SHARING THE GOAL COC KEEPERS CULL, GARCIA PUSH EACH OTHER TO DO BETTER.

VALENCIA - Jessica Cull never much enjoyed playing with Barbie dolls as a child, instead playing whichever sport was in season. The more active and aggressive she could be, the better.

Dina Garcia never played sports until she was in 10th grade. Even then, her quiet and serious demeanor belied her nature on the field.

As different as the backgrounds of College of the Canyons freshmen are, what they are doing for the Cougars women's soccer team is remarkably similar.

Both joined the team late and have performed well enough that their coaches opt to have them split playing time instead of choosing one over the other as a full-time starter. Cull and Garcia anchor a defense that has allowed seven goals through eight games for a team that is undefeated entering today's Western State Conference home game against Oxnard.

``They're both very similar in what they can and can't do, so it's not like we lose anything by not having one of them in there,'' COC coach Phil Marcellin said. ``Both were sort of late arrivers to the squad, so it's been good to be able to have two of them where we could rotate them while they're getting into shape. We didn't really have a chance to see them play in game situations to see who should be the starter. They both get the job done.

``They're both coaches' dreams. They're going to go hard. Sometimes that's a downfall, the injuries last a little longer because they go so hard. Their teammates appreciate them, definitely.''

And the two appreciate playing. Both players appeared to be finished with soccer after high school.

Cull, 18, wasn't even sure if she'd be able to walk again without pain. A knee injury suffered while playing softball for Hart High of Newhall caused her to miss a year of soccer. A car accident during her senior year did further damage, requiring three surgeries.

Cull, who had taken classes at COC while in high school, planned to attend COC but didn't consider playing soccer until she ran into Cougars forward and former Hart teammate Kristine Marbach during the summer and Marbach encouraged Cull to play.

``I hadn't really thought about playing soccer,'' Cull said. ``When she said I should try it, it was right after the first surgery. I thought about it and I said, 'I'm going to do this, I'm going to try.' I'm doing better than I expected to be honest. ...

``It's been tough. Before this last surgery, I didn't think I'd play again. I was in tremendous pain.''

She's also had wrist, elbow and shoulder injuries. Cull proudly shows off large bruises on her hips and legs and talks about an even bigger one she had on her thigh earlier in the season but said she'll gladly sacrifice her body to stop shots.

``I swear, by the time I'm 40 I'll be an old decrepit lady,'' said Cull, adding that having someone of Garcia's ability makes it easier to rest when injured. ``I keep playing because I love it. I love soccer. I've always enjoyed playing.''

Garcia, 19, has enjoyed soccer most of her life, too, but mostly as a fan. After starting for two years at Poly High of Sun Valley, she turned her focus to other things, like studying for a nursing career. She didn't contact the Cougars until the first day of school.

``I wanted to play soccer again and I just said, 'Why not?' '' said Garcia, who took the same ``nothing to lose'' approach when she initially learned to play.

``Dina just sort of showed up on our doorstep and it's been a blessing,'' Marcellin said. ``At one point, we were down to 12 players and didn't have a goalkeeper. They were both a welcome addition.''

COC (7-0-1) has scored 37 goals already, but 29 of those came within three games, leaving the goalkeepers with plenty of responsibility to preserve tight contests against shooters they immediately realized were generally more skilled than the ones they faced in high school. The pair opened the season by producing a 1-1 tie against San Diego Mesa, the team that eliminated COC from the playoffs last season. The Cougars also have two shutouts.

``I walk on to the field every game thinking shutout,'' said Cull, who has a goals-against average of 0.78. ``I don't like to be scored on at all. That's my mentality. No goalkeeper ever likes to be scored on, but I really don't like it.''

One thing she said she doesn't mind is sharing playing time with Garcia, who also allows an average of less than a goal a game. Both were used to starting for their former teams, but agree their mutual respect and knowing they'll get adequate time makes it easier for them to split goaltending duties. The coaches usually don't decide the starter until shortly before gametime.

``They've both done a great job,'' assistant coach Jason Treanor said. ``That's nice to have two goalies that can split like that. They're competitive and push each other.''

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

College of the Canyons goalies Dina Garcia, left, and Jessica Cull have split time this season and have improved because of it.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer