STINGY SARA EARNS SHUTOUTS; WITH DECKERS IN GOAL, HARVARD-WESTLAKE FINDS NEEDED CONFIDENCE.Byline: Heather Gripp Daily News Staff Writer Sara Deckers laughs when she remembers her early experience as a goalkeeper. ``When I was younger I used to cry, throw myself on the ground and they'd just score more,'' she said of her reaction to giving up goals. ``(Now) I just go get it, kick it back up the field and start all over again. That's all you can do. You can't dwell on dwell on or upon Verb to think, speak, or write at length about (something) Verb 1. dwell on - delay linger over it or it only makes it worse.'' Deckers' new attitude helps, but her ability in the net hasn't left many opportunities to get discouraged. The Harvard-Westlake junior has 10 shutouts. Two of the three goals scored on her this season were against South Torrance, the No. 1 team in Division III
Division III (or DIII) is a division of the National Collegiate Athletic Association of the United States. . Her play helped the Wolverines to a 14-2-1, 6-0 record and first-place standing in the Mission League entering today's rematch REMATCH Cardiology Clinical trials–Randomized Evaluation of Mechanical Assistance Therapy as an alternative in Congestive Heart failure–related to use of a portable, electric left ventricular-assist system–LVAS–eg, HeartMate® with defending league and Division III champion Chaminade. Harvard-Westlake beat the Eagles 2-0 on Jan. 11. Deckers' focus and skills both dramatically improved when she started seeing a personal goalkeeping coach three years ago. She learned to maintain her intensity, even when she rarely touches the ball, by communicating with her teammates. ``She's very, very hard mentally,'' Harvard-Westlake coach Ned Smith said. ``She understands that one mistake is amplified significantly as a goalkeeper so she stays focused. Even as a freshman she was mentally tough.'' Deckers, who credits much of her success to the solid defense in front of her, posted eight shutouts as a freshman starting on a team loaded with seniors. She left the school her sophomore year for reasons she refuses to discuss. She attended Hart High, where her freshman sister Kristin plays, but did not compete for the Indians. Instead, she played year-round for her club team in Mission Viejo Mission Vi·e·jo A community of southern California southeast of Irvine. It is mainly residential. Population: 96,300. . ``I'm really glad I'm back at Harvard,'' she said. And so are the Wolverines, who finished third in league last year. ``I love playing with her,'' senior midfielder Lauren Jordan said. ``I honestly think she's the best goalie I've ever played with. She's so reliable, it makes it so easy for the rest of us (abuse) for The Rest Of Us - (From the Macintosh slogan "The computer for the rest of us") 1. Used to describe a spiffy product whose affordability shames other comparable products, or (more often) used sarcastically to describe spiffy but very overpriced products. 2. . I have no question whatsoever she's going to stop it.'' The boost Deckers provides was evident in an early-season match against Hart. In a play vividly recalled by teammates, Deckers made a diving A DIV Associate of Divinity save on a corner kick that was nearly headed in. Within a couple minutes, the Wolverines scored and went on to beat the favored Indians. ``That's what gave us that game,'' Smith said. ``After that, they had the confidence and believed they could win. That is a pivotal point in our season - that game, and in microcosm mi·cro·cosm n. A small, representative system having analogies to a larger system in constitution, configuration, or development: "He sees the auto industry as a microcosm of the U.S. , that play. ``I think she gives us tons and tons of confidence. And the other teams know that. They know what she can do, so it adversely affects how they come out there. She affects the confidence of both teams, but I'd say the biggest effect is on the other team. ``The bread and butter of our team is defense and Sara's a big part of that. There have been very few moments I've been nervous about our defense.'' Deckers, 16, recently earned a spot on the Olympic Development Program state team for a fourth time but said her best sport is probably softball softball, variant of baseball played with a larger ball on a smaller field. Invented (1888) in Chicago as an indoor game, it was at various times called indoor baseball, mush ball, playground ball, kitten ball, and, because it was also played by women, ladies' . The third baseman third baseman n. Baseball The infielder stationed near third base. Noun 1. third baseman - (baseball) the person who plays third base third sacker hasn't decided if she'll play softball this year or devote more time to her favorite sport. Instead of shedding tears about being the last line of defense, Deckers now craves the responsibility. ``It's the most exciting position,'' she said. ``The pressure's what makes it fun. Without the pressure, what's the point of playing?'' CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO Sara Deckers is glad she transferred back to Harvard-Westlake, where her excellent goalkeeping can intimidate in·tim·i·date tr.v. in·tim·i·dat·ed, in·tim·i·dat·ing, in·tim·i·dates 1. To make timid; fill with fear. 2. To coerce or inhibit by or as if by threats. the opposition. Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News |
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