AVC NOTEBOOK: PLAYERS FULL OF CONFIDENCE AVC WOMEN'S SOCCER AIMS FOR FOOTHILL CONFERENCE TITLE.

Byline: Sean Ceglinsky Staff Writer

Michelle Hamilton is confident. So is Lindsay Giampietro, Shannon Murray, Rochelle Lott, Danielle Garcia and Jamie Baynton. And perhaps they should be.

They form an experienced group of returning players for the Antelope Valley College women's soccer team, one that hopes to win the program's first Foothill Conference title since its inception four years ago.

``We have a solid group this season,'' first-year coach Robert Fulbright said. ``We have a nice mix of experienced players and newcomers. They're beginning to gel.''

Fulbright's optimism is warranted despite a sluggish start to the season. The Marauders were shut out 4-0 by host Bakersfield in the season opener last week but rallied for a 3-3 tie against host Santa Ana in their next game. The team split its two games over the weekend in the Oxnard tournament.

A tougher nonconference schedule only figures to benefit AVC come conference play, which begins Sept. 20 against host Mt. San Jacinto.

Hamilton is the team leader - at least from a goal-scoring standpoint. The 5-foot-7 forward netted eight goals last season and Fulbright expects the Lancaster High graduate to pick up where she left off.

Giampietro does a little bit of everything. The Highland High of Palmdale graduate netted six goals and added seven assists from her midfielder position last year. Only Stephanie Sheldrick had more points and Giampietro's assist total ranks her second on the school's all-time single-season list.

Murray is as reliable any AVC midfielder, and Lott, Garcia and Baynton anchor the defensive backfield.

But the sophomores can't be expected to do it all. And it already appears they won't have to.

Freshmen Stephanie True, Stephanie Kneifl and Jessica Null each scored goals in the Santa Ana game and figure to only get better with more playing time. In addition, fellow first-year player Jacque Lopez made five saves to preserve the tie.

AVC resumes nonconference play Thursday against Pasadena City, followed by Friday's home game against Ventura at Lancaster National Soccer Center.

--New kid on the block: Fulbright is AVC's second soccer coach and has plenty of experience. He brings a wealth of knowledge and figures to be a driving force in gaining some respect for the struggling program.

He previously coached at Milken High of Los Angeles. In 2000, the Wildcats went undefeated en route to the Westside League title. In addition, he coached the Malibu Wave Breakers in the women's semipro Ultimate Soccer League.

A Cal St. Northridge alum, Fulbright is also a fifth-degree black belt in tae kwon do and was a member of the 1992 Olympic team that competed in Barcelona.

--Global village: Thanks in part to the efforts of sports information director G. Austin Haller and faculty adviser Ed Beyer, Marauders sports fans can get up-to-date information via the school's new Web site at http://avconline.avc.edu/athletics.

Scores, press releases, game stories and statistics are available on the site, as well as media guides and player bios.