GIRLS' SOCCER: HAVE SKILLS, WILL TRAVEL O.C.'S SMITH A STAR ANYWHERE ON FIELD.

Byline: ERIK BOAL

Special to the Daily News

Kelsea Smith's profile on the Camarillo Eagles Soccer Club Web site includes this simple, but powerful sentence: "I love challenges."

The fact that Smith is a scholar-athlete at Oaks Christian of Westlake Village with an academic schedule including multiple honors classes, or that she excels playing the piano and guitar only begins to describe how much Smith demands of herself when she's away from the field.

But Smith considers the challenge of leading the Lions' girls' soccer team to the Southern Section Div. V title as the biggest of her high school career. And the junior will do anything to accomplish it, even if she has to play all 11 positions.

"If I asked her to play goal, she'd say, 'Give me the shirt,'" Oaks Christian coach Jan Hethcock said. "That shows her commitment."

Smith's athleticism has enabled Hethcock to use her in several roles this season, regularly moving her from the back line to up front.

"From the beginning of the season until now, there's been so many changes," said Smith, who has verbally committed to Pepperdine.

"You just understand that this year you have to be ready to play wherever. I don't care where I play, I just like being on the field."

No matter if she's playing sweeper or forward, Smith's production hasn't wavered for the Lions, who play host to Bell Gardens (17-3-3) at 3p.m. today in a second-round match.

"Smitty has been the stable rock for this team," Hethcock said. "She's the backbone of the defense and the thrust of the offense. You don't get that type of player very often."

Smith is the latest in a list of Camarillo residents who have made an impact at Oaks Christian, which has shared three Div. V titles and boasts a 19-2-3 postseason record.

Having the opportunity to compete with Alena Avedissian, Brianna Cox, Jessica Needham and Caitlyn MacKechnie during the Lions' run to a co-championship her freshman season educated Smith to the tradition she would need to uphold.

"They left behind a legacy," Smith said. "Winning three championships in a row, that was huge. It's almost impossible to match that."

Last year's semifinal loss at Granite Hills of Apple Valley combined with a fourth-place finish this season in the Tri-Valley League has provided extra motivation for Smith, who assisted on Kristen Clark's goal in sudden-

death overtime in Friday's 2-1 opening-round victory at fourth-seeded Brentwood.

"We've almost been in that situation too many times," Smith said. "It seemed like the longest game of my life. That and (last year's sudden- death, first-round victory over) Oak Park were the most intense high school games I've ever played in."

Before Smith played her first game at Oaks Christian, she demonstrated an ability to deliver in clutch situations, helping the Eagles' Under-14 team capture the United States Youth Soccer Association national championship.

"With Kelsea, it's easy because she's such a fantastic athlete," said Vince Thomas, Smith's coach on the Eagles' U-17 premier team.

"She was a sweeper until U-14, but she got moved up to forward for regionals and nationals and received the Golden Boot award.

"Kelsea has a knack for scoring goals. That's where she separates herself from the rest of them."

Smith hopes to separate herself from the former teammates by winning a title outright, an impressive feat considering the Lions have played all season without UCLA-bound Nicole Sweetman (out with a knee injury).

"We all took on more responsibility. Not having Nicole changed our entire lineup," Smith said. "But I'm excited to see what happens. In past years, we were expected to win. This year, we're kind of the underdogs."

With UCLA-bound junior Hannah MacKechnie and freshmen Kelly Johnson and Lauren Lindstrom all making significant contributions, Hethcock has likened himself to a hockey coach making line changes.

"When we move (Smith) up, everything seems to fall into place," Hethcock said. "Everybody's enthusiasm goes up ... and it opens the field up for everybody else."

Thanks to Smith's versatility, Oaks Christian is one victory away from reaching the quarterfinals for a sixth consecutive year.

"You never know what her favorite position is because she plays them all so well," Thomas said.

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