GIRLS' SOCCER: ROYAL'S DEFENSE DAZZLES.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

SIMI VALLEY - Doubters and opposing scorers all have been quieted.

In a group of players who initially were questioned because of their youth or lack of defensive experience, the Royal High girls' soccer team found its strength with a record-setting defense. The Highlanders posted a school-record streak of six consecutive shutouts this season and are closing in on the program record for season shutouts.

``Our coach always says defense wins championships,'' junior Tina Rodriguez said. ``If we don't have defense, we're never going to win. We always focus on defense a lot.''

The team's emphasis on defense could make the starting backfield seem like an unlikely cast. The Highlanders start two sophomores, including a newcomer to the school, and a player who just switched to defense this season.

``The people I put back there have molded well,'' Royal coach Kenny Byrd said. ``I did think the defense was one of our stronger points, but I'm not sure I expected it to be as strong as it was with them all working together so well.

``They work together great. There is rarely any kind of miscommunication between them.''

The confidence the players have in one another is key, they said.

``You have to be able to trust them,'' Rodriguez said. ``If someone else goes, I'll get her back. I know if I go, someone will take my back. We all work really well together.''

Rodriguez is the veteran of the group as a third-year varsity player, earning first team All-Marmonte League honors last season. Tasha Terry is the lone senior, having moved back this season from outside halfback. Transfer Jessica Zuehlsdorf joins sweeper Katie Fox as the second sophomore starter in a defensive unit that is backed up by a pair of solid goalkeepers, who split time.

Last season, Fox earned the distinction of being the program's first freshman starter.

``I got a lot of grief for starting a freshman, especially at sweeper,'' Byrd recalled. ``She quickly erased any doubts back there. There's a lot of pressure in that position, but I can't tell you how poised Katie is back there. She's sort of the unsung hero.

``The scorers are the ones that get their names in the paper all the time, but defense wins championships; they do all the dirty work.''

The pride the team takes in defense is evident in the amount of time they devote to it off the field. The team routinely watches game videos and finds ways to perfect their craft.

``They're very critical back there,'' Byrd said. ``We sit down and dissect what's going on. Everybody gives up goals, it's inevitable. But there's the goals where something goes wrong and they could be prevented. We try to keep those crazy goals to a bare minimum.''

The Highlanders allowed 11 goals through their first 17 games. With half the Marmonte season remaining, Royal's nine shutouts are four shy of the school single-season record.

The string of six consecutive shutouts ended Jan. 14 with a goal by first-place Thousand Oaks.

``That was exciting,'' Fox said of the streak. ``That really energized us to keep going. We want more shutouts. We go out there every game looking for a shutout. We say the ball is not going in the net.''

A stingy defense is vital in a league such as the Marmonte, because even though every game was tight, the Highlanders started 2-4.

``We're hanging in there,'' Fox said. ``The intensity is there and we're not going to let up. I'm excited to see what happens.''