MILAN CABRERA CLEANS UP FOR CANYON A BANNER YEAR FOR SWEEPER, 15.Byline: ERIK BOAL Special to the Daily News Milan Cabrera doesn't take herself seriously as a soccer player. Her approach to playing sweeper for the Canyon girls' soccer team is a different story. Cabrera, 15, brings a lighthearted light·heart·ed adj. Not being burdened by trouble, worry, or care; happy and carefree. See Synonyms at glad1. light approach to practice and plenty of energy to the field for 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. (16-1-3), who are seeking their fifth Foothill League title in six years. ``She laughs at everything,'' said Canyon co-coach Keeli Paden, whose team is unbeaten in its past seven games. ``You always see her out there laughing or doing her little dances. She has a very bubbly personality.'' But when the whistle blows, Cabrera's expression changes as quick as she can cross over or turn and shoot with an opponent on her back. ``If you see Milan, that's how the rest of the team carries themselves,'' Canyon co-coach Eric White For British economist, see Eric Wyndham White. Eric Lance White (born December 30 1965, in San Francisco, California) is an American former professional basketball player in the NBA. He played collegiately at Pepperdine University from 1983-1987. said. ``I told Milan, `you're a sophomore, but you are the defense.' '' Despite being one of the youngest players on Canyon's roster and having limited varsity experience, Paden and White didn't hesitate to bestow be·stow tr.v. be·stowed, be·stow·ing, be·stows 1. To present as a gift or an honor; confer: bestowed high praise on the winners. 2. such responsibility on Cabrera because they knew she was capable of handling the pressure. A sweeper for three years playing club soccer for West Valley Samba samba Ballroom dance of Brazilian origin, popularized in the U.S. and Europe in the 1940s. Danced to music in ⁴⁄₄ time with a syncopated rhythm, the dance is characterized by simple forward and backward steps and tilting, rocking body movements. and Valley United under Tony Scalercio -- formerly the Valencia girls' soccer coach for eight years and in his second season as the Vikings boys' coach -- Cabrera has flourished both as a defender and a scorer for the Cowboys. ``Tony definitely changed me for the better,'' said Cabrera, who leads Canyon with 11 goals, including five in league play. ``I used to get yelled yell v. yelled, yell·ing, yells v.intr. To cry out loudly, as in pain, fright, surprise, or enthusiasm. v.tr. To utter or express with a loud cry. See Synonyms at shout. n. at by my parents for messing around, but he always made sure that we were well-prepared.'' After anchoring a defense that allowed only four goals in its first 12 games, Cabrera and her teammates found their preparation was no match for Hart's intensity, surrendering four goals in a 19-minute stretch against the rival Indians to suffer a 4-2 loss Dec. 29 in the championship game of the Hart tournament. ``It's a big rivalry, and it was disappointing to lose,'' Cabrera said. ``But it gave us enough time to refocus Verb 1. refocus - focus once again; The physicist refocused the light beam" focus - cause to converge on or toward a central point; "Focus the light on this image" 2. and get our heads set.'' Since their lone setback, the Cowboys have rebounded to allow only three goals in their past seven games, with the sole hiccup hiccup or hiccough, involuntary spasmodic contraction of the diaphragm followed by a sharp intake of air, which is abruptly stopped by a sudden, involuntary closing of the glottis (opening between the vocal cords); the consequent blocking of air coming in a 2-2 tie Jan. 12 against Saugus in which Canyon surrendered both goals on corner kicks in the final 2 minutes. It wound up being another important learning experience for Cabrera, who has been an integral part of the Cowboys. The team has recorded 14 shutouts, one behind Hart's league-leading 15. ``It was an eye-opener that we need to play whistle to whistle,'' Cabrera said. ``Even with a 2-0 lead, we can't let up. Everyone's in the game until the last second.'' The draw put even more pressure on Canyon to record a victory Tuesday at Hart. Cabrera made sure the Cowboys wouldn't let another opportunity slip away, teaming with Natalie Eichten, Katie Russ, Shannon Seidenglanz and Gina Walker to shut out the Indians 1-0, only the second time this season Hart failed to score. ``It's been great working with this group,'' Cabrera said. ``I feel comfortable with all of them, and we've meshed really well. Being a rookie rookie a novice; often an athlete playing his first season as a member of a professional sports team. [Sports: Misc.] See : Inexperience , everyone has welcomed me with open arms. ``We're a family, and we're here to play for the same thing.'' Cabrera scored the only goal for good measure, converting a deflection deflection /de·flec·tion/ (de-flek´shun) deviation or movement from a straight line or given course, such as from the baseline in electrocardiography. de·flec·tion n. 1. of Russ' 25-yard free kick in the 22nd minute. ``She pulled the two seniors and the sophomore aside before the game and said, `We need to have a little more pride,' '' White said. ``They were determined that it wasn't going to be the defense that lost the game.'' Said Cabrera: ``It wasn't something I planned -- it was more like in the moment. I wanted to do something to get the team pumped up and make sure the defense had their heads in the right place.'' Having such a profound impact on Canyon's success wasn't something Cabrera anticipated happening so soon, especially with teammates Walker and Casey Stuart both having played sweeper following Bree Caceres, who held down the position from 2001-05. But her ability to command the back line in front of goalkeepers Danielle Michel and Kristen Grunhold and her knack for producing timely goals has made her a central figure in the Cowboys' lineup A criminal investigation technique in which the police arrange a number of individuals in a row before a witness to a crime and ask the witness to identify which, if any, of the individuals committed the crime. . ``Gina played sweeper last year, and she was just amazing a·maze v. a·mazed, a·maz·ing, a·maz·es v.tr. 1. To affect with great wonder; astonish. See Synonyms at surprise. 2. Obsolete To bewilder; perplex. v.intr. ,'' Cabrera said. ``It's a tough position, because if you mess up, then it's your fault. I was nervous because I didn't know what to expect. But after the Buena tournament (Dec. 16), I realized, `OK, I can do this.' '' And the results have been no laughing matter No Laughing Matter is an episode of U.S. Acres from the series Garfield and Friends. It was the 74th episode produced for the series, although it is listed as the 71st episode on the Garfield and Friends DVD. It originally aired on October 21, 1989. . erik.boal@dailynews.com (818) 713-3607 CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Canyon's Milan Cabrera looks for an open teammate during the Cowboys' game at Hart on Tuesday afternoon. Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer |
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