AGOURA SOCCER BACK FROM DEPTHS TURNAROUND NO SURPRISE FOR STAR MIDFIELDER.

Byline: Erik Boal Staff Writer

It's safe to call Alicia Herczeg an eternal optimist, because that's the only way to support her expectations when she joined the Agoura High girls' varsity soccer team as a freshman.

``I knew we all had the potential to be competitive in (the Marmonte) league and one day win a league championship,'' Herczeg said.

If Herczeg was talking about playing for the Agoura program that dominated the second half of the 1980s - the one that won four consecutive Southern Section championships, recorded 41 victories in a row and went a state-record 91 consecutive games without a loss - then her confidence wouldn't have been too far-fetched.

But Herczeg was referring to a Chargers' team that had just come off a 5-7-6 showing and a fourth-place finish in one of the area's toughest leagues in 2001-02.

Maybe the junior midfielder knew something the rest of the league didn't, especially after Agoura went 5-8-3 during her freshman campaign - sixth in league - before improving to 9-6-5 and a third-place finish last season.

Now, as one of eight returning starters on the Daily News' top-ranked team, Herczeg is enjoying every moment of her once-lofty vision becoming a reality.

``Our attitudes have changed,'' said Herczeg, who leads Agoura with nine goals. ``We all want to be here and we all want to win.''

After posting a 44-35-22 record during the past five seasons, Agoura appears to have recaptured some of its old magic, boasting a 6-1-1 record, including 2-0 in league. The team faces a showdown at 5 p.m. Wednesday at No. 5 Thousand Oaks (5-0-1, 1-0-1).

``We all know mentally we can beat them,'' midfielder Natalie Lemonnier said. ``But it's important that we're not overconfident. Everyone on this team is willing to be unselfish, but selfish when they need to be.''

That team chemistry and a higher level of fitness have been key factors in Agoura's early success. Third-year coach Michael Skene created a demanding summer schedule and followed it up with more intense training and conditioning in the fall during the team's sixth-period soccer class.

``We didn't have (sixth period) a couple of years ago,'' said junior forward Kelley Ross, who has five goals. ``It's allowed us to work more as a team and work on our fitness.

``We hardly had any (nonleague) games the past couple of years, either, so now we know we're ready for any team in league. The first thing is to get into the playoffs. But all of us are talking about winning a league title.''

Kimi Snyder, a senior sweeper and returning All-Southern Section Div. II selection, said, ``We've had time to work together and time to understand each other as players.

``And it's a really good feeling to be able to come back (after reaching the second round of the playoffs last season) and know your hard work has paid off.''

All of Agoura's work in the summer and fall was immediately put to the test as Skene scheduled games against Chaminade of West Hills, Valencia, Buena of Ventura and Canyon of Canyon Country in a five-day stretch during the opening week of the season.

Agoura proved it was a legitimate threat to Westlake's run of six consecutive league titles by posting a 2-1-1 record, including a 2-2 tie against Buena, a Div. II finalist last season.

Still, Agoura wasn't satisfied, as it finished the demanding stretch with a 4-1 loss to Canyon, which scored all four goals in the first 25 minutes.

``It was a good reality check for the team,'' Snyder said. ``To have someone dominate us on the field like that, it showed us that every game means something.''

Herczeg, who has helped the Chargers outscore their four opponents 17-1 since the loss, said, ``Losing to Canyon helped us refocus and showed us we're not invincible. We still have room to grow.

``But the most important thing is we're playing together and that's where we find our success.''

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Clockwise from left, Kimi Snyder, Alicia Herczeg, Natalie Lemonnier, Katy Hahn and Kelley Ross have led the Agoura High girls' soccer team to a 6-1-1 record (2-0 Marmonte League).

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer