a 1-0 loss), and that's still going to be a mental thing. But we know we can break through against a Hart and compete with Canyon and Valencia.'' Now Saugus will have to play in the role as an expected title contender. Last season, finishing third and qualifying for the postseason might have been a year ahead of schedule, since the team had just two seniors. All the key contributors are back, however. And when senior defender Jessica Resendez returns in mid-December from a sprained ankle A sprained ankle, also known as a ankle sprain, ankle injury or ankle ligament injury, is a common medical condition where one or more of the ligaments of the ankle is torn or partially torn. , the Centurions will be at full strength. A tougher nonleague schedule should keep them sharp for the expected brutal Foothill League schedule that guarantees the four Santa Clarita teams at least six tough matches when playing each other. ``I think we were disappointed on one hand,'' Koons said of finishing third in the league last year. ``But for the seniors, we finished either .500 or barely around .500. We could still taste it, and we feel like this going to be our year.'' With seniors such as midfielder
In association football, a midfielder is a player whose position of play is midway between the attacking strikers and the defenders (highlighted in blue on the diagram). Jocelyn Hein - who already has committed to USC An abbreviation for U.S. Code. - and defenders Rachel Gillis and Resendez (both offered scholarships by Cal State Northridge), the Centurions are among the region's most talented teams. Defense should be a strength. Goalkeeper Erica Berriz is flanked by a deep core of defenders led by Resendez, Danielle Kuchler and Mary Ortega. Scoring punch is provided by Hein, Stacey Thompson, Jeanette Lorme and Stephanie Searcy. ``Last year, we basically had 11 or 12 players. If someone was tired in a match or we had an injury or if a player went on a (family) vacation, that really hurt us,'' Koons said of the depth that could give Saugus an edge over Valencia, Canyon and Hart. ``(This year) We have 16 players, and all 16 can go for us.'' AT A GLANCE Head coach: Mike Koons Last season's record: 17-4-4 overall, 5-2-3, third place in Foothill League (lost in first round of Southern Section Division II playoffs) Top returnees: Jr. GK Erica Berriz; Sr. M/D m/d abbr. months after date Rachel Gillis; Sr. F Jocelyn Hein; Sr. D Danielle Kuchler; Sr. D Jessica Resendez; Sr. D Mary Ortega; Jr. F Heather Hardy; Soph. F/M F/M Food to Microorganism ratio Jeanette Lorme; Jr. F Stephanie Searcy; Jr. F Stacey Thompson. Top newcomers: Jr. F Jennifer Dalley; Jr. D Amanda Jackson; Soph. M Sarah Powell; Jr. F Danielle Johanson. CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: The Saugus girls' defense should be a strength, with defenders such as Rachel Gills, right, putting the Centurions among the region's most talented teams. John Lazar/Staff Photographer Box: AT A GLANCE (see text) |
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